Fuel Gauge stopped working

[lbrachfe]

It died today and I figure that it is the sending unit on top of the fuel tank and will remove the stainless cover plate in the morning and remove a wire and ground it while the ignition key is on and see if it jumps up and if so it's a bad sender and if not it's the interior dash gauge. Anyone have a source to purchase both the sender and the black face fuel gauge that Newell no longer stocks ????

[The Newell]

Hey Larry,

Did you by chance check the fuse and the ground if you have not already.

Joseph

[Neweller]

Larry, here's a post from Russ White where he just dealt with the same problem last month on his '99. http://newellclassic.com/forum/showthread.php/1930-DIY-Fuel-Tank-Sender?highlight=fuel+sending+unit


Ken

[Neweller]

Larry, I forgot to ask if its a VDO gauge? If I could go through all my RV parts which are packed away upstairs from my last move, I know I have several VDO's with either black or gold trim and I'd just send you a gauge. If it is the gauge you may not want to wait that long, especially being on the road, if you rolling. I've been meaning to go through some of the stuff but I had been down with a hernia and the temps have been a little uncomfortable in the upstairs, it's a early morning kind of thing.

[lbrachfe]

Joseph,
The fuse is the same for the entire instrument panel and is fine and so is the ground, but thanks

[lbrachfe]

Ken,
YES, It is a VDO all black fuel gauge and if you do find one I would be happy to pay for it and your shipping cost. Let me know when and if you find one and thanks a bunch as they are not easy to find when you don't know the sources

[lbrachfe]

Ken,
I sent Russ a message and hope to hear back soon. Thank you very much for posting his piece and for your offer and search.

[Neweller]

Larry, can you post a pic of the gauge? I know the one's I have were made around the same year as your coach. Most of the gauges are white with gold trim, especially the RPM and speedo's, I had some brand new complete dashes with gauges and switches, but I'm thinking a while back I gutted everything to compact it down for storage and shipping. Heck, I have a load of small electronic parts and solenoids that I don't even know what a lot of its for. It was surplus from an RV manufacturer I used to source for.


Ken

[ccjohnson]

Larry,
I had same problem with my coach. I got in a hurry to change sending unit. After changing sending unit still diidn't work. Turned out it was a wire that came off of guage. I found VDO sending unit at NAPA. I have a brand new one somewhere. Not sure if it's at home or here in coach in spare parts box way in back of storage bay. Let me know if you would be be interested in it.

[Chester B. Stone, Jr.]

Larry, you discussed grounding the sending unit wire at the tank to see if the gauge shows full, with the key on. I am wondering if I can ground the sending unit wire at the gauge to see if it shows full. If so, this seams faster and easier than removing the polished stainless tank cover. Has anyone done this to determine if the sending unit or gauge is bad?

[lbrachfe]

Thanks Chester, Waiting till I get to Florida to figure it out and will try your idea first

[ccjohnson]

Getting the sending unit in & out of the tank is a bit of a task. The screws go through the plate on outside of tank & thread into a plate that is loose on the inside of the tank. The sending unit assembly and inner plate have to be worked through the hole in the top of the tank. Next when going back together with everything, get screws started in the inner plate and they clamp the rubber gasket between top plate & tank. Still hope it is just a loose wire on the back of the gauge!

[Chester B. Stone, Jr.]

Thanks Chester, Waiting till I get to Florida to figure it out and will try your idea first
Larry, today I grounded wire #30 on the front terminal board, turned on the key and the fuel gauge showed full. This tells me that the gauge is OK and I either have a broken ground somewhere between the terminal board and the tank or the sending unit is at fault. Unfortunately, the polished tank front has to come off for access to the sending unit. Later