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Wed Apr 03, 2013 4:29 pm

I am going to replace the fuel gauge that for some reason I can not get to work correctly with a gauge panel that has Oil Temp, Head Temp and fuel level. Long story with replacing part and it still reads always full.

So what I want to do is replace it with this one:
http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=VDO-301-020

But if you read the details it is backwards 10ohm empty and 65 ohm full. Is this just a typo or is this true with the gauge? I have a new german made fuel sender to install with it
http://www.jbugs.com/product/113919051F.html?Categ...gas-caps-7

but this should read 10ohm full and 70 empty.

thanks

Wed Apr 03, 2013 7:26 pm

Actually, the 301-020 registers in the correct order... However the FACEPLATE on it does not match the stock sending unit. I talked about in my gas gauge drama thread,

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=231562&start=28

but I'll summarize it here:

I put one of those to test, in my Baja bug, which has a 1967 tank and 68 speedometer and fuel gauge setup. Here's how the stock gauge (which was pretty accurate) compared to the reading I got on the 301-020:

Not very close eh?

Then I went and bought an NOS VDO sending unit from the early 70s, the previous version of this same one, back when it went under the VDO part number 3020. Here's another comparison between my stock gauge, the 3020 and the 301-020 with slightly less fuel in that tank. You'll note that the needles on both of the accessory gauges are pointing at about the same angle. However the faceplate calibration is way different between them. The 3020 is pretty close to the stock gauge, but the 301-020 is way off.

Wed Apr 03, 2013 8:28 pm

Thanks for the input. I will check that.

I tried and tried with the original gauge to get it to work. Outside everything reads fine, installed works for a little while and then back to above full. Cleaned all the grounds, new sending unit, new vibrator, new gauge. Still get the same thing. Tired of playing with it.

Now going the way of a new VDO gauge, running all new wires and grounds, hoping to get some kind of closeness on what is in the tank.

thanks again.

Wed Apr 03, 2013 8:34 pm

Well, if it's anything like the one I bought, you won't get very accurate readings with it.