beneteau 331 fuel gauge sender removal

[cumbraen]

i have faulty fuel gauge which always reads full except when ignition is off. Several friends have tried to get the sender unit out of the top of the fuel tank but no matter how we manipulate the angles we cant get the thing out of the tank to check the float arm. any one with a beneteau 331 /volvo penta who can advise

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Looks like they built the boat around the tank. Can you drill a hole above the tank on deck, or on whatever is above the tank to install an inspection port big enough to get your hand in? I should be watertight so rain water won't seep down. Perhaps not the best solution, but maybe one. Also you can buy small right angle screw drivers for tight spots to remove the screws around the sending unit. Once you can lift the unit up, you might be able to get it out. And, perhaps you should check out the rest of the unit. Maybe you will find another component is the problem and then you don't have to go to the sender. Make sure all your wires are not corroded and fittings solid/tight. Make sure it is not the read out display first, then deal with the sender last.

 

[larryw]

I had a Perkins in my former boat, but; panel wiring can be problematic in that it will pass all tests but still not function right. Take the installed wiring out of the equation by disconnecting all the wiring from the sender and from the back of the fuel guage. Run two test wires straight from connection to connection, maintaining polarity. You have to know apprx. how much fuel is in the tank to test the gauge, but turn on the key. If the gauge reads right, that is, about how much you think is in there, the wiring is the culprit. Either find the poor connection, or simply sister in two more wires in neat and tidy manner. I had a lot of problems with the temp sensor/guage and running a totally independant wire finally found the problem. Be aware, Beneteaus are a two-wire system, in that the engine block is not used as a ground (at least it wasn't on my former Bene, a '94 OC400). Your mileage may differ, but if there are no zinc pencils in the heat exchanger, you probably have the same set-up. A European thing, even tho it may have been built in SC.