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timmosleytn
Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2010
Posts: 12
Location: Memphis,TN
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 Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2012 3:14 pm Post subject: Ghia fuel gauge reading/ sending unit |
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59 ghia, which has been updated to 12 volt. I have purchased a new sending unit from KGPR (AirHeads), installed and after a bit of fussing finally got the sending unit to ground.
fuel Gauge which has 3.58 imprinted on the back I believe to be correct for the car. (Note: I did put a resister on the positive line to reduce voltage to 6v.)
All seems well but at a total full tank the fuel gauge will show 3/4+ tank but no full.
What am I missing.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Tim Mosley
901-483-1289
[email protected] (note this is my most recent email timmosley@rxsuite is not active, so try to respond to this email address |
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Bikerchris
Samba Member
Joined: May 08, 2010
Posts: 290
Location: Texas
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| Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2012 8:33 pm Post subject: |
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| A 59 Ghia would have a mechanical style fuel sender and gauge. If you have a sender and gauge which require power then its not the original one for that car. |
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djway3474
Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2011
Posts: 2582
Location: The Real NDK So Cal
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| Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2012 11:32 pm Post subject: |
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fuel gage added in 58
there is a way to test the gage
I read it a while back you unplug the sender and the gage goes full or was it ground the wire? If you search the forum you can find how to test a VDO gage or do a google search on testing vdo fuel gage
If the test only takes the needle to a certain point as it does now you may be able to shift the needle position or just learn the oddity of that gage. If it moves the needle to a new position then your sensor may be the odd factor |
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John Moxon 
Samba Moderator
Joined: March 07, 2004
Posts: 13958
Location: Southampton U.K.
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JedM
Samba Member
Joined: August 20, 2013
Posts: 18
Location: CA
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| Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 10:43 pm Post subject: My original VDO 59 Ghia fuel gauge has electrical connection |
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| Bikerchris wrote: |
| A 59 Ghia would have a mechanical style fuel sender and gauge. If you have a sender and gauge which require power then its not the original one for that car. |
I'm really confused by this statement as the wiring diagram for my '59 Ghia shows a wire going to the sensor in the tank (marked G on back of gauge), and a wire going to the fuse box (from + on the back of the gauge). So, wouldn't this make it electric? Also, the back of my VDO gauge is marked as 6V next to the VW stamp? I thought the mechanical gauges were only in the early 60"s models as stated on other forum discussions.
I'm converting my Ghia from 6v to 12v so I want to get this right. |
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djway3474
Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2011
Posts: 2582
Location: The Real NDK So Cal
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| Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 12:02 am Post subject: Re: My original VDO 59 Ghia fuel gauge has electrical connec |
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| JedM wrote: |
| Bikerchris wrote: |
| A 59 Ghia would have a mechanical style fuel sender and gauge. If you have a sender and gauge which require power then its not the original one for that car. |
I'm really confused by this statement as the wiring diagram for my '59 Ghia shows a wire going to the sensor in the tank (marked G on back of gauge), and a wire going to the fuse box (from + on the back of the gauge). So, wouldn't this make it electric? Also, the back of my VDO gauge is marked as 6V next to the VW stamp? I thought the mechanical gauges were only in the early 60"s models as stated on other forum discussions.
I'm converting my Ghia from 6v to 12v so I want to get this right. |
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/wiring/58ghia.jpg
59 Was electrical |
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c21darrel
Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2009
Posts: 8211
Location: San Dimas
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VeloMikey
Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2012
Posts: 655
Location: So Cal
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| Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 9:34 pm Post subject: |
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The gauge does care about voltage. Send it to North Hollywood Speedo and get it coverted to 12v for $125. It should get power and ground. When you put the wire on the sending unit to ground it will peg the gauge to full with the key switch on. if you get the needle to hit full then check the resistance at the sending unit.
_________________
'58 Ghia 2387cc with a Berg / Folts 5 Speed
Ghia Build Thread https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=768748 |
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JedM
Samba Member
Joined: August 20, 2013
Posts: 18
Location: CA
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| Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2014 11:17 am Post subject: Fuel gauge 6v to 12v |
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| Thanks for the suggestions. After talking with many people for now I'm going with a voltage regulator to drop the voltage. Eventually I'll probably go to North Hollywood Speedometers as suggested. By the way, the consensus is the voltage does matter with an electrical sensor. |
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VeloMikey
Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2012
Posts: 655
Location: So Cal
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| Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2014 11:40 am Post subject: |
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Sorry, I meant the sending unit. The gauge is voltage specific. If you have power and ground to the gauge and ground the sending wire it will peg the gauge to "full". If it doesn't, then the gauge is fried from having too much voltage. That is what happened in my case. My wiper motor is toast too!
_________________
'58 Ghia 2387cc with a Berg / Folts 5 Speed
Ghia Build Thread https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=768748 |
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Wolfsberg West sells new sending units too. Also, im about 99% sure the fuel gauge doesnt care 6 or 12V, just the lite.