fuel gauge not working.

AFD

AFD

Active Member
Jul 29, 2012
1,250
Boston Harbor/Falmouth Ma
Boat Info
1997 Sundancer 290 The fat beam version
Engines
twins.
Starboard 5.0 alpha 220HP
Port 357 alpha 275hp
4HP Yamaha for Dinghy
i pulled my boat out of storage from a 5 year sleep after blowing the motor, removed the fuel tank and dumped it out and rinsed it our with new gas a few times just to be sure, dropped off to the mechanic with a new motor and put a half a tank in it on the way over to his place. i turned the key to the acc position and the gauge was workng just fine. picked it up and it wasn't working. it was getting a signal or at least power because the needle would jump a little when the key was activated but not reading where it should be. i put another few gallons in it to see if it would go up. i even replace the fuel gauge (because i was replacing all the gauges anyway) and it still isn't reading correctly.

i know there is at least a quarter of a tank in it and it reads E all the time now.

any ideas ??? thanks.
 
Well for starters you figure that the sender (in the tank) has been hung up with all the moving and shaking, or because it's old and crochety, or whatever, so maybe take it out and look at it or replace it..
 
I bought my 370 in March. The PO told me the port side gauge was the one to use because the starboard was stuck on full. (I can only wish!)

So the solution, without getting all worried is simple. 2 new senders in the spring, calibrate...done. This stuff just isn't worth messing with. It is one of the more reasonably priced fixes you'll ever do on your hole in the water I which you pour money.

Mark
 
ok, thanks for the replies. i'll look into the replacement as the boat will stay "FULL" from now until i get a new sender if that is the problem. maybe it just needs calibration as i have installed new gauges and just redid a TON of the wiring.

anyone fill me in on how to calibrate the gauge?

anybody know where to find a good price on a sending unit without calling the sea ray dealer?
i can't find it in the parts catalog for my year on the download.
 
Last edited:
this is two gauges. i had one in working condition when i dropped the boat off to the mechanic and verrified that it was a half a tank then got the boat back and it wasn't working. it has power and it moves off of the "dead empty needle stop" but it still says "E" it wont go up at all. the only gauge that isn't working right now and it is really pissing me off. i haven't had this boat in the water in 5 years and i have spent all the nice weather restoring it and replacing carpet, wires, dashboard, glovebox, windsheild, outdrive, and new engine. this is killng me.
 
i am at work for the next 24 hrs and am supposed to put the boat in the water tomorrow for a test then this weekend it is going out for some sandbar fun...just trying to fix all the bugs before i get it out.
 
AFD said:
i pulled my boat out of storage from a 5 year sleep after blowing the motor, removed the fuel tank and dumped it out and rinsed it our with new gas a few times just to be sure, dropped off to the mechanic with a new motor and put a half a tank in it on the way over to his place. i turned the key to the acc position and the gauge was workng just fine. picked it up and it wasn't working. it was getting a signal or at least power because the needle would jump a little when the key was activated but not reading where it should be. i put another few gallons in it to see if it would go up. i even replace the fuel gauge (because i was replacing all the gauges anyway) and it still isn't reading correctly.

i know there is at least a quarter of a tank in it and it reads E all the time now.

any ideas ??? thanks.
Click to expand...

My first "idea" would be to test the integrity of the ground to the sender unit and then test the wiring and the gauge.
 
good point. the wiring to the gauge is perfect, triple checked. just got home and didn't even consider the ground to the sending unit. thanks. i'm running outside now.
 
just in case this isn't the cause can anyone tell me how to caibrate the new fuel gauge?
 
ok. ran a separate ground just in case and no fix. ran a second signal wire and no fix. it is getting a signal somewhat because it is moving off of the resting position.

does anybody know how to calibrate a new fuel gauge?
 
Ok, ill give it a try when I get home. picked up a "detail" watching people weld at Wal-Mart overnight. I'll checck in the am. Thanks Techmitch.
 
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