Fuel gauge not working

[mkmnc]

I have a 1991 pontoon boat and the fuel gauge has stopped working. It seems to have power because when you turn the ignition key, the gauge jumps a little but returns to the empty end of the gauge. I assume these work with a float in the tank. Since I have had the boat the gauge has worked correctly and I have been filling the tank when I get to 1/4 left. This past weekend, I took the boat out and we almost went to far and when we got back the tank was almost completely empty. I refilled and the gauge never worked after the refill. Does this sound like the float is stuck? I found some info thru the search function on how to trouble shoot the gauge and will try but I could not get the fuel system diagram to download. It just seems that there is a correlation between the low fuel level and the gauge not working. Is the float difficult to repair if that is the problem?

 

[Bondo]

Is the float difficult to repair if that is the problem?

Ayuh,.... Generally speakin', ya just change the sender,.... If it Tests bad of course,....

 

[alldodge]

I have a 1991 pontoon boat and the fuel gauge has stopped working. It seems to have power because when you turn the ignition key, the gauge jumps a little but returns to the empty end of the gauge. I assume these work with a float in the tank. Since I have had the boat the gauge has worked correctly and I have been filling the tank when I get to 1/4 left. This past weekend, I took the boat out and we almost went to far and when we got back the tank was almost completely empty. I refilled and the gauge never worked after the refill. Does this sound like the float is stuck? I found some info thru the search function on how to trouble shoot the gauge and will try but I could not get the fuel system diagram to download. It just seems that there is a correlation between the low fuel level and the gauge not working. Is the float difficult to repair if that is the problem?

Turn the key on, take a jumper wire and ground the sender wire on the tank, the meter should peg full. If it pegs full its the sender.

If it does not peg, go to the gauge and ground the same lead on the back of the gauge. If it pegs, its the wire between gauge and sender, if it does not peg its the gauge.

For all the above test you need 12V going to the guage

 

[Alumarine]

Here's a link to the faria test procedures. It shows you how to test the sender as well.
I recently had a problem where my float would get struck on the bottom of the tank and would show empty all the time.
I had to adjust the float arm.

http://faria-instruments.com/site_manuals/IS0345A.pdf