Re: fuel sender not responding on Sahara

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dwightlorenz
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2013 3:25 pm

fuel sender not responding on Sahara

Post by dwightlorenz »

'What is best replacement for bad sender. I would like to keep guage working .Any external sender unit?
Any easy engine fuel line and fuel return line measurement devices that could be installed with another guage?
Anyone replace sender unit?Does front axle have to be dropped?
Thanks in advance for ideas.'
TERRY SELVIDGE
Posts: 93
Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2011 6:30 am

Re: fuel sender not responding on Sahara

Post by TERRY SELVIDGE »

'If it is working part way, check the ground, pull dash out
a few inches and find the ground,clean it and
report...Terry










"dwightlorenz" wrote:
> What is best replacement for bad sender. I would like to
>keep guage working .Any external sender unit?
> Any easy engine fuel line and fuel return line
>measurement devices that could be installed with another
>guage?
> Anyone replace sender unit?Does front axle have to be
>dropped?
> Thanks in advance for ideas.
>
'
ART
Posts: 283
Joined: Sun May 29, 2011 6:04 am

Re: fuel sender not responding on Sahara

Post by ART »

'There are several of us who would like a solution to this problem.   Art 96 Seren
--- On Wed, 2/27/13, dwightlorenz wrote:

From: dwightlorenz
Subject: [Safarifriends] fuel sender not responding on Sahara
To: Safarifriends@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, February 27, 2013, 9:02 AM

  What is best replacement for bad sender. I would like to keep guage working .Any external sender unit?
Any easy engine fuel line and fuel return line measurement devices that could be installed with another guage?
Anyone replace sender unit?Does front axle have to be dropped?
Thanks in advance for ideas.

'
Dan
Posts: 28
Joined: Sat Oct 24, 2009 1:13 am

Re: fuel sender not responding on Sahara

Post by Dan »

'I found the VMSPC unit to be an excellent solution:

http://www.silverleafelectronics.com/node/6

Or you might also look at the Scan Gauge:

http://www.scangauge.com/


There are a number of threads about the fuel sending unit and associated problems on the board IIRC. My rig had the sending unit replaced before I got it and it still is a pain. I suspect it is a grounding issue as someone else mentioned above. There are VMSpc threads on the board, I am not sure if there are any on the Scan Gauge.

Dan Miller
'97 30' Sahara w/Cat250
--- In Safarifriends@yahoogroups.com, ART wrote:
>
> There are several of us who would like a solution to this problem.
>  
> Art
> 96 Seren
>
>
> --- On Wed, 2/27/13, dwightlorenz wrote:
>
>
> From: dwightlorenz
> Subject: [Safarifriends] fuel sender not responding on Sahara
> To: Safarifriends@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Wednesday, February 27, 2013, 9:02 AM
>
>
>
>  
>
>
>
> What is best replacement for bad sender. I would like to keep guage working .Any external sender unit?
> Any easy engine fuel line and fuel return line measurement devices that could be installed with another guage?
> Anyone replace sender unit?Does front axle have to be dropped?
> Thanks in advance for ideas.
>
'
User avatar
John Ruff
Posts: 258
Joined: Tue Oct 29, 2019 4:38 pm

Re: fuel sender not responding on Sahara

Post by John Ruff »

'How do you know it is the sender?

Does your gauge read full or empty?

