Date: Mon, 5 Jun 2000 11:54:42 -0400
Reply-To: "Joe L." <jliasse@TOAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "Joe L." <jliasse@TOAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Fuel and temp guage way off on '84
In-Reply-To: <F541F4AB5C0CD311B17F0090274EC2EDA39645@catus7.catalystwms.com>
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Assuming you have the same dash as I have on my 83.5 the regulator is
mounted behind the dash gages. Take a look at the front of your dash clock.
If you had x-ray vision and stared through the number "9" on that clock you
would be looking right at that regulator. It is squarish with a large
grounding lug on top and two or three legs coming out the bottom. It is
mounted upside down so if you pop the top of the dash and look behind the
clock you will see those legs plugged into a couple of fittings coming off
of the blue plastic circuit "gizmo" (cant remember those damn terms). If you
jamb your head against the windshield so you can see the grouding lug you
will also see a single screw through that lug. that screw and those legs are
the only attatchments. Take out that one screw and pull the legs down and
out of the fittings.
The only replacement I have been able to find were at the Volkswagen
dealership.
It is part number 171-919-803
Cost in 1998 was $13.50
While it "should" be a simple out with the old and in with the new
there are a few things that happened to me. I went through about 6 of these
things in the space of 8 months. It seems that these things are VERY
sensitive to heat and burn out a lot on some vans that put out just a tad
too much voltage. I tried many things but what finally cured the trouble was
an additional heat sink. If you want to go this route take your old
regulator to the local Radio Shack and tell the man you want:
1. The narrowest heat sink he has that will still fit the regulator
2. "heat sink compound"
Unless they have changed the inventory in the last couple of years the
man will hand you a card with two sinks that will look good but will still
be too wide to mount on the dash. No problem, grab some pliers and bend that
sucker until it is as narrow as you can get it while still allowing the
regulator to fit down between those cooling wings. While bending make SURE
that the flat area between the wings remains flat because that is your
ground and also where the heat from the regulator will be conducted. You
want as much contact between that flat area and the back of your regulator
as you can get.
When you get this right you will notice that the hole in the sink is not
where it needs to be. Drill another one that will leave the legs of the
regulator hanging about 2/3 in the air. The idea here is to leave ZERO
chance of either those legs, or the fittings on the dash where the legs go,
ever touching that sink and also to have ALL of that regulator touching the
sink for better heat transfer.
Having done this all that remains is to put all back togeather. I did
this two years ago and that 6th regulator is alive and well.
I am not sure that all of these backflips will be necessary in your case.
Simply popping out the old and popping in the new may do it for you but if
not here is something to try.
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of Steve Manning
Sent: Monday, June 05, 2000 9:25 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Fuel and temp guage way off on '84
Hi all,
I'm having a minor problem with the fuel and temp gauges being way off.
Earlier in the morning, everything was fine. When I was leaving to go
camping, The fuel gauge was on empty, ( I had at least a half a tank) and
the temp gauge light was blinking. After driving for a few minutes, the
light would stop blinking and the gauge moved into the first quarter of the
range. This would be the point where the needle should be right in the
center. I checked the coolant and reservoir, and everything was great. No
bubbles in the tank. I do get a lot of heat, so I know this is not cooling
system related.
I heard in the past that there is some sort of voltage regulator located
with the dash cluster that controls the temp and fuel gauge. I also heard
there could be a bad ground. If somebody could point me to the specific
wires or part to look for in the cluster, that would be great. Somebody in
the Milwaukee/Chicago area know about this? I will supply beer and yes of
course brats. (bratwurst)
I have a feeling that if I let it sit, it will work fine again. Just typical
VW quirky electronics. But this did not work this weekend.
Any ideas?? I have beer/brats and will travel.
-steve
'84 westy
