Date:         Fri, 16 Jun 1995 06:47:08 +0000
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         "Harry Yates" <hyates@bcit.bc.ca>
Subject:      Westy fresh water tank gauge

Hi Everyone.  In the past week, I have found that my water gauge is 
not responding correctly in my '90 Westy.  When filling the tank, the gauge would be 
in the "red" until full.. skipping the "yellow" zone entirely and 
going straight to "green"

While using water, the gauge stayed in the "green" forever, and 
briefly went to "yellow", and then to "red".  It seems to be 
sticking.  I have removed the float and slid the magnetic ring along 
the float, and the gauge responds correctly.  Fill it up with water, 
and it sticks again.  

I made sure the pump isn't touching the float (not even sure if it is 
possible), but I checked it anyway.  

Ideas??  Could the float ring be taking in water and making it 
heavier than it should be?  Should I wash the float with baking 
soda??  I wash out my tank by hand with baking soda every spring.  
The wires leading to the float seem good... I have them zip-tied so 
they don't twist and get tangled.  Would the zip-ties cause problems 
on such small wires??

Anybody heard or experienced such a problem before?  A new float is 
around $160-$180 CDN.

Thanks for the help
Harry.
-------------------------------------------------------
Harry yates         Internet: hyates@bcit.bc.ca
'90 Syncro Westfalia          Burnaby, BC
'87 Golf Diesel