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pioneer1 Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2008 Posts: 2068 Location: Ontario Canada
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Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 3:05 pm Post subject: fuel guage question |
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In my 84 ,with new gas tank and sender unit, the gauge is "wonky". After a fill up, the dash guage never shows full. The level drops off quickly to 3/4 tank after 40 miles and when it hits empty I still have 15 gallons or so.
Is there an adjustment on the sender,or a test? or could it be the voltage regulator? What relation does it have to the guage and where is it under the dash? Thanks _________________ "Always waiting for tomorrow ruined everything"
'85 Porsche 911 Targa
'76 Westfalia project |
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Vsyevolod Samba Member
Joined: August 07, 2009 Posts: 205 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 3:17 pm Post subject: |
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Often times, it's the wires that need replacing. That or the sender unit itself has gone tits up. Unfortunately, the best time to replace that sender unit is when you already have the tank out...
Stephen
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Home Team Van Samba Member
Joined: January 02, 2008 Posts: 465 Location: wilmington, nc
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Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 3:27 pm Post subject: |
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the voltage reg is in the center of this picture. It's on the back of the instrument cluster.
_________________ _________________________________
82 Diesel Westy |
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pioneer1 Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2008 Posts: 2068 Location: Ontario Canada
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Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 6:02 pm Post subject: fuel gauge |
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Thanks for the picture and location.The sender is new but how/what does the voltage regulator affect the fuel gauge reading? _________________ "Always waiting for tomorrow ruined everything"
'85 Porsche 911 Targa
'76 Westfalia project |
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dobryan Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006 Posts: 16474 Location: Brookeville, MD
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rolfsky Samba Member
Joined: November 03, 2006 Posts: 106 Location: PDX-patriate, living in NorCal
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Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 10:51 pm Post subject: Re: fuel gauge |
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dobryan wrote: |
My voltage stabilizer is bad, reads 12 volts not 9.5 - 10.5 and as a result the gas gauge reads somewhat high. Basically it always reads 1/4 tank higher than I actually have. |
Tom Hanks, is that you? _________________ '85 Merian brown Vanagon Westfalia |
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dobryan Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006 Posts: 16474 Location: Brookeville, MD
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Vanagon Nut Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008 Posts: 10347 Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 11:56 am Post subject: Re: fuel guage question |
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pioneer1 wrote: |
.....
Is there an adjustment on the sender,or a test? or could it be the voltage regulator? What relation does it have to the guage and where is it under the dash? Thanks |
AFAIK, the voltage regulator does exactly what it's name implies. The temp gauge and fuel gauge need a constant voltage. (~ 10 volts IIRC) If the regulator wasn't there, variations in voltage would either harm the gauges and/or the gauges would provide incorrect readings.
Neil. _________________ 1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
1988 West DIY 50º ABA
VE7TBN |
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pioneer1 Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2008 Posts: 2068 Location: Ontario Canada
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Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 12:17 pm Post subject: fuel gauge |
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Thanks VNut for the answer-I guess I'll check the voltage and go from there. _________________ "Always waiting for tomorrow ruined everything"
'85 Porsche 911 Targa
'76 Westfalia project |
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Vanagon Nut Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008 Posts: 10347 Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 8:23 pm Post subject: Re: fuel gauge |
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pioneer1 wrote: |
Thanks VNut for the answer-I guess I'll check the voltage and go from there. |
You're welcome.
I found that the middle pin on mine ('81 air cooled) is not be connected to the foil. Still worked fine to measure from there as per Bentley though. Just in case yours' is the same. _________________ 1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
1988 West DIY 50º ABA
VE7TBN |
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whafalia Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2009 Posts: 685 Location: San Francisco
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Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 8:54 am Post subject: |
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If I recall correctly the middle pin equals the mounting tab equals ground. |
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Dogpilot Samba Member
Joined: October 03, 2005 Posts: 4205 Location: Flagstaff, AZ
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Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 9:33 am Post subject: |
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If your voltage regulator is bad, your temp gauge will be wonkey as well. The float in the tank may be mis-adjusted or the rod bent. You may want to pull it out and check it against the gauge outside the tank and then bend the rod to get proper readings. _________________ Geology with a Syncro rocks!
86 Syncro Westy AKA "The Bughunter"
98 Disco I
08 Range Rover SC
08 VW Rabbit S
1951 O-1G |
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Vanagon Nut Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008 Posts: 10347 Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 11:09 am Post subject: |
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whafalia wrote: |
If I recall correctly the middle pin equals the mounting tab equals ground. |
Yup. That's what I found on mine.
Neil. _________________ 1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
1988 West DIY 50º ABA
VE7TBN |
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reluctantartist Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2006 Posts: 1927 Location: Bloomington, IN
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Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 12:19 pm Post subject: |
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I had to replace my voltage regulator when I would run out of gas at 1/4 of a tank. At least I got the impression of having awesome gas mileage for a little while. I have some extra voltage regulators in my parts drawer if anyone has a trouble finding one. _________________ 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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stayfido Samba Member
Joined: November 30, 2009 Posts: 36 Location: Jacksonville, Or
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Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2009 4:02 pm Post subject: |
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Any idea where to find one of these voltage regulators? Is it a specific Volkswagen part or a generic electronic component I can find more easliy? |
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BC Westie Samba Member
Joined: September 05, 2007 Posts: 331 Location: British Columbia
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Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2009 4:45 pm Post subject: |
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I went through this couple of years back. With an Air Cooled without a Water temp gauge it is easy to think it it the sender unit in the tank.
I replaced my tank sender, baptized by fuel, only to find my gauge was the same.
I then went to check the voltage regulator and there was a touch of wht corosion on the arms. Cleaned them off and voila!
Turns out I did not need a sender unit in the tank.
I think everyone should start with this cheap part. As mentioned easy to diagnose if you are water cooled.
I did try to source one and my local moms and paps auto parts store could get them cheaply out of the US. _________________ 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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mad.macs Samba Member
Joined: August 17, 2007 Posts: 230 Location: Woolwich Maine
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Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 9:12 am Post subject: |
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The 1A Voltage Regulator is $0.75 at mouser.com
the 2.2A VR is NLA (apparentley)
http://www.mouser.com/Search/Refine.aspx?Keyword=KA7810A
Fairchild Semi PN KA7810A
Do we need the 2.2A or will 1A do? _________________ '84 Rivi Vanagon Auto Trans, Stock WBX |
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Dogpilot Samba Member
Joined: October 03, 2005 Posts: 4205 Location: Flagstaff, AZ
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Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 9:22 am Post subject: |
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I don't think the system would draw more than an amp for the cluster, but then again the sensor for the coolant tank level, which is essentially a conductivity meter, may be the culprit for high draw. Thinking about it, at .75¢, live on the dangerous side and experiment. The worst that can happen is your .75¢ goes up in smoke. The regulator will die, nothing else. _________________ Geology with a Syncro rocks!
86 Syncro Westy AKA "The Bughunter"
98 Disco I
08 Range Rover SC
08 VW Rabbit S
1951 O-1G |
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