Where is my fuel cell sending unit?

[offthehook67]

Hello everyone,

Here in Minnesota on the 19th day of April I woke to a new 10" of snow. At first I thought &$*@%*&#, but then I remembered that yesterday I moved one of the three boats I have into the garage and started upgrading and rewiring the entire thing. YAY!

Here is what I ran into today. I bought a new fuel gauge for it. Took the old one out and was looking at the wiring and noticed there was no wire connected from the sending unit. I looked and looked some more and the only wire I found that could be to/from the sending unit is right below the filler cap below the splash well along the filler tube. I cannot see it but after feeling it it seems to be mounted right below the splash well. It has a wire connected to it and that wire runs down under the floor towards the bow. I cannot think of any other reason to have a sole wire connected in such a place and running north under the floor above the fuel cell.

Can anyone tell me if this is the contact I need to connect another wire to and then to the new fuel gauge or not? This boat is a 1989 Alumacraft Dominator 16'

Thanks in advance

PS The ice will be off the lakes here in MN by May 11th for our Walleye open as I am having faith.

Richard

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Where is my fuel cell sending unit?

The fuel sending unit is in the fuel tank. It has a pink wre that runs to the "S" termimal on the gauge. The sender mounting flange must also be grounded.

 

[tazrig]

Re: Where is my fuel cell sending unit?

The fuel sending unit is in the fuel tank. It has a pink wre that runs to the "S" termimal on the gauge. The sender mounting flange must also be grounded.

^^^+1 Also that wire from your filler cap going forward is or should be a ground wire. If your gas tank is metal it most likely grounds to the tank and the sending unit is or should be grounded to your motor or battery.

 

[offthehook67]

Re: Where is my fuel cell sending unit?

Well Thanks,

Not what I wanted to hear because that is what I was thinking. The fact that a wire ran under the floor to a nut/bolt near the filler cap had me thinking it was just a ground. Unfortunately there is not another wire (Pink) running up through the floor in the rear of the boat along with the green ground wire. Damn, I am not tearing up the floor.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Where is my fuel cell sending unit?

That is most likely the reason the gauge isnt hooked up.

 

[tazrig]

Re: Where is my fuel cell sending unit?

Well Thanks,

Not what I wanted to hear because that is what I was thinking. The fact that a wire ran under the floor to a nut/bolt near the filler cap had me thinking it was just a ground. Unfortunately there is not another wire (Pink) running up through the floor in the rear of the boat along with the green ground wire. Damn, I am not tearing up the floor.

It may not be that big of a problem for you. Can you see the sending unit from the back of the tank? Most are located at the very back of the tank since the the stern sits the lowest in the water. What kind of boat do you have? Is it a sterndrive with a movable cover? Can you take some pictures so we could have a look? You may just be able to just remove a few square inches of flooring (from under the engine hatch) to get at the sending unit if it isn't already accessible from under the motor cover. (see the below picture from before I restored my boat. Under the brown 1.5 foot X 3 foot rectangular piece of wood on the floor is access to the fuel sending unit along with the fuel lines from the tank)




A lot of time it is along with the fuel line coming from the tank. Even if the wiring runs under the whole length of the floor, just put in new wiring and re-route it above the floor up the side of the boat out of site and up and under the dash.

 

[offthehook67]

Re: Where is my fuel cell sending unit?

@Everyone who responded many thanks!!!

I have FINALLY located the pink wire from the sending unit. I took the new fuel gauge, hooked up some quick jumpers and the pink wire to the sending unit contact and Bam Batman wholly fuel gauges!!!! It's working. SO today I will be running the proper wiring for it and installing it correctly.

For those who asked what kind of boat is it....I buy somewhat older Alumacraft and Lund deep V fishing boats (Walleye boats) and strip them of all wiring, rebuild the carbs and fuel pumps, add new impellers and resell them. I have 3 right now. I use one for a year and do it all over again the next year continually upgrading the one I am using. This one I am working on (1989 Dominator) the wiring was a rats nest. This guy I bought it from had enough wire in this boat to rewire 3 boats. I've stripped it all out and restrung just what is needed for the current lighting, fuel gauge and electronics.

I have used this forum previously with questions and I have always got a fantastic response and have also responded to others needing help. Everyone here has always been very nice and gracious with their time and responses.

A heartfelt Thank You!!!

Richard