Fuel Gauge problems

T

TeeJay008

Recruit
Joined
Jul 25, 2009
Messages
1
Hello-

New to the forum... I felt this was the appropriate area to post in. ;)

I am having a problem with my fuel gauge. I have a 20ft, 2005 Cobia, Yamaha 115 outboard. Not sure if that information is needed. However, my problem is my fuel gauge. It has seemed to fail on me. It will not read the level of fuel anymore and has been this way for months now. Its a pain in the *** as you can imagine because I never know exactally how much fuel I have. Is this possibly a DIY kind of thing or so I need to seek professional help? Thanks in advance for any help.

T
 
W

wellsc1

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 7, 2009
Messages
328
Re: Fuel Gauge problems

Check all your connections before suspecting a bad guage or sending unit. Check at the guage and at the sending unit. Then also be sure the wires in between haven't been compromised. Make sure any hot wire has power, any ground has ground, and any sending wire is good.

It that checks out, consider removing the sending unit to check it with an ohm meter. The resistance should vary as you move the float up and down.

Lastly, blame the guage.

That's my logical opinion. Expect some prefessional help to come.
 
G

gss036

Commander
Joined
Jan 18, 2003
Messages
2,914
Re: Fuel Gauge problems

Very good wiring diagram. Fuel gauges are not all that accurate any way, do give you and idea of fuel in the tank, but as the attitude of the boat changes, so goes the gauge. You should establish fuel consumption in gallons per hour and then you have a "mental" idea of how much you have left.
I use a fuel flow gauge and that tell you the fuel burn, plus consumption and tank contents if you keep with adding the gallons at fill up time.
 
B

bdtaylor

Recruit
Joined
Aug 30, 2009
Messages
1
Re: Fuel Gauge problems

TeeJay008 said:
Hello-

New to the forum... I felt this was the appropriate area to post in. ;)

I am having a problem with my fuel gauge. I have a 20ft, 2005 Cobia, Yamaha 115 outboard. Not sure if that information is needed. However, my problem is my fuel gauge. It has seemed to fail on me. It will not read the level of fuel anymore and has been this way for months now. Its a pain in the *** as you can imagine because I never know exactally how much fuel I have. Is this possibly a DIY kind of thing or so I need to seek professional help? Thanks in advance for any help.

T
Click to expand...
In most cases when the fuel gauge does not work or does not read correctly, the problem is the sending unit located on top of the fuel tank. These float type mechanical units tend to fail due to a corroded connection or the potentiometer wears out. There is a company that makes an electronic sending unit that solves all of the problems associated with float type sending units plus it alerts you if water is in your tank. The company is Tidewater Sensors. You can read about it at www.tidewatersensors.com
 
G

gepicou

Cadet
Joined
Oct 21, 2009
Messages
6
Re: Fuel Gauge problems

Hi TJ:

If you have access to your tank there should be 2 wires (black & oink) on the sending unit. Have your key off and take the nut off the pink wire and take the black wire loose of the plug. Attach the pink wire to the black wire and turn on your key watch your full gauge it should go to full wait a moment(15 seconds) if nothing happens happens right away. Digital fuel gauges have a delay. Then after it goes to full pull the pink and black wire appart and it should goto empty. If all this happens replace your sending unit. This is fairly easy to do. They cost about $30 to $40 for a universal sending unit. If not replace your gauge. I hope this helps.
 
stylesabu

stylesabu

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 2, 2009
Messages
849
Re: Fuel Gauge problems

gepicou, you are assuming that the tank has a good ground(black wire) and that pink wire is a good connection all the way to guage.use an ohm meter to test wires and connection, as i diagram.And double check your test equipment. I have seen guys replace wire harnesses because there test light had a burnt out bulb. ase master tech 25 years. good luck
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top