Fluctuating Fuel Gauge Needle

[AZBoulder]

Apologies if this has already been asked before and answered (I have not searched yet). I have a fuel needle on the fuel gauge on my 2011 challenger 210 that is boucing around while the boat is running. It seems like it bounces from full to the actual level as the fluctuations increase as the fuel level drops. Is this just an electrical issue, bad gauge or something? I have the fuel gauge on the digital readout that seems to work, but the bouncing gauge is annoying and I would like to make it go away

 

[Lumps]

The fuel baffle has a float in a channel. As the float moves up or down it has a magnet that pass over little reed like connectors. This changes the resistance. I suspect maybe a loose connection or corrosion. Maybe as the boat bounces it is making the resistance fluctuate. Maybe in the baffle or maybe it the gage. Or in between.

It will be important to figure where. Can you make this happen on the hose?

 

[gb387]

Our 2010 210 Challengers analog guage does the same thing but the digital guage keeps a more accurate level and does not fluctuate. I figured the digital guage had some programing built in giving you a more accurate reading with fuel sloshing around in the tank.

 

[Lumps]

I don't know if it's related to sloshing. My boat is substantially older but the typical baffle that is in mine and my last boat both had the same type. Both of these were very resistant to the motion of the gas.

Maybe the newer ones work differently

 

[AZBoulder]

My guess is that this is an electrical problem somewhere in the connection, I know others have had this same issue. I guess I need to check the connections and wiring between the tank and the gauge for ground faults or bad connections.

 

[Lumps]

the problem is you may only get it when the boat is shacking like it does over water. it may be hard to reproduce at rest?