Fuel Gauge Issues

[Saddlehorse]

Gauge isnt working, ran a jumper from negative on battery to sending unit wire to gauge and it pegged gauge out but it stuck there even after removing wire. Would issue be in gauge or sending unit?

 

[Scott Danforth]

welcome aboard

however now that you pegged the gauge, probably both, or a bad connection on the sender wire (pink wire)

 

[Saddlehorse]

Thanks .
Yeah kinda figured, good thing they are both fairly cheap. Getting tired of going to the lake and having to guess on how much fuel i have left. Just got the old boat 1987 Avanti 170DLI with OMC 3.0 and been working on the rats nest of wires from original owner since 1987.
been lurking in this forum for a a couple weeks and seems to be a ton of knowledgeable people and lots of helpful info so i am sure I will have tons more questios in the future.
thanks again

 

[Scott Danforth]

The wiring on the avanti was a rats nest from the factory

 

[Saddlehorse]

Yeah i could tell , still has the original wires plus the ones the original owner ran and he used just regular non tinned wires and now they are corroded and causing issues. Got all fixed but Trim sender and wires, speedometer and lights. Other than that boat is in great shape and runs like a new one.

 

[Saddlehorse]

Finally got to pull old sendin unit today to clean it up and test it. Couldn't get it it show anything on the meter set to ohm , so assuming it is bad .

 

[ajgraz]

If you’re replacing the sender, you might consider a reed sender instead of the floating arm type.

Easier install, less prone to wacky readings due to “fuel slosh”, and the inner parts aren’t exposed to fuel to corrode and go bad.

 

[Saddlehorse]

Have seen those whole searching for sender, they are little bit more but worth it if they work better.