Intermittent Fuel Guage

D&D Farm

D&D Farm

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Hey......My RTV fuel gauge did not work again today. This happened perhaps a week ago. Did not register the fuel in the tank nor when I filled it. Then a day or so later began to work just fine. Today, I jiggled the wires on the tank and the back of the guage. No good luck.

If I put on OHM meter on the connection at the back of the tank I should get voltage, right? What about the sending unit connections on top of the tank? Where else to look? Fuses are all good. Have not checked the ignition switch yet; but am wondering which connections there to fool with..........Any thoughts?????...........Thanks Guys...Dennis
 
Also Dennis, I am not an electrician by any and no means but it sounds like you might could use this info.. my shop manual says on troubleshooting the tank sensor: 1. Remove fuel level sensor from tank.2. Measure resistance with ohmmeter across sensor terminal and it's body .3. If reference values aren't indicated the sensor is faulty. Reference values with float at uppermost position 1 to 5 ohms, Lowermost position 103 to 117 ohms. According to the diagram , Empty is indeed straight down and Full is about 8 o'clock position (holding as positioned in tank.) The fuel gauge can be checked by measuring voltage across the I (ignition terminal) and the ground terminal with the switch on. If approximate battery voltage is present then the ignition and ground should be good. With the key off, a jumper lead can be connected between the S terminal and ground terminal then if the key is turned on and the gauge is good it should read full scale.If less than full scale then gauge is bad. If you need it, I can check my unit in the morning after chores and let you know which terminals are what. I have the diagram but am not sure of the orientation of the drawing. But, it APPEARS that ground is just below the letter "p" in patent on the backside of gauge and the I terminal is next to it with the S terminal directly below the I terminal. I hope this is all right but if it doesn't sound right hold off on it. Good Luck . Bordercollie
 
Thanks BC............DON'T do anything special just yet PLEASE............Might be a couple of days before I can really get into trouble shooting this thing. What you indicate is very doable; but for the next few days am trying to clean up a couple of 30" trees that have come down in recent downburst type storms.

God blesses me with the firewood which is fantastic; but it sure comes at a bad time to have to fool with. I have at least 2 real cords, NOT TOMMY TYPE....HUG, in rounds/sections ready to run through the splitter, with my part time/kid helper splitting already another true cord..............

Anyway, will try an ohmeter across the back of the guage and across the fuel tank sending unit this morning as I get my day started and get back to you..............ON and ON.........

Serenity prayer is in order for this ol AA guy...............God bless.....Dennis
 
Yes Muleman, for sure Brother..........And HE gives me the courage and strength to change those things HE wants me to.......14 years, one day at a time...........

Filled up the tank today. It had about an inch of fuel on a stick inserted into the tank. Wife went to the neighbors down the road in it and it wasn't registering. When she got back we went looking for our border collies that were out on the hunt. Found them up on top of the mountain. Still not registering fuel up there.......Got back to the barn to park it and it was working............Just gotta smile as it was a good sunset up on top of the hill...........On and on......Dennis
 
Dennis,
Think of the sender unit as a dimmer switch you have in the house for lights. The dimmer the light bulb the lower the fuel level. My bet is your sender is bad. Next time it does not work, just check for continuity across the two wire connections out of the sender with the main wire unplugged. Next month, I will have 27 years as friend of Bills.

Kerry
 
Coming up on 15 years and I still fight to take charge some times! That wisdom part kicks your butt when you need it. My gauge works fine and since I doubled the gasket on the new cap it does not slosh fuel out. Bill
 
Tried the tapping on everything, wiggling wires, and checking connections. Right now, getting in the firewood from trees blown over in recent storms, 36"X 150' oak and hickories, workin on the garden, repairing road damage on my 1/2 mile gravel road, editing video jobs, and getting out of the heat have taken a higher priority. One of these days, God will find the perfect time and point me in the direction of checking out the sending unit as described above by Kerry........THANKS.......Dennis
 
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