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Cold Steel Samba Member
Joined: March 11, 2010 Posts: 587
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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 7:03 am Post subject: Fuel gauge |
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My fuel gauge has been working fine until now. What's occurring is the gauge in the instrument panel is showing half full. Oh wait, gas so expensive I don't have the money to fill it up all the way:)
I filled the tank all the way up and it still only showing half full.
What should be my troubleshooting steps?
Thanks _________________ 91 Syncro
I am a samba thread just waiting to happen!
"Advanced Syncroist" |
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oc2bc Samba Member
Joined: August 24, 2010 Posts: 88
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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 8:25 am Post subject: |
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I'm watching this topic with interest as mine functions (or doesn't function) the same way. I noticed the first time filling up after buying the van and it's on my list of things to do. |
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Corwyn Samba Member
Joined: December 29, 2009 Posts: 2236 Location: Olympia, Washington
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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 8:31 am Post subject: |
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I had the same issue a month or so ago.
I dropped the tank, checked the sending unit (thought it might be a grounding issue), and traced the wires all the way forward. Nada. Maybe the gauge itself (20+ years old) is dying.
When I drive up steep hills the level goes waaay down; when I drive downhill, it goes back up. Go figure! _________________ '90 White Westy ("Knarr")
FAS Gen V 2.0
The Annual Baja Rally
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604813&highlight=baja
"If anything's" gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there"
~ Captain Ron ~ |
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reluctantartist Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2006 Posts: 1927 Location: Bloomington, IN
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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 8:32 am Post subject: |
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It may be the voltage stabilizer on the gauge pod.
http://www.busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=357919803 _________________ 1982 Westy, 1974 412 Variant... Yes, Aircooled's are great! Oh and I do have modern computer controlled vehicles too, but I just don't care about them. |
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WAgrower Samba Member
Joined: March 25, 2011 Posts: 182 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 8:47 am Post subject: |
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does it move at all when you turn the van off? what about your voltage stabilizer if the gauge twitches then it could be the stabilizer?
If it's not stuck then take a multi-meter and read the voltage at the gauge then read the voltage at the sender (or as close as you can get)
They should read the same or within .5v. If not then your issue is in the wire.
If they read the same then your issue is with the gauge or sender.
If it's the wire it's an easy fix, if it's the gauge or sender it's a little more tricky.
to test the sender you can measure the resistance of the sender circuit as the tank drains. The resistance should increase as the tank drains, and be near 0ohm with the tank full. You could measure it then drive for 20min and measure again, and the resistance should increase.
To test the gauge you could theoretically hook it up to a 12v source with a potentiometer to check if it's responding; as you let more current through it should read higher.. Not sure about this test however the gauge may work off a lower voltage! I've never had to trace mine but the circuit is simple. |
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Cold Steel Samba Member
Joined: March 11, 2010 Posts: 587
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Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 1:34 pm Post subject: |
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ok so i have completed a few more tests.
1. the guage works just not properly
2. the gauge goes up and down but no all the way up
a. Test one the fill up. So I thought I was running low. I put fuel in until I heard the click. Ahhh its full but wait is it? Lets go for some more clicks. Oh...fuel is no coming out of the nozzle. (sorry epa I did clean everthing up)
b. With a FULL tank, the guage read 3/16 below the line.
The needle should be above the line at this point not below it.
So...I have a theory I dont want to find out about. I think some how the fuel sender inside the tank has malfunctioned. I think it is stuck or something. Not wanting to go inside the tank yet.
I am will test the others suggested in the thread. _________________ 91 Syncro
I am a samba thread just waiting to happen!
"Advanced Syncroist" |
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MakeFast Samba Member
Joined: January 09, 2011 Posts: 118 Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 2:54 pm Post subject: |
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Posting to watch, I'm in the same boat. _________________ 1986 Vanagon Westfalia |
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Ahwahnee Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010 Posts: 9797 Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 3:07 pm Post subject: |
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Corwyn wrote: |
...When I drive up steep hills the level goes waaay down; when I drive downhill, it goes back up. Go figure! |
I think that is somewhat normal -- as I recall the sender is in the left front of the tank so steep uphill and hard lefthanders will lower the gauge & vice versa.
