Fuel Gauge Help Please

[Uncle Joe]

Hello All......I own a 1982 Offshore.....most everything has been replaced/restored to this point. I was out fishing last week and out of nowhere my fuel gauge for the main tank went out. I know I had at least 1/2 tank and the needle dropped to E. When I hit the switch to turn it on it twitches up a bit then immediately drops back down to E. Where would you guys start? I am hesitant to take up the main deck plate as I have a swing back cooler seat installed over it and it would be a PITA. I will remove it if I have to , of course.

Thanks All!
Joe

 

[luckydude]

I don't know the answer, to me it sounds like the sending unit took a crap. But if your gauges include flow rate and gallons used, you can fill up your tank and put a sticky up there that says "Full at XXX gallons" and just watch the gallon gauge. It's a hack but I know people who have done that.

 

[Legend]

Souds like sending unit - mine have access through the popout deck plate. Easy fix just make sure your hole alignment is correct as it is easy to strip. I marked a line from on the existing sender and the tank so I could easily identify the correct orientation. Make sure there is not a full tanks of gas as it will leak out from the top when sender is removed. There have been a few tips on the site from the electrical specialists about a way to test your sender using a ground wire.

 

[drbatts]

agreed, probably the sender or a least the first place to start. Check and clean the connections first. They are usually under a round deck plate which will eventually leak and cause crud to build up underneath.

 

[DennisG01]

The sending unit is the place to start. If you don't have a removable pie plate in the floor for access then you don't have a choice. Pull the floor panel. Install a pie plate for future access.

BUT... you SHOULD have a pie plate... why don't you have one? Did someone get rid of it and re-glass the hole?

 

[SkunkBoat]

I would start with the connections to the gauge and to the sender and from the tank to the battery ground.
Also measure the sender.

Yamaha digital gauge or is it an old school analog gauge?

 

[seasick]

I would check the tank ground if that is where the sender is grounded to.

 

[Uncle Joe]

The sending unit is the place to start. If you don't have a removable pie plate in the floor for access then you don't have a choice. Pull the floor panel. Install a pie plate for future access.

BUT... you SHOULD have a pie plate... why don't you have one? Did someone get rid of it and re-glass the hole?

I do have a pie plate but I think the previous owner (many moons ago) changed out the tank and the sender is not aligned with the pie plate.

 

[Uncle Joe]

I would start with the connections to the gauge and to the sender and from the tank to the battery ground.
Also measure the sender.

Yamaha digital gauge or is it an old school analog gauge?

Old school all the way on this boat.

 

[DennisG01]

I do have a pie plate but I think the previous owner (many moons ago) changed out the tank and the sender is not aligned with the pie plate.

Ah, gotcha. Well, I guess you have the answer as to what you need to do to get to the sender, then!