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mikedjames
Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2012
Posts: 3370
Location: Hamble, Hampshire, UK
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 Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2025 3:41 am Post subject: Re: Fuel Gauge Vibrator got ya down? FAQ |
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That is excellent!
Just for reference in answer to a question from way back, at least some of the bimetallic strip vibrators are adjustable. E.g. on my 1974 bus.
Under a blob of paint there is a screw thread with two flats on it that you can grip with pliers and as you unscrew it, the average voltage drops.
If the voltage is already too low, then you have to carefully peel back the housing and take out the hardware. I had to clean the badly pitted contacts and then it began working again. Folded the metal cover over to put it back together.
_________________
Ancient vehicles and vessels
1974 VW T2 : Devon Eurovette camper with 1641 DP T1 engine, Progressive carb, full flow oil cooler, EDIS crank timed ignition.
Engine 1: 40k miles (rocker shaft clip fell off), Engine 2: 30k miles (rebuild, dropped valve). Engine 3: a JK Preservation Parts "new" engine, aluminium case: 26k miles: new top end.
Gearbox rebuild 2021 by Bears.
1979 Westerly GK24 24 foot racer/cruiser yacht Forethought of Gosport.
1973 wooden Pacer sailing dinghy |
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vwwestyman
Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2004
Posts: 5846
Location: Wamego, Kansas, USA
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| Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2025 7:01 am Post subject: Re: Fuel Gauge Vibrator got ya down? FAQ |
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For whatever it is worth, I was recently working on my VW Cabriolet's fuel pump stuff, and noticed that the sending unit looked quite similar to the ones on a mid-'73 and up Bus.
Google says the full and empty resistance values are basically the same.
The Cabriolet sending unit has ports on the top for fuel inlet and outlet, and had a lift pump.
So it sure seems that with a little bit of work, one could use one of these sending units and eliminate the lower tank drain(s) of a Bus tank.
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Dave Cook
President, Wild Westerner Club
1978 Champagne Edition Westy, repowered to '97 Jetta TDI
1973 Wild Westerner
My Thing |
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SGKent 
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007
Posts: 42807
Location: at the beach
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| Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2025 9:16 am Post subject: Re: Fuel Gauge Vibrator got ya down? FAQ |
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| mikedjames wrote: |
That is excellent!
Just for reference in answer to a question from way back, at least some of the bimetallic strip vibrators are adjustable. E.g. on my 1974 bus.
Under a blob of paint there is a screw thread with two flats on it that you can grip with pliers and as you unscrew it, the average voltage drops.
If the voltage is already too low, then you have to carefully peel back the housing and take out the hardware. I had to clean the badly pitted contacts and then it began working again. Folded the metal cover over to put it back together. |
the bimetallic ones provide whatever is present at the dash, they do not lower the voltage. What they do is to change the time interval that the voltage (12V) is applied. By changing the screw one changes the cycle (on-off) of the 12V. That voltage, run thru the sender in the back to ground heats the gauge. The hotter the gauge is, the higher it reads. As people added electronics, the on-off cycle could be heard in the stereo etc.. VW decided it was better to apply a lower voltage all the time with no cycling. It had the benefit of never welding the bimetallic points closed and thereby burning out the gauge, which was common with the bimetallic model. IMHO, the electronic version of the regulator is far superior to the bimetallic model. What I would suggest if one has the electronic version out, open it and make sure the connections are soldered. Many of the reproductions they just twist wires together inside the unit. It is a simple device.
_________________
George Carlin:
"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it."
Skills@EuroCarsPlus:
"never time to do it right but always time to do it twice"  |
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mikedjames
Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2012
Posts: 3370
Location: Hamble, Hampshire, UK
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| Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2025 9:52 am Post subject: Re: Fuel Gauge Vibrator got ya down? FAQ |
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Problem is that the electronic stabilisers as fitted later by VW are still a bit basic, running components quite hot so these can also fail.
I have blown a more modern three terminal regulator chip off the dashboard of a 1990 Ford using nothing more than a loose wire on the ignition coil to provide high voltages.
Modern buck regulator modules would fit inside the can of the old vibrator and generate very little heat for $1 or $2 a go.
_________________
Ancient vehicles and vessels
1974 VW T2 : Devon Eurovette camper with 1641 DP T1 engine, Progressive carb, full flow oil cooler, EDIS crank timed ignition.
Engine 1: 40k miles (rocker shaft clip fell off), Engine 2: 30k miles (rebuild, dropped valve). Engine 3: a JK Preservation Parts "new" engine, aluminium case: 26k miles: new top end.
Gearbox rebuild 2021 by Bears.
1979 Westerly GK24 24 foot racer/cruiser yacht Forethought of Gosport.
1973 wooden Pacer sailing dinghy |
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SGKent
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007
Posts: 42807
Location: at the beach
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| Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2025 10:00 am Post subject: Re: Fuel Gauge Vibrator got ya down? FAQ |
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| mikedjames wrote: |
Problem is that the electronic stabilisers as fitted later by VW are still a bit basic, running components quite hot so these can also fail.
I have blown a more modern three terminal regulator chip off the dashboard of a 1990 Ford using nothing more than a loose wire on the ignition coil to provide high voltages.
Modern buck regulator modules would fit inside the can of the old vibrator and generate very little heat for $1 or $2 a go. |
Telford built one for me that is more robust than the original. I do know that the bimetallic one took out the gauge on my 1977 when those points inside it locked on 100% duration.
_________________
George Carlin:
"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it."
Skills@EuroCarsPlus:
"never time to do it right but always time to do it twice" |
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