The gauge can be recalibrated -- I did mine. Unfortunately I am not exactly sure how. I inadvertently changed mine when I had it apart replacing the analog clock capacitors, when I got it back together it read higher than before. I hadn't been reading as low as yours but the increase was an improvement. |
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pushkick Samba Member
Joined: August 09, 2007 Posts: 1366
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Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 3:12 pm Post subject: gas gauge |
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if you unplug your sender unit and plug a new one with out removing your
tank you could test your gauge system to see how it is working. the sending
unit is basically a reohstat i thnk. _________________ i see said the blind man to his deaf dog
i am going to quit smoking and drinking and die a healthy man. gotta laugh
there is no deed to the planet earth
1990 vw automatic camper |
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pioneer1 Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2008 Posts: 2068 Location: Ontario Canada
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Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 4:38 pm Post subject: gas tank |
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Hi:I think your readings are pretty normal. I had a new tank, sender unit and replaced the voltage stabilizer. My gauge still never showed full, and as the gas moved back and forth the gauge went up and down-it is just a float ...More important was that it did show empty _________________ "Always waiting for tomorrow ruined everything"
'85 Porsche 911 Targa
'76 Westfalia project |
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AndyBees Samba Member
Joined: January 31, 2008 Posts: 2325 Location: Southeast Kentucky
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Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 5:28 pm Post subject: Re: gas tank |
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pioneer1 wrote: |
Hi:I think your readings are pretty normal. I had a new tank, sender unit and replaced the voltage stabilizer. My gauge still never showed full, and as the gas moved back and forth the gauge went up and down-it is just a float ...More important was that it did show empty |
Two times on your comments.
The unit is on the left side of the tank/vehicle. If your tank is low on fuel and you go around a curve to the left, all the fuel moves to the right side of the tank .............then, the gauge will begin to drop to empty and sometimes past empty!...........Very typical. That's how my 83 Vanagon has done from when I purchased it in April of '85! _________________ '84 Vanagon Tin-top, ALH TDI. 1989 Tin-top
1983 Air-cool, 225k miles, 180k miles mine. Seven trips to Alaska from 1986 thru 2003. |
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DAIZEE Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2010 Posts: 7552 Location: Greater Toronto Area Ontario West Side
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Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 5:30 pm Post subject: |
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Mine shows up now but I think it will need to be changed someone said because its now diesel. So is a diesel sender different than a gas and if its a float would that make a difference? When I have a working van I reset the tripometer at every fill up and carry a 5 L tank. _________________ '09 2.5L Jetta 5 cylinder, 5 spd, super turbo, see thread in H2O Cooled Jetta, etc...
83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 98 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (sold)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold) |
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AndyBees Samba Member
Joined: January 31, 2008 Posts: 2325 Location: Southeast Kentucky
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Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 5:52 pm Post subject: Fuel level sending unit |
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DAIZEE wrote: |
Mine shows up now but I think it will need to be changed someone said because its now diesel. So is a diesel sender different than a gas and if its a float would that make a difference? When I have a working van I reset the tripometer at every fill up and carry a 5 L tank. |
You could put anything (well almost) liquid in your Vanagon fuel tank and the sensor/level system will work! Diesel fuel will work just fine in the Vanagon gasser fuel tank!
Check out this Link of my Vanagon Fuel Tank and Sending Unit Mod (ALH TDI sending unit for my TDI project)......scroll down to Post #150.
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=276798&page=10 _________________ '84 Vanagon Tin-top, ALH TDI. 1989 Tin-top
1983 Air-cool, 225k miles, 180k miles mine. Seven trips to Alaska from 1986 thru 2003. |
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Cold Steel Samba Member
Joined: March 11, 2010 Posts: 587
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Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 5:54 pm Post subject: |
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Dude,e My gas gauge needs to be tighter than my accountant when it comes to reading my gas. F...anything else. My shiznezzle is broken. Its so far off from what should be the normal.
