Gas gauge question

[79Invader]

Hey guys, hope you’re staying safe and healthy. Anyways I went to take my boat out and noticed the gas gauge wasn’t working, was on E (I just filled it up last week when I went out last). I popped the sender out and cleaned the contracts, still same issue. I tested the gauge my shorting the pink sender wire to ground. Gauge pegged all the way to full, actually way past full. Putting a resistor in between the pink wire and ground wire doesn’t change the needle. Neither does an open circuit or when you take the key out. Did I damage my gauge my shorting the wires? Took the sender apart and cleaned it, no change, needle stuck beyond full. Should I just replace my sender? Thanks.

 

[Tassie 1]

Sorry, can't help

but son had the exact same problem yesterday,
l suspect his problem is the sender but l'm not 100% sure so l'll be interested in the answer as well

 

[Chris1956]

Gee, take the sender out of the tank, reconnect the wires and see if the gauge moves correctly. Alternatively, take a resistance of known value and connect it in place of the sender and see what the gauge shows. I believe the gauge range is 0-240 ohms. make sure the wiring is clean and tight.

 

[Tassie 1]

Just changed the sender in the end,
works now

 

[gm280]

I suspect the needle is just stuck pass full. Most sensor use the 30-240 ohm range where 30 ohms is full and 240 empty. Shorting the leads merely sends a beyond full resistance to the gauge. But I doubt it damaged it. Same idea with an open, circuit. That sends a beyond empty tank signal to the gauge. So since you verified the wires are good to the gauge via the shorting them and seeing the gauge go beyond full, I suspect the sensor is the issue. If you have a multi-meter you could test the resistance straight out of the sensor to see... Look for 30 ohms full to 240 ohms empty. JMHO

 

[79Invader]

Tested the sender in the tank with my multi meter and it just shows an open circuit. I’m sure it’s broken. Hopefully my gauge is fine and re sets itself with a new sender. Thanks guys.