Date:         Wed, 19 Feb 2014 11:37:37 -0800
Reply-To:     Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: MY GAS GAUGE IS WORKING!
Comments: To: TJ Hemrick <x53gunner@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <CAJRLdXZ8ztPktFQGzYs=WMVFh==hpPxAUVh+sy+QV=ARYC159A@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Mine worked consistently, but was consistently 1/4 tank low, and way below
the red when empty.  Check the nuts on the foil by removing and cleaning
them and the foil, and also clean the contacts on the foil to the wiring
harness.  A pencil or pen eraser works well for this, don't be too
aggressive. Also check the voltage stabilizer to make sure you have 10v or
so off of one of the pins:
http://www.van-cafe.com/home/van/search?keywords=voltage+stabilizer&x=0&y=0
If this fails to fix it, here is the fix (since you have a new sender):
http://www.van-cafe.com/home/van/search?keywords=fuel+gauge&x=0&y=0

It's nice to know how much gas you have!  Once on a trip I forgot to note
the trip mile counter before starting a long stretch and when I did I had to
go back 30 miles to a gas station.  Put 15.1 gallons in a 15.6 gallon tank
and wasted 3 1/2 gallons of gas.  I bought the gauge when I got home.

Stuart
'85 Westy

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
TJ Hemrick
Sent: Wednesday, February 19, 2014 10:28 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: MY GAS GAUGE IS WORKING!

OK, not really... Well, sort of, but not correctly.  For years now, it's
been just pointing straight down. A few months ago, I bought a new sending
unit, went through the trouble of lowering (thankfully, I didn't drop the
tank all the way) and connecting it but no change so it must be the gauge)
when the other day, I put in yet another full tank of gas and the gauge
moved!  Only to halfway.  It's moved a few times more since then but usually
never higher than the top of the red zone even with a full tank. I have to
switch clusters and as you may have saw in an earlier post, since I'll be
lubing the speedo cable, I'll get two birds with one stone, as it may be.
I've been cursed with some things Vanagon (starters from HELL) but this is a
first time issue for me so I can't really complain even if I did run out of
gas a few times.

Yet another item to grab from a vendor.  Can't really get too upset.  It
worked for about 25 years or so...

TJ
87 Wolfsburg