Forums
NautiqueParts.comNautiqueSkins.com - Correct Craft Upholstery and Part
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Fuel Gauge is Fluctuating Badly?
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Register Register  Login Login

Fuel Gauge is Fluctuating Badly?

 Post Reply Post Reply   
Author
chuckactor View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: August-20-2013
Location: Ft Collins CO
Status: Offline
Points: 102
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote chuckactor Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Fuel Gauge is Fluctuating Badly?
    Posted: September-20-2013 at 8:37pm
On my old ocean boat the fuel sender was constantly causing issues. I replaced it with a Centroid capacitance sensor. They work great. The only issue is that that don't work with all gauges.

http://www.centroidproducts.com/

There are no moving parts. It wires in like the stock sensor (2-wire version). The cool part is that there are two pots on the sensor. You can adjust the full and empty levels. If you want the tank to read empty at a 1/4 tank you can. That way you can fake a reserve. All you have to do is give them the depth of the tank and they will make it any length you want. Mine was bullet proof for years.

Chuck
Back to Top
Steve_SN2001 View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: September-18-2013
Location: Toronto, OH
Status: Offline
Points: 64
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Steve_SN2001 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September-20-2013 at 7:48pm
I saw those beefier sending units on skidim this morning I was hoping one of them would work. Not a big fan of the toilet bowl design....
Back to Top
Steve_SN2001 View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: September-18-2013
Location: Toronto, OH
Status: Offline
Points: 64
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Steve_SN2001 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September-20-2013 at 7:44pm
The problem with that is the tank is full so it's reading full, that's the only function it does properly. Lol
Back to Top
Hollywood View Drop Down
Moderator Group
Moderator Group
Avatar

Joined: February-04-2004
Location: Twin Lakes, WI
Status: Offline
Points: 13514
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Hollywood Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September-20-2013 at 5:38pm
Better yet remove the black since you dot need tools and tap it on the pink wire post. Or even better YET cross them with a screw driver.
Back to Top
Bri892001 View Drop Down
Grand Poobah
Grand Poobah
Avatar

Joined: September-27-2008
Location: Boston MA
Status: Offline
Points: 4947
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bri892001 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September-20-2013 at 1:58pm
One quick test though:

Remove your red/pink wire from the center, and ground it directly onto the metal ring, or touch it/connect it to the same place as your black ground wire.

If the gauge pegs steady to full, with no fluctuation, that's a pretty sure sign your sender is the issue.

Back to Top
Bri892001 View Drop Down
Grand Poobah
Grand Poobah
Avatar

Joined: September-27-2008
Location: Boston MA
Status: Offline
Points: 4947
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bri892001 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September-20-2013 at 1:45pm
I was able to get mine out on my 93 without removing the tank.

You'll have to finesse it a bit, but the old senders are basically a float on a piece of wire coat hanger.

The float pretty much takes up the whole diameter of the sender opening, so it's a matter of pulling it out/feeding it back in the right way.

They make newer, better quality senders for the money, like mentioned here:
http://www.correctcraftfan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=26697
I'm thinking you might lose a little installation flexibility with the better quality type, but not sure.
Back to Top
Steve_SN2001 View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: September-18-2013
Location: Toronto, OH
Status: Offline
Points: 64
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Steve_SN2001 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September-20-2013 at 8:53am
Thanks! Now I wonder if I can fanangle it out of there without removing the gas tank since it's pretty much full and it's already winterized....
Back to Top
Hollywood View Drop Down
Moderator Group
Moderator Group
Avatar

Joined: February-04-2004
Location: Twin Lakes, WI
Status: Offline
Points: 13514
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Hollywood Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September-20-2013 at 2:02am
It's definitely the sending unit. Start by removing the wires and cleaning up the connections. It might get better but really the float is probably not as bouyant as it use to be.
Back to Top
Steve_SN2001 View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: September-18-2013
Location: Toronto, OH
Status: Offline
Points: 64
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Steve_SN2001 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September-20-2013 at 12:05am
1987 SN2001, When I fill up the tank the gauge reads full like it should, after a couple pulls and the gas level starts to go down the gauge starts acting nuts. It just goes up and down through the whole range of the gauge sporadically and never stops moving even if the boat is sitting still at the dock. Thoughts??? The gauge? Sending Unit in the tank?
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Copyright 2024 | Bagley Productions, LLC