Date:         Sat, 29 Jul 2006 11:47:44 -0700
Reply-To:     John Bange <jbange@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Bange <jbange@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Fuel gauge sending unit resistance
In-Reply-To:  <44CB6CFB.4060703@rcn.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

On 7/29/06, Larry Alofs <lalofs@rcn.com> wrote:
>
> I don't know if it will help for those involved with the current fuel
> gauge thread, but it seems like this data should be in the archives; I
> could not find it in my Bentley.
>
> I took the gas tank out of my "91 GL recently to replace the grommets
> and for future reference measured the resistance of the level sensor.
>
> With the empty tank upside down so that the float was in the "full"
> position, the sender measured a reliable 35 ohms.
>
> With it right side up, the "empty" position, the minimum consistent
> resistance was 450 ohms.
>

Looking through the Bentley I notice there are two sets of test values for
the VW1301 for testing the fuel gauge. One set is under [1980-1984] and
shows 55=full, 560=empty (equaling 38 and 392 ohms, respectively). The other
is under [Water-cooled from 1985] and shows 50=full, 320=empty (35 and 210
ohms).

Then, looking through the ETKA section on fuel senders, I see there's a 251
919 051 E wit a note saying ">> 25-H-082 433", and a 251 919 051 K with a
note saying "25-H-082 434>>". If these are VINs, I guess that would indicate
they changed something in the middle of the '87 model year? It must have
been only a mounting or electrical connector change, though, as I see only
two models of fuel gauge (251 919 031 or 031A) for all of 1980-1992.

Anyone got a theory on why Bentley shows two different ohm ranges for
testing supposedly the same gauge?

--
John Bange
'90 Vanagon - "Geldsauger"