fuel gauge?

[C YENSEN]

So where do I get a replacement gauge for my 84' ???

[Franco]

ANY OF THE BOAT STORES, DO A SEARCH ON THIS SITE BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL THREADS ON THE PROS AND CONS OF A FUEL GAUGE ALONG WITH WIRING TIPS AND DIAGNOSTICS.

[C YENSEN]

maybe I got a little ahead of myself, so the gauge isn't working.

All the other gauges work fine, there are four connections and wires on the back of the gauge, the light blue wire and connection on top turns the light on for the gauge, (it works), the connection on the right with the purple wires, is hot when the power is on, the one in the center is the ground, and the connection on the left has a red wire on it.

The one on the left never lights up with the test light. I think it is the one going to the tank. I also replaced the sending unit in the fall.

So I guess my question is

"Should the wire that goes to the tank light up with the test light when the power is on, and should the test light come on at the sending unit?

[msbhammer]

I think not. Its my understanding, the purple runs to the tank. Never run a positive wire to the tank. (BOOM) !!.

[reelapeelin]

is it grounded?

[willy]

Cy before I would touch anything with the potential for spark to anything with vroom juice I would do a search on this site, I remember The Grand Puhbah putting out a nice disertation on the subject last year while he was holding court one day ;D he had redone his and all his V's wiring.
that was in 2005 BC Before Crabby

[Franco]

Yeah, I'm a little leary on wading in on this subject cause it was a heated discussion last year. That being said here goes. You need to have a ground wire from the sending unit to the battery ground. And a second ground for corrosion. You will have a voltage signal coming from the gauge to the sending unit. Your gauge is llooking for a ground to make the needle move, the sending unit id a variable resistor, the more current that flows thru the sending uniy, the more the nedle moves.
Here is a link to a typical wiring diagram
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67...ingdiagram.jpg

Your wire colors may be different, But the voltage(red) wire feed the gauge, the ground (black) goes to the sending unit, thru the sending uniy and out to battery ground. The light(red/white wire) comes hot with your nav lights and the blue is the ground for the light. Hope this helps, comments welcome!!

[shicks007]

On my Evinrude purple is ign. wire (hot when the key is on)

[Franco]

I agree, wiring colors will be different - just wanted to show typical wiring diagram

[macojoe]

I still like mine!! There isn't one ;)