John Ruff
96 Safari Sahara

--- In Safarifriends@yahoogroups.com, "dwightlorenz" wrote:
>
> What is best replacement for bad sender. I would like to keep guage working .Any external sender unit?
> Any easy engine fuel line and fuel return line measurement devices that could be installed with another guage?
> Anyone replace sender unit?Does front axle have to be dropped?
> Thanks in advance for ideas.
>
'
1999 Safari Sahara
Towd 2014 GMC Terrain
j_r_ruff@yahoo.com
dwight
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Mar 01, 2013 1:25 am

Re: fuel sender not responding on Sahara

Post by dwight »

' I have traced the wire back to the side of the tank under the floor and have no resistance on meter. Have good  ground on tank, but can’t see sender to check for ground on sender unit or connection from gauge. Also have bench tested gauge with new sender ,is O.K..    Last time m/h was very low on fuel the needle did jump a couple of times.It would not settle for a reading ,but small quick jumps .I believe  the connections are O.K. I suspect the float has become waterlogged and won,t float. The gauge reads full with ignition on, empty with off. I took a reading on the external resister on back of gauge;can,t remember the value but has resistance.     From: j_r_ruff@... Sent: Friday, March 01, 2013 6:29 AM To: Safarifriends@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Safarifriends] Re: fuel sender not responding on Sahara    
How do you know it is the sender?

Does your gauge read full or empty?

John Ruff
96 Safari Sahara

--- In Safarifriends%40yahoogroups.com, "dwightlorenz" wrote:
>
> What is best replacement for bad sender. I
would like to keep guage working .Any external sender unit?
> Any easy
engine fuel line and fuel return line measurement devices that could be installed with another guage?
> Anyone replace sender unit?Does front axle
have to be dropped?
> Thanks in advance for
ideas.
>
'
jquade_fwb
Posts: 318
Joined: Tue Jul 14, 2009 1:23 pm

Re: fuel sender not responding on Sahara

Post by jquade_fwb »

'From my Bayliner Owners Boating website - doesn't have to be the sending unit (or worst case). Tap on the gauge and see whether it moves. These instruments aren't that high a quality that water or humidity doesn't hurt them.

A more difficult way to test the same is to disconnect one of the wires at the sending unit and if it remains on 1/3 you know it's the instrument.

The sender is relatively easy to change if it's the culprit. There's a plate with the sender mounted in the tank. Unbolt it and bolt the new one in. Make sure that you don't generate sparks while the sender hole is open. Don't want to read about you in the newspaper. The senders have a generic mounting plate and all you have to know is the height of your fuel tank. Available almost at any boating place. No need to pay the dealer prices.
--- In Safarifriends@yahoogroups.com, "dwight" wrote:
>
> I have traced the wire back to the side of the tank under the floor and have no resistance on meter. Have good ground on tank, but can’t see sender to check for ground on sender unit or connection from gauge.
> Also have bench tested gauge with new sender ,is O.K..
> Last time m/h was very low on fuel the needle did jump a couple of times.It would not settle for a reading ,but small quick jumps .I believe the connections are O.K.
> I suspect the float has become waterlogged and won,t float.
> The gauge reads full with ignition on, empty with off. I took a reading on the external resister on back of gauge;can,t remember the value but has resistance.
>
>
> From: John Ruff
> Sent: Friday, March 01, 2013 6:29 AM
> To: Safarifriends@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [Safarifriends] Re: fuel sender not responding on Sahara
>
>
> How do you know it is the sender?
>
> Does your gauge read full or empty?
>
> John Ruff
> 96 Safari Sahara
>
> --- In mailto:Safarifriends%40yahoogroups.com, "dwightlorenz" wrote:
> >
> > What is best replacement for bad sender. I would like to keep guage working .Any external sender unit?
> > Any easy engine fuel line and fuel return line measurement devices that could be installed with another guage?
> > Anyone replace sender unit?Does front axle have to be dropped?
> > Thanks in advance for ideas.
> >
>
'
jquade_fwb
Posts: 318
Joined: Tue Jul 14, 2009 1:23 pm

Re: fuel sender not responding on Sahara

Post by jquade_fwb »

