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low_67
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2014
Posts: 52
Location: Virginia Beach
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 Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 4:21 pm Post subject: 2nd time running out of gas. fuel gauge or sending unit? |
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| Which should I replace first? Gauge reads around 1/4 remaining when I sputter to a halt. Looks to be a little fuel in tank though. But added a gallon from my jerry can and got it going again. So where should I start? I'd like an accurate reading! |
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grandpa pete
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2008
Posts: 6426
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
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grandpa pete
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2008
Posts: 6426
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
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glutamodo 
The Android
Joined: July 13, 2004
Posts: 26311
Location: Douglas, WY
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| Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 4:51 pm Post subject: |
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Well, if it's a 67 like his user name says, sounds like typical issues with mechanical fuel gauges... (something I discussed ad nauseum here:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=231562
But first, have you checked the adjustment on your setup? (assuming it's mechanical)
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low_67
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2014
Posts: 52
Location: Virginia Beach
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| Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 7:04 pm Post subject: |
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67
Last edited by low_67 on Tue Oct 28, 2014 7:23 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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low_67
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2014
Posts: 52
Location: Virginia Beach
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| Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 7:28 pm Post subject: |
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| glutamodo wrote: |
Well, if it's a 67 like his user name says, sounds like typical issues with mechanical fuel gauges... (something I discussed ad nauseum here:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=231562
But first, have you checked the adjustment on your setup? (assuming it's mechanical)
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Thanks. I'll give the adjustment a shot first. |
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low_67
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2014
Posts: 52
Location: Virginia Beach
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| Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 8:21 pm Post subject: |
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| Did the adjustment. Broke the needle off the gauge :/ |
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glutamodo
The Android
Joined: July 13, 2004
Posts: 26311
Location: Douglas, WY
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| Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 9:04 pm Post subject: |
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I think you mean: 
That sucks - some gauges have a bottom peg, some don't... and that plastic does get brittle with age. I've broken one off before. |
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shortride
Samba Member
Joined: October 10, 2010
Posts: 1323
Location: Oklahoma
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mukluk
Samba Member
Joined: October 18, 2012
Posts: 7023
Location: Clyde, TX
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| Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2014 4:23 am Post subject: |
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I've never met a truely accurate fuel gauge... the trick that I've used for years is to write the milage down in the corner of the windshield with a china marker whenever I fill the tank. It's then just a matter of setting a milage limit to fill up again, based on how many gallons I'd like to have remaining and the milage that vehicle normally gets. For my '60 (which has no gauge to begin with), I normally get an honest 30+mpg and prefer to have a 2 gallon reserve, so I fill up again after travelling 260 miles from the number written on the windshield. Did the same method in my '68 and my '72, even in my '84 Vanagon back in the day.
_________________
1960 Ragtop w/Semaphores "Inga" |
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low_67
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2014
Posts: 52
Location: Virginia Beach
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| Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2014 8:01 am Post subject: |
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| Anyone know if the fuel gauge can be disassembled so I can get at the needle? A little super glue would save me $50 |
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KTPhil
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006
Posts: 34003
Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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| Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2014 8:22 am Post subject: |
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I used to use one of those manual trip odometer boxes stuck to the dash for the same reason.
I also did the calibration so I knew when I had 1 gallon left. Accuracy when nearly full is not usually important, but those last few drops are!
Eventually I put in a round electric gauge and sender from a later Ghia. Those seem to be more accurate. |
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glutamodo
The Android
Joined: July 13, 2004
Posts: 26311
Location: Douglas, WY
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| Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2014 8:33 am Post subject: |
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| low_67 wrote: |
| Anyone know if the fuel gauge can be disassembled so I can get at the needle? A little super glue would save me $50 |
Yeah, you can take the lens off if you want to try that. I remember fixing one I broke by epoxying a toothpick or something like that in place of the needle and painting it white. Do note that the chrome trim is a bit fragile where it is crimped over the gauge housing. |
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Max Welton
Samba Member
Joined: May 19, 2003
Posts: 10697
Location: Black Forest, CO
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VOLKSWAGNUT
Fastest VW Belt Changer
Joined: October 14, 2007
Posts: 11055
Location: Flippin' a Belt........ .... Off-n-On ... NC USA
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| Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2014 3:13 pm Post subject: |
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What.. nobodys heard of the swerve and watch for the gauge jump method... 
If you want accurate... good luck.....
Its really pretty simple to me..... just dont run the fuel that low..
I think the old reserve tap was the best CYA.....
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_________________
aka Ken {o\!/o}
Its your vehicle- stop askin' for approval-do what YOU like for cryin' out loud
Better to roll em' how you want and wear em' out-than lettin' em' rot out
Its about the going not the showing
Rebuilt to drive not decorate
WANTED: Local Eatin' Joints, Triple D for TheSamba contributions here http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=570510
Search "VOLKSWAGNUT" on YouTube since you cant watch a "certain" BELT change video round here
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KTPhil
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006
Posts: 34003
Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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| Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2014 5:04 pm Post subject: |
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| VOLKSWAGNUT wrote: |
What.. nobodys heard of the swerve and watch for the gauge jump method...
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Close cousin to the "rock left and right at the stoplight and watch the gauge" method I often used. |
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low_67
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2014
Posts: 52
Location: Virginia Beach
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| Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2014 5:35 pm Post subject: |
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| VOLKSWAGNUT wrote: |
Its really pretty simple to me..... just dont run the fuel that low..
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You sound like my wife.
Alright alright. Got the needle glued back on and adjusted per instructions above. Good to go. I don't do the mpg method because my speedo cable broke last week. Yup. |
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VOLKSWAGNUT
Fastest VW Belt Changer
Joined: October 14, 2007
Posts: 11055
Location: Flippin' a Belt........ .... Off-n-On ... NC USA
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| Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2014 6:03 pm Post subject: |
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I must say..and admit...... I've always "tested" my out of fuel spot in my cars....... Not fun... so try to avoid it...
I've got a story of running out of gas in a 67 Cougar twice on the same road trip ... but my brother just so happened to be driving both times ... so not my fault... but love to give him shit bout it....
Broken speedo... and inaccurate fuel gauge.... you need a fuel reserve tap, and an extra can of fuel, or.... simply fix the damn thing,... 
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_________________
aka Ken {o\!/o}
Its your vehicle- stop askin' for approval-do what YOU like for cryin' out loud
Better to roll em' how you want and wear em' out-than lettin' em' rot out
Its about the going not the showing
Rebuilt to drive not decorate
WANTED: Local Eatin' Joints, Triple D for TheSamba contributions here http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=570510
Search "VOLKSWAGNUT" on YouTube since you cant watch a "certain" BELT change video round here
Usually and often edited |
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low_67
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2014
Posts: 52
Location: Virginia Beach
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| Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2014 6:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Well I think the gas gauge is good now. And just took out the spare tire, since it won't even be used because the car is too low, and replaced it with a 1 gallon jerry can. Good for me or anyone else that gets stranded. |
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