Country Coach Owners Forum

Country Coach Restoration, Repair & Parts Forums => Country Coach Archive => Topic started by: Andrew on February 13, 2011, 03:12:12 pm

Title: Fuel Gauge Replacement
Post by: Andrew on February 13, 2011, 03:12:12 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 68413 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/68413)
Hi,

I have had it with my fuel gauge as it has never been close (except when tank is full) and time has come to replace.

Is there a system available that will replace my float-type system?

Andy Zavodney 2000 Country Coach Intrigue # 10955
Title: Re: Fuel Gauge Replacement
Post by: Myron on February 13, 2011, 09:16:01 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 68426 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/68426)
If you have a SilverLeaf unit (or are willing to add one) they can install and integrate an external tank sensor. It senses the level of fuel in the tank and relays the data to the SilverLeaf which displays the level in % of full (maybe other units as well). The sensor is mounted outside the tank and works somewhat like the SeeLevel tank monitors. SilverLeaf usually has a booth at the major MH rallies and can do the installation at the show. I think they quoted me $600 to add that feature to my SilverLeaf several years ago. I declined.
My fuel gauge is also bad. When I fill my tank, the needle will rise to 5/8 then stay there. As I burn fuel it reads 5/8 until I actually reach 5/8, then it drops normally. It appears to read accurately in the lower half of its range. Since it is accurate in the most critical part of its range, I've learned to live with it.
After re-reading your post, I realize that you might not have an electronically controlled engine. If so, SilverLeaf may not work? Not sure.

Myron

2004 Allure 33' 31040
Title: Re: Fuel Gauge Replacement
Post by: Kevin Burns_01 on February 14, 2011, 02:28:05 am
Yahoo Message Number: 68433 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/68433)
Myron,

I bought my MH used and the dealer (which was in Fredericksburg, VA) told me they had just filled it up. The manual in one place said it had a 165 gal. tank and in another place it says it has a 199 gallon tank so I wasn't sure what range I would have before I needed fuel. So my Wife and I take off to Tulsa, Oklahoma and travel about 500 miles and my fuel gauge was showing about 7/8 of a tank (I was really hoping I was getting that kind of mileage) but I started to get suspicious of it and started watching it a lot. All of the sudden it drops to empty and I start getting the audible "Danger, Low Diesel" warning every minute and the generator immediately shuts off. I was about 35 miles to the nearest gas station. We make it there and It takes 167 gallons of fuel but my gauge didn't come up to the full mark, (about 3/4's full). When I get to Tulsa I take the fuel sensor out of the tank and the long float arm was hitting the side of the tank. I moved the float in a couple inches and cut two inches of the arm and put it back in the tank.
As "BoaterAl" will tell you I need to get out and drive that dollar a gallon diesel out of that thing and see if my gauge is really working but it' showing full now.
FYI, My 2000 affinity's silverleaf shows my fuel temp but not fuel level.
Kevin Burns

00 Affinity 5865
Title: Re: Fuel Gauge Replacement
Post by: Dan Fahrion on February 14, 2011, 08:11:09 am
Yahoo Message Number: 68434 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/68434)
Andy

My old Monaco gauge was adjustable and that fixed my problem back then.
Don't know if CC is adjustable.

Dan 2006 Allure 31348
Title: Re: Fuel Gauge Replacement
Post by: Roger Streetman on February 14, 2011, 08:13:07 am
Yahoo Message Number: 68435 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/68435)
I don't know about a replacement system, but mine failed and I sent it to a repair place in New York for repair.
They repaired it for about $150 and it seems to be accurate.
They are adjustable but they set mine like the original.
Search for fuel gauge or sending unit repair on the web.
Roger Streetman 2002 Affinity 6125
Title: Re: Fuel Gauge Replacement
Post by: Buck on February 14, 2011, 08:50:13 am
Yahoo Message Number: 68438 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/68438)
If you have VDO gauges, go to this web page for installation and adjustment procedures...
http://www.egauges.com/pdf/vdo/0-515-010-396.pdf (http://www.egauges.com/pdf/vdo/0-515-010-396.pdf)
buck

