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BDD · 07-22-2008

My gas gauge stopped reading a while ago. It always reads empty. With the key turned to "on", when I remove the wire from the gas tank sending unit and ground it, the gauge reads full. With it removed, or on the unit, the gauge reads empty. Apparently the gauge itself works.

The sending unit is intact in the cylinder. When I tip the cylinder, the float moves freely from end to end but the gas gauge won't budge. When I removed the mechanism from the cylinder the wires were intact and where soldered at the upper ends. The solder looks a bit gray. The wires 'thread' through the wire with a contact on each side of each wire. The float is black plastic. The unit is a VDO, made in Germany.

1) Whazzup? How do I fix it?

2) Is there a certain way the mechanism has to be aligned with the tube when I reassemble it? I was very careful reassembling but want to know.

3) When putting on my new cork gasket and replacing the sending unit, 4 bolts went in through the gasket and threaded to the holes in the tank. The last bolt wouldn't go through the hole in the gasket or start threading. I backed out the other bolts to make sure the sending unit wasn't tilted and preventing the last bolt from threading. How should the gasket be aligned? I notice that there is a round notch at one area on the inside diameter but couldn't feel a notch for it to align with.

4) I could have titled this "Wazzup?" to make it easier for others to search for but didn't. I suppose, in a way, that is the main subject though. Whazzup?

07-22-2008	#1 (permalink)
BDD Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 562 Classified Rating: 0% (0)	Gt fuel sending unit My gas gauge stopped reading a while ago. It always reads empty. With the key turned to "on", when I remove the wire from the gas tank sending unit and ground it, the gauge reads full. With it removed, or on the unit, the gauge reads empty. Apparently the gauge itself works. The sending unit is intact in the cylinder. When I tip the cylinder, the float moves freely from end to end but the gas gauge won't budge. When I removed the mechanism from the cylinder the wires were intact and where soldered at the upper ends. The solder looks a bit gray. The wires 'thread' through the wire with a contact on each side of each wire. The float is black plastic. The unit is a VDO, made in Germany. 1) Whazzup? How do I fix it? 2) Is there a certain way the mechanism has to be aligned with the tube when I reassemble it? I was very careful reassembling but want to know. 3) When putting on my new cork gasket and replacing the sending unit, 4 bolts went in through the gasket and threaded to the holes in the tank. The last bolt wouldn't go through the hole in the gasket or start threading. I backed out the other bolts to make sure the sending unit wasn't tilted and preventing the last bolt from threading. How should the gasket be aligned? I notice that there is a round notch at one area on the inside diameter but couldn't feel a notch for it to align with. 4) I could have titled this "Wazzup?" to make it easier for others to search for but didn't. I suppose, in a way, that is the main subject though. Whazzup?