Again, I am still hunting. I have lots of test still to conduct. I will find the proper answer...Bare with me!!! _________________ 91 Syncro
I am a samba thread just waiting to happen!
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Cold Steel Samba Member
Joined: March 11, 2010 Posts: 587
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Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 5:24 pm Post subject: |
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ok so I filled up today again and it was pretty low. Now this was interesting. When I opened the cap, a vaccum was created. It slurped air into the tank. I didnt have enough to fill the tank but I through a 50 at it. It registered pretty in the neighborhood of where I thought it should be.
I am not sure how this affects anything but its the only change that I have made.
I am wondering if the white vents are working properly? _________________ 91 Syncro
I am a samba thread just waiting to happen!
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BC Westie Samba Member
Joined: September 05, 2007 Posts: 331 Location: British Columbia
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Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 10:45 pm Post subject: |
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Start simple and check for corrosion around your voltage stabalizer.
I dropped my tank, changed the sender unit, fuel gauge, only to find that when I looked at my voltage stabalizer it had a little blue corrosion where it attaches to the circuit board. Cleaned it up and all of a sudden I had a working gauge.
I beleive mine had a similar action. Filled the tank and the gauge would only go to 1/2 and then go down and sit on the red the rest of the tank. _________________ 1980 Vanagon Cali Import 86,000Miles
1981 Vanagon (Auto) 219,000kms
1981 Westfalia (Auto) Cali Import 169,000Miles
1981 Westfalia 300,000kms
1982 Westfalia Cali Import 193,000Miles
1982 Westfalia (Auto) 205,000Kms
1984 Vanagon 306,000kms
1987 Vanagon GL 300,000Kms |
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chardog1971 Samba Member
Joined: August 08, 2010 Posts: 54 Location: BOZEMAN,MONTANA
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Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2011 8:17 am Post subject: |
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My gauge doesnt work either. I should say it works onlw when I drive over bumpy roads.it seems to be fairly accurate when its on. I fill up alot for two reasons 1) I dont like to walk long distances in -20 degree weather. 2) it reminds me to check my oil often. I am thinking it is the ground or a loose connection at the sending unit. Still snowing out so I will keep it full untill it gets nicer out. Dammed climate change! _________________ 1980 westy
1980 vannagon
1984 BMW 318i gone but not forgotten |
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Cold Steel Samba Member
Joined: March 11, 2010 Posts: 587
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Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 8:46 pm Post subject: |
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ok so!!! Tests have been done. Ok I have since filled 4 tanks of fuel. I have found these results. If the tank is opened, and air rushes in. I can fill up all the way. If not, I get a false fill, meaning it doesnt go all the way.
I checked the voltage stabilzer. When I did, i used my mult meter, i placed it on 50 dcv and started my test. WOW! I was watching my needle move around and BAM out of the corner of my eye. SMOKE!
Now my turn signals dont work? What did i do wrong? Was I suppose to check with omins?
THANKS _________________ 91 Syncro
I am a samba thread just waiting to happen!
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mreuter Samba Member
Joined: August 26, 2008 Posts: 391 Location: oakland
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Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2015 11:42 am Post subject: |
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Was this problem ever solved ? |
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Steve M. Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2013 Posts: 6829 Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2015 8:51 pm Post subject: |
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faded away into the ether.
if you have the problem check your Voltage Stabilizer first off.
For some strange reason known only to other people than myself, VW decided to use a fuel gauge that works on 10 volts in a vehicle that operates on 12 volts.
it is located on the back side of the instrument cluster. Do a search in the forums, I'm sure there is more threads all about it.
all the other remedies are worth trying, but if you do not have the time to check them then check your fuel mileage instead. It will be more accurate than the fuel gauge!
Just get into the habit of resetting your odometer every time you fill up and do the math the next few times you fill up to figure out how many miles you're going to get per tankful of gas. Also do not reset the odometer while the vehicle is moving-you will break it. |
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