Crestliner Pontoon Fuel guage

I just purchased a used 2000 CRESTLINER LSI 2085 pontoon boat. Fuel guage is not working, it will bounce back and forth between empty and 1/2 full. I know the tank is full. It has a built in fuel tank, is there access to the fuel tank to get at the float and sending unit?

I would say that’s about par for a majority of boat fuel gauges.

If it’s bouncing, I’d think it’s working. Generally, when a gauge or sending unit dies, it doesn’t work at all.

We have the same year pontoon. I had to replace the fuel gage about 5 years ago. I was able to access the sender for troubleshooting. On ours there is a small access door just behind the curved part of the couch/bench seat. Which on ours is opposite the driver. I can try and get a picture of it later this weekend if I think of it.

Shoot my fuel Guage on my 2016 hasn’t worked in 3 years. I think it’s a common issue.

Thanks for the info. If you get a chance, a picture would help.

I’m having the same issue, don’t even know what to do .

Do you happen to know the fuel tank capacity?

If someone invented a fuel gauge that actually worked on boats, they could retire early.

Do you happen to know the fuel capacity of your gas tank?

If you can get to the fuel cell, this should not be a terrible fix. First, just make sure both wires are attached to both the top or the fuel tank, and the back of the fuel guage on your console. Then go from there. Replacing the float is not a huge deal, once you have access to the top of the fuel cell. Mine quit a few years ago, problem was just one of the wire clips got knocked off of its contact when I was changing batteries.

Thanks for the feedback. Will try to access fuel cell.

robby wrote:

If you can get to the fuel cell, this should not be a terrible fix. First, just make sure both wires are attached to both the top or the fuel tank, and the back of the fuel guage on your console. Then go from there. Replacing the float is not a huge deal, once you have access to the top of the fuel cell. Mine quit a few years ago, problem was just one of the wire clips got knocked off of its contact when I was changing batteries.

Any idea what the fuel capacity is on the pontoon?

Forrest Melton wrote:

We have the same year pontoon. I had to replace the fuel gage about 5 years ago. I was able to access the sender for troubleshooting. On ours there is a small access door just behind the curved part of the couch/bench seat. Which on ours is opposite the driver. I can try and get a picture of it later this weekend if I think of it.

Kent Cartner wrote:

Any idea what the fuel capacity is on the pontoon?

For some reason, Crestliner doesn’t have a 2000 model year catalog, but the 2001 2085 LSi (page 17) shows a capacity of 25 gallons.

BigWerm wrote:

If someone invented a fuel gauge that actually worked on boats, they could retire early.

They have. It’s just another thing that Midwest boat manufacturers skimp on. They’re all cheap automotive sending units and gauges with super thin wire to pad the profits a couple of more cents per unit. $50,000 boats with $5 Chinese sending units.

I’ve fixed a bunch of them. Most common failure is wire chafing by passing wires through metal with no protection. Also big issue is corroded contacts on the sending unit.

There are many tutorials on how to diagnose and fix these things. Don’t buy any parts until you diagnose the problem. As I said often times it’s wire issues.

If you have to replace either the gauge or the sending unit get a proper saltwater grade marine one. Spray all contacts on the sending unit with corrosion stopper before putting everything back together.