'Forgot to add, I did the test that I posted and determined that it was the sender unit. I then opened that plate hatch and discovered that the arm the float was on had rusted and broke off nand the float was "floating around in the 80 gallon tank" and I fished it out. Replacement of tank float are rather straight forward, just follow the instructions for adjustment. My hatch/tank cover and gasket looked symetrical but turn out that it was not and I had to try a lot of different positions before everything lined up. I would suggest that before you take it off (unscrew it), use a marker on both the cover and gasket.
--- In Safarifriends@yahoogroups.com, "jquade_fwb" wrote:
>
> From my Bayliner Owners Boating website - doesn't have to be the sending unit (or worst case). Tap on the gauge and see whether it moves. These instruments aren't that high a quality that water or humidity doesn't hurt them.
>
> A more difficult way to test the same is to disconnect one of the wires at the sending unit and if it remains on 1/3 you know it's the instrument.
>
> The sender is relatively easy to change if it's the culprit. There's a plate with the sender mounted in the tank. Unbolt it and bolt the new one in. Make sure that you don't generate sparks while the sender hole is open. Don't want to read about you in the newspaper. The senders have a generic mounting plate and all you have to know is the height of your fuel tank. Available almost at any boating place. No need to pay the dealer prices.
>
> --- In Safarifriends@yahoogroups.com, "dwight" wrote:
> >
> > I have traced the wire back to the side of the tank under the floor and have no resistance on meter. Have good ground on tank, but can’t see sender to check for ground on sender unit or connection from gauge.
> > Also have bench tested gauge with new sender ,is O.K..
> > Last time m/h was very low on fuel the needle did jump a couple of times.It would not settle for a reading ,but small quick jumps .I believe the connections are O.K.
> > I suspect the float has become waterlogged and won,t float.
> > The gauge reads full with ignition on, empty with off. I took a reading on the external resister on back of gauge;can,t remember the value but has resistance.
> >
> >
> > From: John Ruff
> > Sent: Friday, March 01, 2013 6:29 AM
> > To: Safarifriends@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: [Safarifriends] Re: fuel sender not responding on Sahara
> >
> >
> > How do you know it is the sender?
> >
> > Does your gauge read full or empty?
> >
> > John Ruff
> > 96 Safari Sahara
> >
> > --- In mailto:Safarifriends%40yahoogroups.com, "dwightlorenz" wrote:
> > >
> > > What is best replacement for bad sender. I would like to keep guage working .Any external sender unit?
> > > Any easy engine fuel line and fuel return line measurement devices that could be installed with another guage?
> > > Anyone replace sender unit?Does front axle have to be dropped?
> > > Thanks in advance for ideas.
> > >
> >
>
'
dwight
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Mar 01, 2013 1:25 am

Re: fuel sender not responding on Sahara

Post by dwight »

' Thanks for the info.Unfortunately this is in a diesel pusher motorhome with the tank mounted above the front axle. Major job to drop the tank even enough to see the sender. What I need is an outside the tank measuring device. Does 96 Sahara with Cat 3126 have connections for Scan unit under the dash? Does Scan unit work on plug in engine service bay? Thanks for info. Dwight   From: jquade44@... Sent: Friday, March 01, 2013 9:37 AM To: Safarifriends@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Safarifriends] Re: fuel sender not responding on Sahara    
Forgot to add, I did the test that I posted and determined that it was the sender unit. I then opened that plate hatch and discovered that the arm the float was on had rusted and broke off nand the float was "floating around in the 80 gallon tank" and I fished it out. Replacement of tank float are rather straight forward, just follow the instructions for adjustment. My hatch/tank cover and gasket looked symetrical but turn out that it was not and I had to try a lot of different positions before everything lined up. I would suggest that before you take it off (unscrew it), use a marker on both the cover and gasket.

--- In Safarifriends%40yahoogroups.com, "jquade_fwb" wrote:
>
> From my Bayliner Owners Boating website -
doesn't have to be the sending unit (or worst case). Tap on the gauge and see whether it moves. These instruments aren't that high a quality that water or humidity doesn't hurt them.
>
> A more difficult way to test the
same is to disconnect one of the wires at the sending unit and if it remains on 1/3 you know it's the instrument.
>
> The sender is relatively easy
to change if it's the culprit. There's a plate with the sender mounted in the tank. Unbolt it and bolt the new one in. Make sure that you don't generate sparks while the sender hole is open. Don't want to read about you in the newspaper. The senders have a generic mounting plate and all you have to know is the height of your fuel tank. Available almost at any boating place. No need to pay the dealer prices.
>
> --- In
href="mailto:Safarifriends%40yahoogroups.com">mailto:Safarifriends%40yahoogroups.com, "dwight" wrote:
> >
> > I have traced the wire back to the
side of the tank under the floor and have no resistance on meter. Have good ground on tank, but can’t see sender to check for ground on sender unit or connection from gauge.
> > Also have bench tested gauge with new sender
,is O.K..
> > Last time m/h was very low on fuel the needle did jump a
couple of times.It would not settle for a reading ,but small quick jumps .I believe the connections are O.K.
> > I suspect the float has become
waterlogged and won,t float.
> > The gauge reads full with ignition on,
empty with off. I took a reading on the external resister on back of gauge;can,t remember the value but has resistance.
> >
> >
> >
From: John Ruff
> > Sent: Friday, March 01, 2013 6:29 AM
> >
To: Safarifriends%40yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: [Safarifriends] Re: fuel sender not responding on
Sahara
> >
> >
> > How do you know it is the
sender?
> >
> > Does your gauge read full or empty?
> >
> > John Ruff
> > 96 Safari Sahara
> >
> > --- In mailto:Safarifriends%40yahoogroups.com, "dwightlorenz"
wrote:
> > >
> > > What is best replacement for bad
sender. I would like to keep guage working .Any external sender unit?
> > > Any easy engine fuel line and fuel return line measurement devices
that could be installed with another guage?
> > > Anyone replace
sender unit?Does front axle have to be dropped?
> > > Thanks in
advance for ideas.
> > >
> >
>
'
herbhaynes
Posts: 35
Joined: Sat Jul 14, 2012 3:03 am

Re: fuel sender not responding on Sahara

Post by herbhaynes »

'If you have a CAT 3126 engine, VMSpc won't help with a fuel guage problem, since the CAT ECM does not measure or transmit fuel tank information on the data buss that VMSpc uses. The ECM measures each tiny dollop of fuel sent to the injectors and adds them all up in order to keep track of (and report on the data buss) the amount of fuel used.

Herb 1996 Beaver Monterey, CAT 3126 300 hp
--- In Safarifriends@yahoogroups.com, "Dan" wrote:
>
> I found the VMSPC unit to be an excellent solution:
> http://www.silverleafelectronics.com/node/6
> Or you might also look at the Scan Gauge:
> http://www.scangauge.com/
>
> There are a number of threads about the fuel sending unit and associated problems on the board IIRC. My rig had the sending unit replaced before I got it and it still is a pain. I suspect it is a grounding issue as someone else mentioned above. There are VMSpc threads on the board, I am not sure if there are any on the Scan Gauge.
>
> Dan Miller
> '97 30' Sahara w/Cat250
>
> --- In Safarifriends@yahoogroups.com, ART wrote:
> >
> > There are several of us who would like a solution to this problem.
> >  
> > Art
> > 96 Seren
> >
> > --- On Wed, 2/27/13, dwightlorenz wrote:
> >
> > From: dwightlorenz
> > Subject: [Safarifriends] fuel sender not responding on Sahara
> > To: Safarifriends@yahoogroups.com
> > Date: Wednesday, February 27, 2013, 9:02 AM
> >  
> >
> > What is best replacement for bad sender. I would like to keep guage working .Any external sender unit?
> > Any easy engine fuel line and fuel return line measurement devices that could be installed with another guage?
> > Anyone replace sender unit?Does front axle have to be dropped?
> > Thanks in advance for ideas.
'
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