Can anyone help me with this control panel guage Issue

Oct 10, 2009
1,048
Catalina 27 3657 Lake Monroe
If I don't know what a gauge is measuring, I'd track the wiring back to the engine, then record it all for future use, rather than trying to diagnose by looking at it
 
Oct 26, 2010
2,155
Hunter 40.5 Beaufort, SC
Assuming it is the oil pressure gauge, keep in mind that the oil pressure warning light and the oil pressure indicator (gauge reading) on many, if not all, Yanmar's come off of two different sensors on the engine. The warning light comes on at a very low pressure (possibly as low as 4 to 5 psig).

First, is this a "new" condition (the light on) for a boat you've owned a long time or is it a boat you just acquired or intend to acquire? That should tell you something about where to concentrate your efforts. If you've had it a long time and the gauge has always read about where you are seeing it (even if you can't tell what the exact number is) then it is most likely a bad idiot light sensor. Fairly easy to replace. Could be a wiring issue too. I am sure someone on this sight or a youtube video has guidance on troubleshooting an idiot light.

I go by the Navy Nuc rule: Believe your indications. Figure out which one is right and get the other one fixed soon. You can do some fairly easy trouble shooting. You have one sensor that is telling you that pressure is okay and another that is telling you that pressure is dangerously low. You can do nothing and "roll the dice" but I would not.

The gauge is obviously old and has not been covered. In the future, you would be wise to cover your gauges and anything else that could be damaged like this when not in use.
 

colemj

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Jul 13, 2004
657
Dolphin Catamaran Dolphin 460 Mystic, CT
While the gauge face is cloudy, and that is enough to replace it if it can't be polished clear, I'd suspect the sender or wiring before the gauge. Assuming that gauge range is reasonable, it is not showing either high or low pressure. The warning light could be on because the wiring to the sender is broken, or the sender is bad. These types of gauges often use a single sender containing both the pressure transducer, and a warning transducer, with separate wires to each terminal. Check the wiring back to the warning terminal on the sender. If it is broken or a bad connection, then the light will stay on.

Mark
 
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