Dead Fuel Gauge

[LastCall1984]

Hi All, my '84 Express Cruiser 3100 has a dead starboard fuel gauge. I'm considering trying to replace it this spring but have zero idea how or where to begin. Anyone know of any resources online or elsewhere that would help me get started?

[Billm]

You must first determine if the problem is in the fuel gauge or the sending unit. So open up the instrument panel. Take the wire going into the bad fuel gauge and move it to the good one. You may need to make up a short jumper wire to reach other one. If the problem migrates to the other gauge, then you know the sender is bad. To verify, reverse the test to see that the bad gauge now works,

As I have said many times on the forum, most electrical problems can be solved by simply cleaning corrosion off wire connection points. So try that first.

[LastCall1984]

Source of the post You must first determine if the problem is in the fuel gauge or the sending unit. So open up the instrument panel. Take the wire going into the bad fuel gauge and move it to the good one. You may need to make up a short jumper wire to reach other one. If the problem migrates to the other gauge, then you know the sender is bad. To verify, reverse the test to see that the bad gauge now works,

As I have said many times on the forum, most electrical problems can be solved by simply cleaning corrosion off wire connection points. So try that first.

Thanks Bill! It will be a good 6+ weeks before I can get to her, but I am adding this to my list for spring. Appreciate the advice!

[daveswellcraft]

For this era boat, all the gauges work the same. One wire from the gauge goes to the sensor. If you ground this wire out at the gauge, with the key on, the needle will go to full deflection. With fuel, you will show a full tank, with oil pressure it will show maximum, same thing with temperature. I would find the easiest place to do this at the gauge or sensor. I had a faulty gas tank float. The float actually sunk and the gauge showed empty all the time.