gas gage

[MassTerran0202]

when I turn on my boat the gas gage jumps to half tank and stays there-- I am trying to get an Idea if this might be my gage or is this the sending unit in the tank?? does anyone have a thought before I buy a gage and start to try that first Thanks

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: gas gage

You can short the top of the sender (usually a pink wire) to ground and make sure the gauge jumps to full. If it doesn't it's the guage.... I bet it is the sender is the problem though. The rheostat (variable resistor) may be dead or the float arm could be all gummed up and stuck at 1/2

 

[GodsBeast]

Re: gas gage

Hey MassTerran, watch those gas fumes, good ventilation, a fan nearby might be a good idea, plus, nice to work under in this heat, sheeesh!<br /><br />A small meter that reads DC and Ohms might be nice to help you test the sending unit (they can cause sparks also though). <br /> Ralph's way will work, just watch the fumes. Look at me now, I'm one of those common sense warning labels. <br /><br />Just one of GodsBeast's

 

[MassTerran0202]

Re: gas gage

Ralph---I dont know what you mean by short the top of the sender to ground--- I am not much of a mechanic but I wanted to try something before I had to bring it to a mechanic

 

[Bondo]

Re: gas gage

On the back of the gauge, there are 2 terminals... (+ power),+ (- sender)... Ground out the sender terminal, the gauge Should go to Full.....<br />This is the Same test as stated by Ralph Spencer, Just done in a different place.....

 

[MassTerran0202]

Re: gas gage

how do you ground out the sender -- In other words what do I do step by step --What wires to I touch and how--- Thanks

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: gas gage

There are only three components to the system-gauge, level sender, and the connecting sender wire. The sender wire (usually pink colored) should be inspected for breaks in the copper or corroded connection to the terminals. <br /><br />The fuel gauge can be inspected in the following manner. Turn the ignition on. Remove the sender wire from back of gauge (usually labeled Send or simply S on the back of the gauge). Pointer must go below the empty mark. Next, connect the gauge sender terminal to ground (Usually labeled GND or simply G on you gauge). The pointer must go above the full mark. If the pointer moves past both E and F, the gauge is functional. <br /><br />To check the fuel level sender remove wires from sender terminal. Connect volt/ohmmeter to two sender terminals (digital ohmmeter will tend to be jumpy). Ohmmeter should read approximately:<br />1) 240 ohms @ empty <br />2) 100 ohms @ 1/2 and <br />3) 33 ohms @ full. <br /><br />If the sender is not sized properly for the tank, errors in gauge reading can also occur.<br /><br />If you are not comfortable or not sure you understand DO NOT DO IT YOURSELF. Bring it to a shop. I'd hate to have you fry something....

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: gas gage

GodsBeast <br /><br />There are no fumes as long as you leave sender assembled in the tank. The top of the sender has a connecctor with a wire (usually pink) and a spade terminal for ground. You can simply jump the 2 together (same thing as doing it at the guage but usually a heck of a lot easier to get to). That creates a short (0 ohms) and the needle should show above full on the guage.<br /><br />I think the blower discussion has everyone jumpy

 

[MassTerran0202]

Re: gas gage

thanks guys it was my sending unit it seems that the float was hung up --I took it out and droped it back in and It seems to work-- we will see have to keep an eye on it