fuel gauge

[John]

On a trip to Monterey, I found that my fuel gauge had stopped functioning. The needle didn't move from off of the below-zero where it rests when the gauges are turned off. When I got to Monterey, I took a voltmeter and checked the wiring. It showed that it was getting a signal on all wires, so I figured the gauge was bad. I bought a new one at Napa auto parts (Waste Marine didn't have one) and installed it. As soon as I turned the key, the needle went up... and up and up -- to past full, and there it stayed, even when I turned the key off. After a few hours of motoring (to Santa Cruz) I refueled, and suddenly the gauge was working again. Then, an hour or so later, the needle was up past the full and stuck there.

When I got back to the SF Bay, I refueled in the Oakland/Alameda estuary... and suddenly the gauge was functioning again!

I was thinking it might be the float, but why would it work, stop working and then work again - repeatedly? And if it was the float, why would it send a signal, as shown by the volt meter? Any other ideas, other than gremlins? And if you think it's gremlins, any suggestions on how to get rid of the buggers?

 

[Stu Jackson]

Simple, your sender is kaput. It's a resistor on a slide and it's worn out in one place, no gremlins, just the way it is. Either replace it or do what i do: http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=613314

 

[Steve Dion]

John: Consider one of the Wema gauges. It is a direct replacement for the sender and was extremely easy to install.

I am not an electrical type guy, so that part was a little more confusing for me, but we got it whipped with some harbor help.

http://wemausa.com/

 

[John]

Steve, what's the difference between this gauge and others? From looking at their web site it looks to me like I'd have to replace the float and everything, which would mean a lot more work - maybe even cutting out something to get to the tank. Also, Stu, I posted a question to the C36 site asking about access to the sender unit.

John

 

[Steve Dion]

John: I removed 5 screws from the manual tank sender, and removed the float assy. I inserted the new one with a gasket and screwed in the 5 screws. If you have an electric gauge you may only need to connect the two wires.

 

[Warren Milberg]

My fuel "guage" is somewhat like Stu's, but not as "complex:" it has one moving part, a number 2 pencil. This guage will never wear out, require maintenance, or disappoint me by telling me the wrong amount of fuel in my tank. Just firgure how much fuel your engine consumes per hour at various rpm rates and keep track of engine hours. These are basic functions I would recommend to all boat owners regardless of the type of fuel guage you have....