Date:         09 Jul 96 11:30:52 PDT
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         CARVER_JEFFREY@aphub.aerojetpd.com (Jeff Carver)
Subject:      Re: Fuel gauge sender access

Hello -
This following post reminds me a problem I would like to correct.
Can one fix/replace the fuel sending unit on an '80 Westi without 
dropping the tank?  Mine registers but at about 1/2 tank (real) the 
gauge reads E.

Related subject:
Not having a reliable gas gauge is a nuisance, but it's a whole lot 
better now that I fixed the odometer too.
  
BTW an generic VW odometer PM task for when everything else is up to 
snuff: The drive gear driving the odo is weak and easily splits.  
Check it and wrap the hub with string embedded in epoxy to prevent it 
from breaking.  Had to combine 3 dash units to 
get one useable odometer/speedometer/wiring harness to work.

> A while back, Erik asked about fuel sender units:
>   "Is there any way of testing it before I reinstall the whole tank?"
>  
>   I expect the normal electrical continuity through movement range test 
> was related to ALL, but a nice trick that should be used when it applies 
> to high milage vehicle designs, is to flip the wire wound resistance 
> sensor coil over before the mobil contact paw abrades all the way through 
> any of the wire wraps. This generic approach applies to hundreds of 
> vehicle designs and doubles their effective life.  On some, just bending 
> the contact paw so that it rubs the coil in a different arc will do.  The 
> idea's the same: Don't let it wear all the way through any single wire 
> wrap, and it will keep on serving you well.

Jeff
'80 Westi
'67 Sqbk leaf collector