fuel gauge quit

External Since: May 19, 2004 Posts: 10

1979 glastron bass boat, mounted tank. i was messing with the wires
around the battery one day, and now noted that the fuel gauge is inop.
it pegs slighty to below e when i hit the acces power switch. is this
a power problem, ground or meter stuck? any sugestions? i actualy have
not checked much yet. did not pull any wires loose that i can see.
also since i have had the boat, the tach never worked. it also has the
same simular problem. it goes neg slightly when powered. any help
before i get into the job would be nice. thanks

External Since: Oct 20, 2003 Posts: 304

"kozmo6969" wrote in message

>
> is this
> a power problem, ground or meter stuck? any sugestions? i actualy have
> not checked much yet.

The easiest way to narrow down the possibilities is to remove the wire from
the sending unit on the tank. Turn the ignition on, and touch the wire to
ground. The gauge should go from "pegged low" to "pegged high". Don't do
this too much, it is possible to bend the needle in the gauge as it snaps
back and forth.

If nothing happens when you touch the wire to ground, then either what you
are touching it to isn't ground (which could be the problem, the sending
unit needs a ground), there is a break in the wire between the gauge and the
tank, the gauge is bad, or the gauge isn't getting power.

If the needle snaps back and forth when you touch the wire to ground then
the problem is in the sending unit. It could be that it has lost its ground
connection or the sending unit may have failed. They are a mechanical
device and they do fail from time to time. If you have access to it then
replacing it usually isn't a problem.

Rod