Vibrating Fuel Gauge

[MASTER Brian]

My fuel gauge has always vibrated a bit, but it seemed worse yesterday when I took the boat out for the 1st time this season.

It's not just vibrating a little, it seems to jump all over the place. It acts different depending upon which tank I have selected, so I wonder if my problem is likely in my 20 year old gauge or in the sender units.

My trucks fuel gauge vibrates and I was told that was caused by a faulty stepper motor in the gauge, but I don't know if that would be the case in the boat as well. Even if it is, it's probably cheaper/easier to just buy a new gauge for the boat.

Just curious if it's possible to easily figure out what's causing this.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Vibrating Fuel Gauge

There is no stepper motor in the gauge, It's a simple moving coil arrangement that receives a voltage from the sender in the tank. From your description, I gather the needle is "jumping" across the dial and not just gradually "drifting" between two readings. If the needle is jumping around, I'd suspect some loose connections either at the gauge or at the sender. Drifting of the needle between any two points is caused by fuel sloshing around in the tank causing the float arm to rise and fall depending on the attitude of the boat, roughness of the water, etc. The problem can be worse with long, shallow tanks like mine. The fuel gauge was so erratic I installed a fuel flow monitor which gives me an accurate indication of fuel remaining, instantaneous fuel flow rate, total used and total for a trip.

 

[MASTER Brian]

Re: Vibrating Fuel Gauge

Yes, it is jumping. I guess I'll go visit Teleflex's site and see if they have any diagrams on how the system "should" be wired and if need be, I'll run all new wires for my system. If that doesn't solve it, I'll buy a new gauge, which I am planning on doing anyway, as I want newer cleaner gauges. Since I added a new shiny water pressure gauge, all my other gauges look horrible!!

Then, last but not least I'll replace the sending units. But if what you are diciphering is correct, it sounds as if it's just faulty wiring. Thanks!

 

[RV-Dean]

Re: Vibrating Fuel Gauge

Here is a great link that was provided to me on the same topic recently:

http://www.teleflexmarine.com/cgi-bin/frameset2.cgi?site=gauges&type=us&link2=1047

My cause was a loose connector on the back of the guage.

 

[MASTER Brian]

Re: Vibrating Fuel Gauge

Thanks for the link, that should help!