Fuel Gage Repair

[dale farley]

My fuel gage doesn't work at all, and I am thinking about checking it out before we leave for Branson. Does anyone know where the inspection panel is located to get to the sender on top of the fuel tank.

I called Marathon, and they told me it was "just to the right" of my filler tube (located in the 3rd bay on the passenger side). I cut my carpet in a couple places, but didn't find an inspection plate. Called Prevost, and they weren't sure where the inspection plate is located. The Prevost guy I talked to was not a technician, but he said he would try to help. Unfortunately, it didn't help.

I also asked if I could apply voltage to my dash gage to verify that it is working before I change the sensor. I didn't get an answer for that one either. Evidently the knowledgeable people were out of the shop on Friday afternoon. Does anyone know where I need to start with this problem?

[Jon Wehrenberg]

Dale,

I have OTR, but the access on my coach is in that bay to the upper LH corner (toward the rear of the coach) on the back wall. It has many screws in it so if it was covered with carpet you should be able to feel the screws.

[Joe Cannarozzi]

Dale to access the sending unit you have to get at it from the next bay back, the plumbing bay! That means ya probably gotta pull one of your tanks, water or holding, to get at that panel. I too have a bad sending unit and already have it sitting in central spares.

Got that info from Dale who already been there done that.

Maybe if you want this winter when we head south we can help each other and get them both done.

I removed all those screws on the spot that Jon mentioned before I knew what and with that plate removed you can look in and see what is up but I think that is for actually dropping and installing the tank.

[dalej]

Dale, I think you would have the same setup, it's in the 4th bay front side. On mine I had to....might be better to call me on this one. I wouldn't be in a hurry to replace the sending unit though, I replaced mine and still have mostly on but sometimes off.

Remember phone numbers are under quicklinks member map.

[Joe Cannarozzi]

Dalej

What the heck? Three things here the sending unit the gauge and the wire between?

Ours works from 3/4 to full and from 1/4 to empty and from 1/4 to 3/4 the needle goes dead.

[truk4u]

Dale,

If I remember correctly, just ground your dash gauge wire and the needle should swing.

Caution - Get another opinion on this in case I have CRS...

[dalej]

that's correct advise, but the problem on these is it's a intermitant problem. On mine, if it sits for a period of time, say a month or two, you can bet it will happen.

Dale, fill your tank when you leave for Branson and keep track of miles for filling and then watch your gauge. Let me know what you find.

[dale farley]

I talked to three different people at Prevost Friday (none was a technician), and one did tell me that there is supposed to be a decal on the forwrd wall of the 4th bay that tells me how to access the tank. When I opened the door and saw all the plumbing, I didn't want to believe him.

I know I've read, and probably participated in other discussions, about gauge replalcement, but I could'nt find anything when I searched the forum. I do recall that the reason I haven't pursued the issue before was that several have said that sensor replacement didn't completley fix the problem.

I just looked in my 4th bay very closely, and when looking straight into the bay, I have a small air tank for my water system, a lot of other miscellaneous plumbing fixtures, and I can see the ends of all three of my holding tanks. Looking to the right, I have two 10 gallon water heaters that are about 3 inches from the right wall. The plumbing lines are flush against the wall, so it would be impossible to get the panel out without removing the water heaters. I don't think I need the fuel gauge that badly. Thanks for everyone's help, but I think I will leave things alone unless I really get bored, and there is usually plenty to do around the farm without looking for additional projects.

In response to dalej's question. When I fill my tank, my fuel gauge doesn't move. Never has.

[dalej]

Dale, I just meant keep it full untill you see if it starts working again. I don't think it will come on or start working untill you get on the road.

[dale farley]

Dalej, I try to always keep the tank full to minimize condensation, and it is always full when I leave for a trip. Since I have never noticed any movement of the gauge at all, I assume I have a bad gauge, bad sensor or broken wire. Odds are, it is the sending unit.

I would try to ground the gauge to verify if it moves at all, but I think it has 3 different wires on it. Maybe I can use my multimeter to see if I can determine what is hapening with the gauge. I suppose about the worst thing I could do is blow a fuse or burn out the gauge. Or maybe catch the bus on fire!

[gmcbuffalo]

Dale I had the same problem and I replaced the dash gauge and everything is working OKay. The three wires are light, ground and sending voltage.
GregM

[Joe Cannarozzi]

I was looking around in my parts bin today and I have a fuel guage sending unit that I am going to install. I could do this alone but it would be fun to have some help from my friends.:o

Holding tank needs to come out and it will be a fun job.

Just let me know.

[merle&louise]

My fuel gauge has some gremlines; it works fine when the tank is full but as fuel is consumed the gauge drops to Empty. Then a few minutes later it kicks back up to the half mark. Anybody have an ideas?:confused:

[dalej]

Been there, done that Joe! Those screws that hold the access panel on are a pain to remove.

I'm going back in to move my fuel fill to the driver side. I have put up with a right side fill long enough.

[dalej]

Tuga, mine does that when the ambient temps are below 20 or so. It's got me why it does it.

[Orren Zook]

I'm going back in to move my fuel fill to the driver side. I have put up with a right side fill long enough.

I just drop the primary nozzle on the ground and run the satellite on high....

[flyu2there]

I talked to three different people at Prevost Friday (none was a technician), and one did tell me that there is supposed to be a decal on the forwrd wall of the 4th bay that tells me how to access the tank. When I opened the door and saw all the plumbing, I didn't want to believe him.

I know I've read, and probably participated in other discussions, about gauge replalcement, but I could'nt find anything when I searched the forum. I do recall that the reason I haven't pursued the issue before was that several have said that sensor replacement didn't completley fix the problem.

I just looked in my 4th bay very closely, and when looking straight into the bay, I have a small air tank for my water system, a lot of other miscellaneous plumbing fixtures, and I can see the ends of all three of my holding tanks. Looking to the right, I have two 10 gallon water heaters that are about 3 inches from the right wall. The plumbing lines are flush against the wall, so it would be impossible to get the panel out without removing the water heaters. I don't think I need the fuel gauge that badly. Thanks for everyone's help, but I think I will leave things alone unless I really get bored, and there is usually plenty to do around the farm without looking for additional projects.

In response to dalej's question. When I fill my tank, my fuel gauge doesn't move. Never has.



I just came across this post and have but one question....is your coach a Country Coach?? If it is, I think that I can point you in the right direcion as I had the same problem.....not the gauge at all, or the sender, rather a County Coach card.

[flyu2there]

Heck,

I'll shoot in the dark on this one. This is for Country Coach conversions only to the best of my little knowledge.

1. Go to the Webasto compartment and locate the two battery switches (12V and 24V).

2. Look for a small wire attached to the + side of the 12V. Peel back the braid and the wire number should read 391.

3. CC retro'd a fuse in its own little fuse case (buss)....replace that fuse.


I tore the whole coach apart, spent hours on the phone with tech support, took the thing to two "specialists" , replaced the fuel gauge, the GSD card, about through my arm out of its socket reaching for the sender on the tank, had wires hanging like spaghetti and it turned out to be that little fuse. Unfortunately CC had no idea where that 391 wire received its power other than from the battery.....that's a damn broad brush.

BTW the 391 wire powers the fuel gauge...from the battery to the motherboard then up to the GSD card (behind salon tv) and even provides a feed to "bitchin betty", the speech processor. The GeneratorShutDown card will not allow the generator to run with less than 1/8 tank of fuel (provided its calibrated) and powers the fuel gauge. Another tell tale sign is that the speech processor "may" announce every 30 minutes, "lo vehicle battery voltage"


All the best, hope it works

John