1988 Celebrity 195v Fuel Gauge

[Wanshot]

Hi all, I have an issue, OK my sender has power and sends a signal to dash so I Assume that the gauge is inop. (needle at dead South no matter what even a direct bypass) So I need a new gauge, Now doing a searh here comes a bit short, do to the special mounting for Celebriy/Champion boat dashboard. The wiring is in a sealed harnass w/3 pin plug. "NOT", the 3 post w/bolt-nut style. OK I would like to restore to factory if possible, so does anyone know where to aquire said gauge ? Or am I doomed to buy new style and rig a new mount? The mounting for the original has clips w/holes for mounting on bolts in dash. Any gauge is better than no gauge but would like to keep it original if possible......Anyone know where to get gauge? Iboats (to my searches found nothing in this style). Thanks in advanced......

 

[Silvertip]

Re: 1988 Celebrity 195v Fuel Gauge

Try Great Lakes Skipper (greatlakesskipper.com). But before you pop for a gauge, the sender does not have power applied. It is a resistive element. The amount of resistance it presents to the "S" terminal on the gauge is what the gauge is really reading. So -- Disconnect the wire at the threaded post on the sender. Measure resistance to ground (the shell of the sender). If you have an idea roughly how much fuel is in the tank the resistance will be 33 ohms for a full tank, 109 for 1/2 tank and about 240 ohms empty. If that checks out, then verify the wiring between the sender and the gauge. That doesn't mean looking at it and saying "yup". If means actually making the same resistance measurement at the gauge end of the sener wire. Then make sure the gauge has +12 volts and ground. You can test for that with the connector unplugged from the gauge. It is rare that the gauge itself goes bad. The probabilities are as follows: 1) wiring, 2) wiring, 3) sender and 4) the gauge. Remember -- ALWAYS diagnose, isolate and THEN repair or replace. Shotgunning a problem is generally a costly way to find out the problem is not what you thought.

 

[NYBo]

Re: 1988 Celebrity 195v Fuel Gauge

Can you post a picture of the gauge or at least describe its appearance more fully, in case troubleshooting does indeed point to it being bad?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: 1988 Celebrity 195v Fuel Gauge

The gauge is like any other gauge except it has a plug-in arrangement rather than threaded or spade terminals for the electrical connections.

 

[NYBo]

Re: 1988 Celebrity 195v Fuel Gauge

The gauge is like any other gauge except it has a plug-in arrangement rather than threaded or spade terminals for the electrical connections.

The reason I asked for a picture is I have the OEM fuel gauge from my boat that has such a connector. I've replaced my instruments and don't need the old gauge anymore. It's the square "Star Wars" type, like this: