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Sun Jun 01, 2008 6:18 am

I recently replaced my gas tank and sender unit and have noticed that the guage is incorrect (at least I assume it is). Here's what happens, when I am down about 1/2 on the guage, I fill up and the tank only takes about 3 gallons before it stops the service station pump. Is this because the tank is full or because the sensor on the station pump is triggered off by the sloping of the gas within the tank. I am concerned about letting it go too low before filling up as I am in a rather rural area.
Thanks!

PS is there a LARGER fuel tank sold for a 72 Super? If so, where?

Bart
:D

Sun Jun 01, 2008 1:39 pm

I've found I have to fill the tank slowly or the pump will shut off early. After adding the 3 gallons does your needle read full?

Sun Jun 01, 2008 5:52 pm

mnussbau wrote: I've found I have to fill the tank slowly or the pump will shut off early. After adding the 3 gallons does your needle read full?

yes

Sun Jun 01, 2008 6:33 pm

Sounds like your gage or sending unit isn't too accurate. Here's a good guide to the design and troubleshooting of the system:
http://www.nls.net/mp/volks/htm/fuel_ga.htm
Or you can just learn your gage's nuances and live with it.

Sun Jun 01, 2008 6:35 pm

mnussbau wrote: Sounds like your gage or sending unit isn't too accurate.
It is designed that way. This is not a problem to be solved.

Sun Jun 01, 2008 6:41 pm

3 gallons at the halfway point is by design? If that's the case then I'm getting 40 mpg the first half of the tank, then 15 the rest of the way.

Sun Jun 01, 2008 6:53 pm

The gas gauge is not linear, by design.

Mon Sep 22, 2008 6:13 pm

Quote:

Sounds like your gage or sending unit isn't too accurate. Here's a good guide to the design and troubleshooting of the system:
http://www.nls.net/mp/volks/htm/fuel_ga.htm
Or you can just learn your gage's nuances and live with it.

I went to this site and did the test at the bottom of the page titled "Testing the gauge". It passed both of the tests. My problem is I used to never have a gas gauge problem...took out the tank a yr or so ago and when I put it back in I had a gas gauge problem. My needle only goes to about 1/2 or so full when tank is all full. I cleaned off the connector on the wire and on the tank and it went to about 1/4. I'm thinking to put a new connector on the wire because it seems kind of loose.

No, this Beetle is not new to me, I've had it 30 yrs, I just haven't been here on the Samba much in the last 2-3 yrs. I'm trying to get this Bug ready to be my daily driver....I'm selling my gas hog Suburban.

Pat

Mon Sep 22, 2008 6:51 pm

mnussbau wrote: 3 gallons at the halfway point is by design? If that's the case then I'm getting 40 mpg the first half of the tank, then 15 the rest of the way.

LMAO! :lol: :lol:

Mon Sep 22, 2008 11:29 pm

I doubt the gauge is the same as my 64's but you can check the back of the gauge for a little nob with a screw driver slot. If it does have this you should be able to adjust where the gauge is sitting at to re calibrate it. If it doesnt have that then somethings wrong with your sending unit. Its really simple to remove the sending unit though and you can always open it up to peek inside the tank to see if its actually full, all you need is a long screw driver to unscrew it.

Tue Sep 23, 2008 11:12 am

Take your in-tank sending using off. Look at the resistor wire inside the unit. Specially the top portion of it. It's kind of hard to see. Sometimes the plastic that the wire is warped around start to bulge, disrupting the curent flow.

You can take out the sending unit and test this theory by slowly moving the arms. When you move it past 1/2 mark you will not see the gauge not going any further than 1/2. as you push it towards the full mark, the gauge will start to move backwards to 1/4 mark.