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76weekender
Samba Member
Joined: August 07, 2012
Posts: 13
Location: USA
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 Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2014 6:31 am Post subject: Gas Gauge |
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What is the most common reason for the gas guage not working? Thanks
Sorry forgot to add: 76 Weekender |
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borninabus
Samba R&D Dept.
Joined: May 18, 2006
Posts: 4538
Location: Arizona Highways
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| Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2014 6:53 am Post subject: |
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Sender, vibrator and/or wiring.
The gauge itself is rarely the issue.
Search 
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sallittjob
Samba Member
Joined: September 16, 2010
Posts: 340
Location: North NJ
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| Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2014 7:20 am Post subject: |
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Here is a great thread which explains the common reason for "dead-spots" in the gauge and how to cheaply repair it:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=380693
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oscarsnapkin
Samba Member
Joined: October 22, 2013
Posts: 558
Location: Bucks County, PA
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| Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2014 5:51 am Post subject: |
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Anyone know if there's a good replacement sender available? I seem to remember reading a post that said they were total shit. I took my tank out to clean it and my sender is rusted to bits. Wasn't sure if I should replace it or try and clean it up. BusDepot has this one available, any thoughts?
http://www.busdepot.com/211919051a
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Dansux
Samba Member
Joined: August 22, 2013
Posts: 128
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2014 7:46 am Post subject: |
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I ordered the one from Busdepot and the part was dropped shipped to me from a company in California (and it does not come with a new seal). It has a cheap float made from the same plastic used to manufacture milk containers.
Before you decide to order a new one try and give the old one a quick clean up. Use some soap and water and then soak it in white vinegar for a few days. You will be very surprised how it cleans up. |
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oscarsnapkin
Samba Member
Joined: October 22, 2013
Posts: 558
Location: Bucks County, PA
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| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 1:23 am Post subject: |
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| Dansux wrote: |
| Before you decide to order a new one try and give the old one a quick clean up. Use some soap and water and then soak it in white vinegar for a few days. You will be very surprised how it cleans up. |
I wish I had taken a 'Before' picture to show you the difference. This thing was a rusty mess. Simply cleaned it with a Brillo pad and did the vinegar soak and it looks a hundred times better. It still has some light rust in the little crevices that I can't get to, but I tested the sender with a multimeter and it works perfect, so I decided against taking it apart. Super-psyched that it works. I'm sure that if I soaked it longer (I left it in vinegar for about 12 hours) that it would've cleaned up even more, but my dogs had too much of an interest in the bucket of vinegar sitting in the yard so I decided to dump it.
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FreedomBuild
Samba Member
Joined: September 21, 2010
Posts: 385
Location: Calgary, Alberta
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| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 7:49 pm Post subject: |
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But if you do order a new aftermarket one it's not plug n play. You may have to bend the arm of the float to get it to read right. I learned the hard way. I re did my tank, lines, sender, sender seal and vibrator. The gauge reads 3/4 full when full because the float doesn't allow for enough travel on the sender unless it's bent down a bit. I wish someone had told me beforehand. 
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=564551
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