240 sundancer gas gauge went to Empty

J

jshack

New Member
Jun 25, 2011
19
Virginia
Boat Info
2004 Sea Ray 240 Sundancer
Engines
5.0 MPI Bravo III
I gassed up my 2004 Sundancer 240 the other day and the gas gauge stayed at 1/4 tank and then later dropped to empty. From what little research I have done so for, it appears that I may have a bad gas level sending unit. I looked in the engine compartment and it appears that the fresh water tank will need to come out to gain access to the top of the gas tank to replace the sending unit. Any helpful advise will be greatly appreciated. Should try to identify the sending unit part number , order one, and have it on-hand prior to starting the repair so I will not have to wait for the part to finish the job? Am I mistaken and the gas tank will need to be removed as well? Thank you.
 
Isn't that the idea? Mine starts around 3/4 and ends up at about 1/4 every weekend. How else can we expect to leave a proper carbon footprint? :lol:

All kidding aside, I call mine a "gas guesser" because it is so rarely correct. Have you tried using the Smartcraft calibration routine to set it?

Press in the MODE and TROLL+ buttons and hold for approximately 10 seconds for calibration 2. Use the MODE button to go through each screen.

You should get to a screen asking for tank capacity. Use the UP, DOWN, and SAVE buttons to set it.
Next, you will see a CALIBRATION FUEL TANK screen. Press the EDIT button.
The next screen should say EMPTY TANK THEN PRESS PLUS BUTTON. Hit DFLT and a default value will be entered based on the capacity of the tank.
The next screen should say FILL TO 1/4 THEN PRESS PLUS BUTTON. Hit DFLT and a default value will be entered based on the capacity of the tank.
The next screen should say FILL TO 1/2 THEN PRESS PLUS BUTTON. Hit DFLT and a default value will be entered based on the capacity of the tank.
The next screen should say FILL TO 3/4 THEN PRESS PLUS BUTTON. Hit DFLT and a default value will be entered based on the capacity of the tank.
The next screen should say FILL TO FULL THEN PRESS PLUS BUTTON. Hit DFLT and a default value will be entered based on the capacity of the tank.

I entered the capacity on mine, and then used the DFLT value for each level since I have a rectangular shaped tank. You really only need to do each level if you have an irregular shaped tank.

Good luck!
 
I didn't know the Smartcraft was even an option to resolve this! Cant wait to try this, thank you.
 
Worth checking the connections if before you put in a new sender. I know with mine, water tends to sit on top of the tank around that area from people getting in the boat wet. My gauge started acting up and it turned out cleaning up the corroded connections fixed it. Either way it's a cheap fix, but might save you the aggravation of removing the sender.
 
I tried this procedure today and selecting the tank size was first but my next screen when I hit Edit it gave me Default Calibration or Add Fuel? With DFLT and Add options only? No Edit button. Couldn't get it to work, any ideas? Thank you
 
I think if you had hit the DFLT button, it would have assumed a square or "regular" shaped tank and it would have calibrated it for you to work with one.

See page 26 of this manual

There are several different Smartcraft gauges and each seems to have a slightly different routine. There's another fuel calibration routine on page 120, although it is substantially the same.
 
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It appears that my next step will be to remove and replace the gas tank sending unit. I will try to have the replacement unit on-hand when before I start. It appears that will have to remove the water storage tank to get to the top of the gas tank. How do I locate the replacement sending unit?
 
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