Boats For Sale:
Fuel Sender / Gauge Issue |
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91NaughtyQ 
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Joined: July-27-2015 Location: NC Status: Offline Points: 289 |
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 Topic: Fuel Sender / Gauge IssuePosted: July-23-2019 at 4:26pm |
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I know there has been many posts about the subject, but I couldn't find an answer so posting now-
The issue I am having is that the gauge reads empty once at half a tank. I have visually inspected tank level. I don't want to just order a new sender if there may be something I can check and or fix. Any thoughts? Thanks, Gary |
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1991 Ski Nautique
(Previous)1984 Ski Nautique 2001 |
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah 
Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045 |
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Posted: July-23-2019 at 5:45pm |
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Gary,
Without pulling the sender, the only things you can check/do are: Clean all connections that may be causing extra resistance. Make sure the tank sender is grounded well with no resistance to the block. Check to see I you get the 12 volts nominal to the gauge. I have a feeling there's an issue with the sender. |
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KENO
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Joined: June-06-2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 11093 |
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Posted: July-23-2019 at 6:14pm |
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Did this just start happening or has it been like this for a long time? |
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1993R
Groupie 
Joined: July-27-2005 Location: Hawthorne, FL. Status: Offline Points: 48 |
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Posted: July-23-2019 at 6:19pm |
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I had the same issue and replaced the sender with one of the new electric ones.
It helped a little but I still hade the same issue. Now only 1.4 tank off It ended up being my contacts in the dash. Once I cleaned them it was fixed. Also lowered my temps by a few degrees |
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91NaughtyQ
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Joined: July-27-2015 Location: NC Status: Offline Points: 289 |
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Posted: July-23-2019 at 6:37pm |
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It has been this way for a while, but I didn't realize it. I just thought I was burning through a lot of gas. It dawned on me when I was on E (I usually never go below between 1/4 - 1/2) and went to fill it up and it only took 16 gallons. Thanks, Gary |
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1991 Ski Nautique
(Previous)1984 Ski Nautique 2001 |
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91NaughtyQ
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Joined: July-27-2015 Location: NC Status: Offline Points: 289 |
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Posted: July-23-2019 at 6:40pm |
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I completely rewired the dash 2 weeks ago, (fixed my temp issue and a host of others as well) so that isn't it. I did a quick test (ski dim tech had me do it) and the sender is bad. Ordered a new one today. I will post an update once installed and I go below 1/2 tank. |
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1991 Ski Nautique
(Previous)1984 Ski Nautique 2001 |
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8122pbrainard
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Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045 |
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Posted: July-23-2019 at 6:46pm |
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Gary, Did he have you ground the sender wire to see if the gauge pegged? |
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KENO
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Joined: June-06-2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 11093 |
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Posted: July-23-2019 at 6:51pm |
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I imagine he had you ground the sender and watch the gauge peg at FULL. (edit Pete was a little faster on that question)
 You probably have the floating arm type sender and often with a little patience you can tweak (AKA bend) the wire arm that the float is on to get reasonably accurate readings from FULL to EMPTY. You might have to do that with the hew one too if you bought the same type . If you got one of the electronic WEMA type, they're generally better as long as the tube is right for the tank depth. You can search for WEMA on here for info. |
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91NaughtyQ
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Posted: July-23-2019 at 6:59pm |
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Yes |
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1991 Ski Nautique
(Previous)1984 Ski Nautique 2001 |
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91NaughtyQ
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Joined: July-27-2015 Location: NC Status: Offline Points: 289 |
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Posted: July-23-2019 at 7:01pm |
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Keno - That is correct and yes it is the old float and arm type. I bought one of the new stainless ones with the rod to the correct length and the float rides up and down on that.
Ski Dim Part Gary |
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1991 Ski Nautique
(Previous)1984 Ski Nautique 2001 |
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah
Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045 |
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Posted: July-23-2019 at 7:04pm |
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That's simply a very quick test and not at all conclusive. It basically tests the gauge and not resistance in the wiring from bad connections nor the sender. Get the VOM out and:
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91NaughtyQ
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Joined: July-27-2015 Location: NC Status: Offline Points: 289 |
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Posted: July-29-2019 at 12:34am |
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New sender fixed the issue. Thanks for all the input guys.
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1991 Ski Nautique
(Previous)1984 Ski Nautique 2001 |
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91NaughtyQ wrote: