Ski Nautique 206 Gas Gauge Issue

[ncarilli]

I have a 2003 Ski Nautique 206 Limited with around 300 hours, the gas gauge was working fine and I had about a quarter tank left so I put 15 gallon of gas in it and now the gauge quit working. It doesn't make sense really. Does anyone know how to tell if its the float/sending unit or the gauge? I removed the sending unit from the tank and raised the float with my hand and I got no movement from the gauge... I also tried jumping across the two leads and nothing. And I used a volt meter across the leads and it read 7v. I hate to just start buying stuff unless I know what it is. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

[Quinner]

Have you checked the connection at the gateway/faria box in the trunk?

[ncarilli]

I unplugged it and plugged it back in at the faria box in the trunk, should I check the voltage there? I also noticed that when I turn the dash lights on that all the other gauges light up except for the gas gauge. You would think it would still light but its hard to say. I pulled the dash and it looks like all the gauges are daisy chained together with two four prong plugs. Anyone have any ideas? I find it hard to believe that the gauge just went bad but maybe it did, Could it be a bad wire somewhere?

[Pjoachim]

My 2001 Ski did the same thing. Tried numerous things and nothing worked, just got used to the gauge not working and went off of hours used to refill the boat.

[AirTool]

Maybe check the resistance/continuity of the sending unit.

[Rick]

You need to remove the wires from the sending unit and then attach an Ohm meter. Move the arm up and down and the resistance should change. There is also the possibility that the float that is supposed to be attached to the bottom of the arm is loose and moving up and down the arm. A new sender I think is less than $40. That is usually what it is. Keep in mind that gas gauges in a boat are as reliable as a politician. They will tell you the truth some of the time but you can't rely on them.

[ncarilli]

I don't think it is the sending unit because the gauge is not lighting up either, and when I take the wire off to the send unit and just the wires together I get no movement from the gauge. Im guessing it is a bad gauge but I didn't want to buy one if that isn't it... its just weird that you would thing the gauge would still light up even if it is bad?? Anyone else have an idea? Where does that gauge get power from it seems that all the gauges in the dash are hooked together??