2008 JD 5303 fuel gauge troubleshooting?

[Rob5303]

Hey guys,

I'm having issues with the fuel gauge on my 5303. I first noticed it only read a little over half a tank when filled. I found this site by searching for trouble shooting this problem and followed some testing. I have already eliminated the fuel level sending unit as the issue. I disconnect both wires on the unit and clipped them together, then inserted the key and turned it to run. This should have made the fuel gauge go all the way to full, but it only went to 3/4 of a tank.

I dropped the cowl on the left side of the instrument cluster and pulled the cluster part way out to look at the wires in the fuel gauge itself, and they looked fine. I cleared some dust off the back of the cluster as well. I also checked the fuses below the instrument cluster and they were all clean and working. So now I'm wondering what would be my next step, as in what should I check. I know the wires from the sending unit go down behind the seat and join other wires in the loom right there, but should I be looking for a bad wire or is it likely that the gauge itself is bad?

Any suggestions or help is greatly appreciated.

 

[davesl708]

Hi Welcome to TBN.
How old is the gauge/tractor?

I am not familiar with your tractor. I am sure some of the folks on here have some info for diagnosing the problem.

 

[MF283]

My 07 5303 does the same thing, i've run it long enough to know when to re-fuel it, normally try to keep it topped off when not in steady use.
I checked the float & all with a flashlight when low, pushing on it with a dowel rod, seemed to work fine. Like you, i'm waiting for replies as well.

Ronnie

 

[JD5210]

Since the cluster is expensive, I would take the time to rule out the wiring. With an ohm meter touch one end to the black ground wire at the sender and the other to a good spot on the frame. Since you have the cowl off, can you unplug the wires from the gauge? I would disconnect the negative wire from the battery were it connects to the frame first and while there check what connection there looks good to make sure the bolt is clean. Then ohm test the wire from the gauge to the sender.

I like to disconnect the battery to be on the safe side that I do not touch something by accident.

 

[Rob5303]

Thank you for the replies guys. davesl708, the tractor is a 2008 with one previous owner. As far as I know, that guage is still the original so it's not too old.

MF283 (Ronnie), the fueling isn't so much an issue as I just find it more convenient to have the gauge working. As for yours, did you take off the two wires at the sending unit and hold them together, then turn the key to run (without starting the tractor). The two wires are black and red, although my red wire was discolored and looked yellow for the first little bit. If you hold those together, the fuel guage should go all the way to full. Mine did not do this, it only went to 3/4. By doing that, it takes the sending unit out of the loop, which tells me either the gauge is going bad or I have a wiring issue to track down.

JD5210. When I pulled the cowl off, the wires on the back of the guage were not the type to unplug, they had a nut and tiny lock washer on them. I pulled the wires off there, and cleaned them and the nuts and lock washers with a wire brush, even though they were not very bad. Do you have any idea how much resistance I should be looking for? For some reason I get a feeling that there is high resistance in a wire somewhere which is dropping the fuel gauge reading, but I may be totally wrong.

Rob

 

[JD5210]

There should be little to no resistance in the wiring. Did you try touching the orange wire to something on the frame ie use the frame as ground instead of the black wire. This would rule out the ground (black) wire as the problem. Did you check the condition of where the negative terminal of the battery connects to the frame.

 

[Rob5303]

JD5210, I had not thought to try another ground for the test. I cleaned up the negative terminal of the battery but I think the bolt threads inside are still a bit rusty. I tried the frame as ground and got the same result. I used the bolt that anchors the seat to the frame. I'm not sure if the negative battery bolt could still be an issue but I will try cleaning that more and try again. So far the gauge goes to the same spot as before.

 

[MF283]

Rob

I didn't try that, if i remember i'll give it a try tomorrow evening when i get in. I did clean the fire out of them & every terminal i have after a starting issue recently, then sprayed them all with that red battery stuff, whatever that is:confused3:
She's cranking/running, i'm happy.

Ronnie

 

[joecdeere]

I have a PDF of the Deere technical manual you're welcome to, if wanted shoot me your email

Joe

 

[MF283]

Rob

Touched the wires together this evening, went to full, guessing around 1/2 tank in reality.

Joe
I sent you a PM about the PDF.

Ronnie