Fuel gauge troubleshooting quick instructional:
http://type2.com/library/misc/vwggauge.htm
Sending unit test first. Should be reading about 10 ohms at full and about 70 ohms at empty.
FULL:
EMPTY:
I don't believe the 7.2 reading would have made the gauge read full when actually only 3/4 full BUT I've moved the adjuster tab in a little so that it now registers 10 ohms at full and 69 at empty. We will reinstall it and see what it does. Might need to test voltage stabilizer ("vibrator") at gauge. Or, might just install new sending unit as they are fairly cheap (though they are aftermarket Mexican and NOT German VDO like original).
The malfunctioning (not quite non-functioning) gas gauge in this '78 Bus reminds me of a story about my parents' Bus when the gas gauged stopped working. Their mechanic said that to fix the gas gauge, they had three options, the $600 option, the $300 option, and the $0.50 option.
ReplyDeleteHe said that the $600 option was to remove the gas tank, replace the floater, cables, the gauge itself and get everything smartly back into working order.
The $300 option was to cut a hole in the side panel to get to the gauge mechanics and fix it; then repair the hole tolerably.
The $0.50 option was to buy a notebook.
Thereafter, while my folks had to calculate mileage rather carefully, they were, after all, only 50 cents poorer.