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timo78
Samba Member
Joined: July 03, 2009
Posts: 931
Location: Overcast and Loving it
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 Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 7:33 pm Post subject: Fuel Gauge Vibrator got ya down? FAQ |
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| [url=https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=381486&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=]Fuel Gauge Vibrator got ya down? FAQ[/url] |
I'd been having gas gauge issues for a while and amonst other things found a faulty voltage stabilizer / vibrator. Google led me to this article
http://www.britishv8.org/Articles/MGB-Voltage-Stabilizer.htm which describes a solid state fix. I called Radio Shack as noted in the writeup.... nada. ...Hmm... there's always FRY's in Renton? For those of you who don't know FRY's. It is one of those !Ultimate computer stores! . They don't just have everything, They've got like dozens of everything from 100's of different vendors, simply huge and they got it all. They even have individual electrical components, which I needed. I wont mention any VR's from the article because I couldn't find any of those, but instead found an NTE1932 which is a 10v 1a, and is the same range as the article.
Here's the VR module type.
With leads attached,
Appropriate ends after opting for no housing.
Attached to the cluster backing, s.i.b. [EDIT: hard to see but I bent center ground pin to mate w/ cluster backing]
Key ON, .. snickers aint the only thing that satisfys!
This replacement was pretty easy with the dash cluster already out and FRY's close by. Putting the VR together was easy in comparison to spending about 30-40mins as a contortionist getting my dash back together.
.. Not to mention breaking my brake light indicator lens.. and my speedo needle! in the process. Oh the string of curse words that came from my mouth when it snapped off... I replaced it with the end of a white zip tie cut to length and glued in place of the original, yeah ghetto, but until I get a replacement speedo it will suffice.
My bus always has something broken.
_________________
 > 78Grµn Westfalia `Donkey`
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It may be bigger than you and it may be bigger than me, but it’s not bigger than you AND me; can you dig it?
Last edited by timo78 on Thu Dec 17, 2009 9:08 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Monkeyknuckles
Samba Member
Joined: March 11, 2007
Posts: 159
Location: Tidewater Virginia Area
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| Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 9:14 pm Post subject: |
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Very Nice!.. How much did that cost?
Got to be less expensive than the VW vibrator. |
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Mark
Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2003
Posts: 1523
Location: Victoria, BC Canada
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| Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 9:28 pm Post subject: |
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Nicely done, and good write-up.
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www.zwerks.ca |
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RatCamper
Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2008
Posts: 3305
Location: Australia
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| Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 4:09 am Post subject: |
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| so it's meant to be 10v? Pretty easy. Thanks. |
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timo78
Samba Member
Joined: July 03, 2009
Posts: 931
Location: Overcast and Loving it
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| Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 10:56 am Post subject: |
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| Monkeyknuckles wrote: |
Very Nice!.. How much did that cost?
Got to be less expensive than the VW vibrator. |
$2.99 + tax @ FRY's. A similar unit goes for .74c when searching online.
_________________
> 78Grµn Westfalia `Donkey`
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It may be bigger than you and it may be bigger than me, but it’s not bigger than you AND me; can you dig it? |
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timo78
Samba Member
Joined: July 03, 2009
Posts: 931
Location: Overcast and Loving it
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| Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 10:58 am Post subject: |
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| RatCamper wrote: |
| so it's meant to be 10v? Pretty easy. Thanks. |
I believe 10v is what the stock voltage stabilizer wants to deliver. Thats what mine had shown prior to getting fouled.
_________________
> 78Grµn Westfalia `Donkey`
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It may be bigger than you and it may be bigger than me, but it’s not bigger than you AND me; can you dig it? |
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RatCamper
Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2008
Posts: 3305
Location: Australia
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| Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 2:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Mine went short circuit and killed the gauge before I owned it so getting a voltage was impossible. I might still go the path of using a zener and a lightbulb like the other type of 'vibrator' as current limiting is extremely important to the way I have a gauge configured. I'm using an external resistor for calibration of an otherwise completely incompatible gauge taken from a truck. |
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Daverham
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Joined: August 27, 2009
Posts: 1397
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 3:17 pm Post subject: |
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| Everything going as planned? Report back if it is working as it should after a few tanks. Good tip. Nice find. |
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thegoodfight7211
Samba Street Punk
Joined: June 02, 2009
Posts: 500
Location: Ashtabula, OH
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| Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 5:28 pm Post subject: |
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It occurred to me recently that my speedometer needle is in fact a toothpick hot-glued in place...so a zip-tie doesn't sound all that outlandish to me! 
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Percy: '77 sage Westy, 2.0L FI (GD), 091 trans
| coad wrote: |
| crofty wrote: |
| kaiser wrote: |
i figured you guys would appreciate the frugality of the homemade soap. |
I like the idea but they'd go totally ape shiat over this in the Bay Window forum! |
Bay window owners? Soap? |
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busdaddy
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 51155
Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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| Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 5:38 pm Post subject: |
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That's absolutely horrifying that a VW shares an electrical contrivance with an english car  There's some tech spying gone bad  Props for posting the fix, next dead fuel gauge I'll explore that route.
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Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
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Air_Cooled_Nut
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Joined: March 27, 2004
Posts: 3040
Location: Portland, Oregon
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| Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 6:46 pm Post subject: |
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Freakin' awesome! My gauge is using a used vibrator (cuz the original had a broken wire) so it doesn't go all the way and sometimes doesn't even go  Can't wait to try this out!!