k7wn, '99magna5653,Cat C10, Allison HD4060

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Title: Re: Fuel Gauge Replacement
Post by: Ron Baran_01 on February 14, 2011, 10:30:45 am
Yahoo Message Number: 68443 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/68443)
I purchased an Accutrac from Silverleaf and am not happy with the device. It is supposed to read Gallons Remaining and that is only as good as whatever the input is into the program. I ran out of fuel with 53 gallons remaining on the Silverleaf. After many discussions with them over this issue, I changed some of the parameters, and sent Silverleaf (to Dale and Martin ) what I have input , and have no response from them. I have not been able to confirm my changes as I have not driven the coach since November. Silverleaf admitted they buy this device from another vendor and incorporate it into the Silverleaf readouts. I have gone so far as to pull the tank and check the depth of the pickup tube. I won't be able to confirm my inputs (The Accutrac measures the distance from the top of the tank - after deducting 1 inch for airspace at the top of the tank ) I input how many useable inches of fuel and converted that to gallons. Before they went down CC confirmed their gallonage measurements for the tank. I won't be able to confirm my changes for a month, but Silverleaf has not followed through on this one.

Ron Baran 09 Magna 7025
Title: Re: Fuel Gauge Replacement
Post by: Robert Handren on February 14, 2011, 12:13:01 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 68445 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/68445)

Hi Ron:

Your're right, the old saw for computers GIGO applies here.
I don't think 1 inch is sufficient consideration for expansion space. Only CC or the tank manufacturer would know for sure but for some reason 3+ inches seems more likely - I've heard that/read that someplace. If you set the system for 1 inch expansion and it is actually more than that then the system will think the bottom of the tank still means fuel is present - because it has been told the tank/fuel is deeper than it is.

Try setting the expansion depth at 3" and see if that helps.

Bob (rthandren@...)
'05 Inspire 51178
Title: Re: Fuel Gauge Replacement
Post by: Nate Richards_01 on February 16, 2011, 02:23:00 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 68502 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/68502)
Myron,

Very interesting post as my fuel gauge behaves exactly as you describe. Perhaps the factory got a bad batch that were installed in 33' Allures in 2004. I too am not worried about it as SilverLeaf also tells how many gallons have been consumed - it is always within plus/minus 5 gallons. I just have to remember to reset it after a fillup.

Nate Richards

04 Allure(33') 31043
Title: Re: Fuel Gauge Replacement
Post by: George Sanders on February 16, 2011, 05:47:24 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 68509 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/68509)
Guys, I have the same coach and the same symptoms except that sometimes mine works perfectly. The manufacturer of our sender is Centroid. I communicated with Joel at Centroid last summer on this problem. He tells me that what we have is the classic symptom of sender failure and he recommends a replacement sender. He sent me a small formula to calculate for adequate headroom above the tank for R&R of sender. I calculate that we have more than adequate headroom to do the replacement. I have not done it for the same reasons you guys have not.
But, I have pasted below the order information that Joel from Centroid gave me for replacement.
"When you call Mary at 386-423-3574 between 8a-2p EST (early best!) Mon-THU, tell her Joel said you need an "All American part number 2000"."

Let me know if you would like any additional information.

Good luck.

George in Birmingham
'04 Allure 31038
Title: Re: Fuel Gauge Replacement
Post by: Robert Harbrecht on February 16, 2011, 08:03:43 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 68516 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/68516)
after haveing (2) fuel tank unites on our first CC & (1) on this CC replaced this one seldom reads right 7/8 is full to the top sometimes ...i think it is better to just write down the miles when i fill up, run 500mi. & start looking for fuel. it's working all across the country from east to west & from north to south.i'l save the $ for fuel just my $.02 Bob '02 magna 6028
Title: Re: Fuel Gauge Replacement
Post by: Ron & Molly Bodee on February 17, 2011, 12:27:28 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 68537 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/68537)
I don't even bother writing down the mileage when we fill fuel. I just push the reset button on my odometer, changing it back to zero, and then watch it occasionally to refill before it hits 750 miles. Simple is the best way to contend with a malevolent fuel gauge I felt.
Title: Re: Fuel Gauge Replacement
Post by: RUSSELL WARREN on February 17, 2011, 12:39:26 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 68539 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/68539)
I had a fuel gage problem. Replaced the gage. No help. Replaced the sender. No help. Finally, added a new wire between the gage and sender. Problem solved.
Russ Warren, '95 Intrique 10070