Electrical Fun

[BWillis]

So going down my list tonight I crawled into the cave and hooked up my fuel sender. Since I put about 2 gals into the tank I was excited to see the gauge actually move! After a few seconds though it died. I noticed that the #1 fuse had blown, eck! So I replaced it thinking it might have been defective and darn if another one didnt blow. I guess its time to doube check all of my wiring sine my pass blinker doesnt work yet either.

The good news is that the list IS getting shorter!

 

[jlaird]

We call those dead shorts Ben.

 

[bugimike]

And those pesky ones from the back are common!! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/rolleyes.gif

 

[BWillis]

But why would the fuel gauge work but cause a dead short. I havent dug into it yet but Im sure it will be a fun one.

 

[jlaird]

I had a heck of a time with mine till I got it sorted out.

Do I understand how it works, no.

However, regularman is our resident expert.

 

[DrEntropy]

VOM in-hand, disconnect gauge, sender and remove fuse... Ohm each of the would-be "live" connectors to a good earthing point. That'll show which wire is grounded. The gauge-to-sender is my bet. Pinched or chafed at some hold-down clip. The voltage stabilizer is between the fuse and the gauge, so the guage feed lead needs testing after being isolated (disconnected at both ends) as well.

 

[BWillis]

Note: This is a new harness. I'll start with the VOM tonight!

 

[jlaird]

Voltage stabilizer? Not on a Bugeye.

 

[piman]

Hello Dr E,

" The gauge-to-sender is my bet."

I'm afraid you would lose. That is a simple test to check the gauge, short the sender wire to earth and the gauge reads full (Same goes for the temperature gauge)
Good luck with the meter.


Alec

 

[BWillis]

Still worries me that the fuse was fine until I hooked up the gauge. BUT when I hooked it up it worked and will still work until the fuse blows.

Maybe the sender wire is chafed and rubbing the tank? I guess if it were the gauge would be reading full instead of near empty.

Oh the fun /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif

 

[glemon]

Short in the guage?? Don'tknow if that is likely, but I suppose possible, the straight juice (forgive my highly technical langauge) comes in on the other wire to the guage, not the wire from the sending unit.

 

[BWillis]

I don't think that I could have it hooked up backwards. Theres only two wires, a green power wire and a green with stripe to the sender. The gauge is grounded through the body to the dash.

 

[bugimike]

Could the green power wire be touching a ground somewhere?

 

[jlaird]

Or did he connect something wrong under the dash. Check everything on that fuse circut.

 

[BWillis]

I better go buy lots of fuses!

 

[kcbugeye1275]

Maybe "refuse to fail" should be your refrain.

 

[racingenglishcars]

If the gauge works before the fuse blows, then the fuel circuit is ok. It's probably one of the other ignition supplied accessories, like wiper or blinker.

 

[BWillis]

I do know that one of my blinkers works while the other clicks fast with no light. That could be the culprit. I just picked up a breaker to use until I get it sorted. I'll put a fuse in when it's stable.

 

[DrEntropy]

Brain flatulence (!): Check to be SURE the bar (gauge hold-down thingie) is NOT somehow skewed and touching one or the other of the terminals!!

 

[kcbugeye1275]

I once had a blowing fuse problem because the mounting screw to the fuse block was tall enough to intermitally contact the load side of the fuse. I think I'm cofused.