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Toby http://www.aircoolednut.com/
Did I mention that I'm an original Darksider?
'72 VW Squareback, 2007cc, GB 5-speed, rag top; '76 VW Riviera Penthouse Sundowner 2.0L; 2015 Audi S5 Cabby w/Stage II APR; '06 Ducati Sport Classic 1000; '14 Ducati Diavel Strada
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timo78
Samba Member
Joined: July 03, 2009
Posts: 931
Location: Overcast and Loving it
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| Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 2:00 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the responses. So far so good. It's not a dailydriver, but looked good on my Sunday drive around lake Samm. I'll report back with a gauge reading to fill up ratio once I get some more data.
_________________
> 78Grµn Westfalia `Donkey`
.
It may be bigger than you and it may be bigger than me, but it’s not bigger than you AND me; can you dig it? |
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morymob
Samba Member
Joined: November 09, 2007
Posts: 4683
Location: east-tn
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| Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 4:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Oh 'that' vibrator,reminded of someone else with a problem.....batteries were dead.. |
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Air_Cooled_Nut
Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2004
Posts: 3040
Location: Portland, Oregon
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| Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 7:55 pm Post subject: |
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I thought I had enough fuel but chug...chug...coasted into the Shucks parking lot and waited for the little lady to bring me a gallon of gas. Well, now's a good time to fix things. 13.5 gallons later I had a Bus with a full belly and my meter read 3/4 tank, just like usual.
Later that weekend...Toby gets the NTE 1932 installed.
Okay, full tank of gas and the needle s-l-o-w-l-y pegs to beyond full (gas gauge sender is new from The Bus Depot). Voltage is a tad over 10v and resistence is 11.7 ohms so everything is checking out okay. Guess I need to start driving now and use up some fuel to see if the gauge deflects properly.
Come to think of it, I have an access port to the sender (PO hack) so I could test it manually as well...just may do that this weekend as with no rain tomorrow I'd rather ride my motorcycle 
_________________
Toby http://www.aircoolednut.com/
Did I mention that I'm an original Darksider?
'72 VW Squareback, 2007cc, GB 5-speed, rag top; '76 VW Riviera Penthouse Sundowner 2.0L; 2015 Audi S5 Cabby w/Stage II APR; '06 Ducati Sport Classic 1000; '14 Ducati Diavel Strada
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Air_Cooled_Nut
Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2004
Posts: 3040
Location: Portland, Oregon
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| Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 7:57 pm Post subject: |
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timo78, how's yours working?
I got my device from Norvac Electronics, Inc. and it was $3.15.
_________________
Toby http://www.aircoolednut.com/
Did I mention that I'm an original Darksider?
'72 VW Squareback, 2007cc, GB 5-speed, rag top; '76 VW Riviera Penthouse Sundowner 2.0L; 2015 Audi S5 Cabby w/Stage II APR; '06 Ducati Sport Classic 1000; '14 Ducati Diavel Strada
The First Invasion |
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foxtail1
Samba Member
Joined: February 04, 2008
Posts: 706
Location: graham
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| Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 8:59 am Post subject: |
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Hey busdaddy
Does the 71 have one of those things that vibrate also?
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As they say, "You never know until you ask the question."
64 bug
64 bus
59 ghia
71 bus |
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busdaddy
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 51155
Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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| Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 9:10 am Post subject: |
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Nope, it was introduced in 73.
_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
Слава Україні! |
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foxtail1
Samba Member
Joined: February 04, 2008
Posts: 706
Location: graham
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| Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 9:25 am Post subject: |
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Thanks.
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As they say, "You never know until you ask the question."
64 bug
64 bus
59 ghia
71 bus |
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timo78
Samba Member
Joined: July 03, 2009
Posts: 931
Location: Overcast and Loving it
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| Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 4:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Air_Cooled_Nut wrote: |
timo78, how's yours working?
I got my device from Norvac Electronics, Inc. and it was $3.15. |
Hey Toby
It seems to be doing well, but I have yet to do a fill-up [it's not my daily driver] and I haven't made any long trips since the install.
It does seem to hang out in the F+ region for longer than I expected, but my newer cars hang out in F range too for a long time before they start to drop. I'm almost to 1/2 tank and I think that will help determine the validity of the fix.
_________________
> 78Grµn Westfalia `Donkey`
.
It may be bigger than you and it may be bigger than me, but it’s not bigger than you AND me; can you dig it? |
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Air_Cooled_Nut
Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2004
Posts: 3040
Location: Portland, Oregon
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| Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 4:58 pm Post subject: |
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Cool. Hopefully that's the situation. Once I hit 1/2 tank then I'll carry around a gallon of gas with me and drive her until empty. Then I can adjust the arm accordingly so the gauge hits empty when the tank is.
I'm just a little concerned because I can barely even see my needle because it's sooooooo far into the full tank zone Maybe my float arm needs adjusting? I dunno yet.
_________________
Toby http://www.aircoolednut.com/
Did I mention that I'm an original Darksider?
'72 VW Squareback, 2007cc, GB 5-speed, rag top; '76 VW Riviera Penthouse Sundowner 2.0L; 2015 Audi S5 Cabby w/Stage II APR; '06 Ducati Sport Classic 1000; '14 Ducati Diavel Strada
The First Invasion |
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