water temp gauge question???

[oldsquaw76]

Went and looked at a very clean 96 celebrity tonight, it has a 5.7 efi engine. when the boat key is turned to start to water temp gauge goes all the way up, before the engine is even started, the guy that is selling it said it has done this the last for times he ran it before it was winterized, the mechanic told him it was the thermostat, so he put a new one in by himself, didnt fix the problem, is this something i should worry about, because the boat is in great shape and has a great price, hes selling it for what he owes on it, wont budge on price either.

thanks

 

[capt sam]

Re: water temp gauge question???

sounds like a short to ground.

 

[seabob4]

Re: water temp gauge question???

Make sure the temp gauge has a good ground. Pur a meter or test light inbetween the ground buss and the ground stud on your gauge. Check for continuity. Fuel gauges will peg the same way when the ground is no good.

 

[seabob4]

Re: water temp gauge question???

Sam,
Sorry, you beat me to it...

 

[capt sam]

Re: water temp gauge question???

that's ok, you did a better job explaining it.

 

[oldsquaw76]

Re: water temp gauge question???

Rest of the gauges work fine just that one, could it be a bad sensor? would you worry about this?

 

[capt sam]

Re: water temp gauge question???

probably not an issue, the ground for that gauge is bad, you could either clean it up or find a new one.....all boats, even new ones have electrical issues.

 

[lucky51]

Re: water temp gauge question???

If you pull the lead off of the sending unit on the engine, then turn on the key. See what the gauge does. If it stays burried on cold you need a sending unit. If not you have a short somewhere else.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: water temp gauge question???

If I recall, if you take that there wire going to the sensor and unhook it,,,,,,,and you turn the key on,,,,what does it do? It shouldn't do nothing. Now leave that key on and touch that wire to a ground.......... Did the needle peg out? Ifin so,,,,,,,sender is shorted to ground. Or you can take an ohm meter and read out the sensor If "0" ohms, then it is shorted. BTW if it is for a dual helm, it does take a different sending/sensor unit.

 

[mthieme]

Re: water temp gauge question???

It's a minor issue. Could be the gauge, could be the sender.

 

[oldsquaw76]

Re: water temp gauge question???

thanks fellas ill buy the boat then, im sure since this is my first boat ill have a thousand more questions when i get it home!

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: water temp gauge question???

The sender could even have something on it that is conductive causing a hot condition as well. I would see if he would take the sender out, clean it and then see if that took care of the problem. Or get him to replace it. Wouldn't hurt to at least ask him..........SS

 

[oldsquaw76]

Re: water temp gauge question???

The sender could even have something on it that is conductive causing a hot condition as well. I would see if he would take the sender out, clean it and then see if that took care of the problem. Or get him to replace it. Wouldn't hurt to at least ask him..........SS

Tried to get the guy to take it to the marina and get it worked on, money seems really really tight with this guy right now

 

[rebars1]

Re: water temp gauge question???

Make sure the price he is selling it for is reasonable. Just because he still owes "x" dollars to the bank may not mean it is worth that much as a used 1996 boat.

Remember, there are a lot of boats for sale out there.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: water temp gauge question???

When you get it, remember, we love pictures!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: water temp gauge question???

Pull the sender wire and measure the resistance to ground. A good sender will measure 33 - 240 ohms throughout the temperature range. 30 ohms at 240 degrees, 70 ohms at 180 degrees and 240 ohms at 120 degrees. If the sender is ok, then the problem is the gauge or its wiring. Since the meter pegs, it obviously works and that leaves wiring. And the mechanic should know better than to even suggest a thermostat since it would have zero effect on a stone cold engine.

 

[180shabah]

Re: water temp gauge question???

...And the mechanic should know better than to even suggest a thermostat since it would have zero effect on a stone cold engine.

He probably did know better, but unfortunately he also recognised the the owner had no clue. All adds up to a second or even third repair bill. And perpetuates the image that all mechanics are just crooks.

OP - if you do purchase this boat - DO NOT use this mechanic, there are honest ones out there, that deserve your money.

 

[oldsquaw76]

Re: water temp gauge question???

So what do you guys think should i buy the boat? the guy im buying it from seems very honest and up front with me about every question i had. ive been looking at boats in my area and this is a great price for the boat too. he says the boat runs fine never had any probles, i just wonder what if he got it hot one of the last times he was out. i cant run it either because we are having another major flood here now and all the boat ramps are under 20 feet of water. the oil didnt smell burnt at all, the boat other than thay gauge is in great shape and so is the trailer.

 

[capt sam]

Re: water temp gauge question???

Never buy a boat without a sea trial.

 

[oldsquaw76]

Re: water temp gauge question???

Never buy a boat without a sea trial.

i wont be able to do one of those for a month or better here