Got some gas gauge issues.

[19-VW-74]

So last week, my gas gauge vibrator went out, got stuck in the points closed position, and burned up my fuel gauge. There was a plume of smoke in my freshly restored speedometer and I nearly needed a change of underwear.

Fast forward to this week, and I'm installing a new voltage stabilizer (the kind with the "light bulb" inside, and a new Jopex fuel gauge. The fuel tank sender is a brand new VDO that I just put in a few weeks ago.

I put the new gauge into the speedometer. I hooked the ground (driver side) of the gauge to the ground cable on the tank sender. I slipped the new voltage stabilizer on the other terminal of the fuel gauge. I then grounded the housing of the stabilizer to the body of the speedometer, which is grounded to the chassis. I then connected the 12v hot from the ignition to the + side of the new stabilizer. I just filled up my tank two days ago, only 60 miles on it, and my gauge will read 1/4 full. So I pulled the sender and checked its resistance range. It works fine -78 ohms empty, 8 ohms full. So I connected a 12v hot to the stabilizer (which is still grounded to the body) and connected a volt meter to it. I got 5.4v, so the stabilizer is doing its job.

Does this simply mean that my new gauge is bad? I pulled the ground cable from the tank sender and touched it to ground and the gauge slowly went to full. But that is with virtually zero resistance and the sender will never go lower than 8 ohms. Could the ambient temperature have much affect?

Help.
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-Austin
My 1974 Standard Beetle Build:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=492617

[JerryMCarter1]

is there any guage adjustment ?
_________________
Experience always triumphs over hearsay and You get to select which theory to believe

[19-VW-74]

There's a little hole in the back of the gauge that you can put a tiny eyeglass screwdriver in to calibrate it, but I assume that they already come calibrated out of the box?

It's just a stock replacement gauge, nothing fancy.
_________________
-Austin
My 1974 Standard Beetle Build:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=492617

[JerryMCarter1]

I would try that- doubtful that the gauge is bad- even so they should still take it back if you tried to adjust or calibrate it -
I have no confidence in anything manufactured any more-- I have never seen so much screwed up product-- mind blowing --I could fill the page with trouble with stuff I have bought.
_________________
Experience always triumphs over hearsay and You get to select which theory to believe