1998 JD 5510 electrical short?

[Jmj construction]

I have a recently purchased 1998 john deere 5510. Fuel gauge shows full all the time. (Unless you disconnect wires from sending unit, then it shows half) and temp gauge shows hot all the time (unless you unplug sending unit, then it drops all the way to left like it should). And also both gauges fall all the way to left if fuses #1 or #6 are pulled. Electrical short or bad instrument cluster? Also my hazard lights flash when my headlights are on. Another short?

 

[JD5210]

Here is a link to the operators manual. Fuses - 1, 10-Amp: Alternator, instruments and engine-related warning indicators. 6, 30-Amp: Key switch, starting circuit, PTO warning circuit, manifold heater circuit ie no power to fuse 1 when removed.

http://manuals.deere.com/omview/OMRE71736_19/

Make sure the negative wire from the battery to the frame is clean.

Must likely your problem is the sending unit located in the tank. I am repeating some of what you have already done. After sitting at least 15 years in diesel fuel it gave out. To rule out that it is not the wiring to the gauge or the gauge, key off, move the seat forward all the way, put a towel down in case you drop the nuts. Remove the two wires; a black and orange wire, there should be 353 on the orange wire. Turn the key to run (no need to start) touch the two wires together, the gauge should go to full. If not the gauge or wiring is the problem. If the gauge goes to full the problem is the sender. With the wires disconnected the gauge should go to empty.

If you want to test the fuel sending unit the ohm range is 4.5 to 97.5 ohms. Double check JDparts.com, the fuel sender is part number RE190977. Replace with less than a half tank of fuel. It also helps to put some sealer on the gasket to keep it from leaking.

The temperature gauge is tested the same way.

Hopefully it is not the cluster as I suggest you be sitting down, when you see the price.

Check the operators manual on the lights as there is one position that works that way.

 

[Jmj construction]

I have not ohmed out the fuel sending unit. Will try that. When i unhooked wires grom fuel sender the gauge went to halfway. When i touched them together it went past full. Only time it went to empty is when I cut the key off. Has new temp sending unit. Still shows hot. Was hoping for bad ground but everything checks out so far. I even pulled the circuit board out of the cluster and checked the fuses and capacitors. I'm not an electronics guru at all but what I knew how to check was fine. The gauges appeared ok. ? I just hate to pay John deere $615 if there is another way. Oh and as for the hazard lights they flash at about four different stops. Lol. Previous owner had pulled fuse. ?

 

[JD5210]

Here is a wiring diagram, also check selectmanuals.com $35 for the tech manual. Make sure you put equal pressure on the 8 screws when replacing the cluster to avoid breaking the glass.

If you do decide to get a new cluster check out greenfarmparts.com $543 and if you register on their web-sites a couple times a year, they send out a 10% off coupon. While I have not had problems with their stuff, there is a NO return policy on electrical items. Also on the new clusters, all three needles swing to the right, then back to the left and there is small wiring change that is needed.

On the lights/flashers the problem could be in the diode pack RE262484. I do not see were the diode pack plays a role in the fuel/temp gauge, but you could pull it and see what happens, since it sounds like you have already removed the cowl and it does sound like you are get some voltage to those gauges when the wires to the sending units are disconnect.

I always remove the negative cable from the battery where it connects with the frame, before doing any electrical work.

 

[Jmj construction]

Thanks so much for the diagram. I will let you know what I find. Thanks for your time.

 

[Zebrafive]

The hazard flashers are supposed to flash in headlight switch positions 1,3, & 4. They are not supposed to flash in position 2 "work lights".
If you do not want them to ever flash, pull fuse F3. Your turn signals will still work.
You could rewire the hazard lights with a separate switch. You can do it two ways. One so they would work only when headlight switch is in 1,3 or 4. Or so you could turn them ON regardless of headlights are On or OFF.

 

[Jmj construction]

I was unaware of that with the hazard lights. I will check to see but I'm pretty sure they are doing exactly what they are supposed to do according to you. Now if I can get these gauges working. Still hoping I have a bad ground somewhere. Can't swallow that overpriced cluster.

 

[Jmj construction]

Finally got it fixed. Bought a new cluster(you have to switch the wire on the key switch for it to work) temp gauge and fuel gauge still wouldn't work. Finally jumped a new ground from front wiring harness to negative battery post. Temp gauge worked. Now the fuel sending unit is bad. Hopefully a new one and everything will work.

 

[farmerwanttobe]

Hello all,

I just acquired a 1998 5510N with the same fuel level gauge problem. Thanks for the troubleshooting tips. I will try them all to see. Sorry about buying a cluster. I hope to avoid that one. If I can't solve it with fixing a few wires, with my farm budget, I might be able to buy a yardstick and measure tank each morning...