VDO Fuel Sender
Discussion
My sender is dead (stuck at 1/2 a tank on the gauge). The VDO gauge seems to work - 0% (empty) if disconnected, 100% (full) if shorted. I'm hoping to have the replacement sender on hand to do this in one pass but we apparently don't have VDO senders over here.
I found a 'adjustable' VDO sender on the UK fleabay but there appear to be 3 possible Ohms ratings. Anyone know the required values or if this one would work? (1986 280i).
Or does anyone know the part number or donner car? Thanks. Grady
I found a 'adjustable' VDO sender on the UK fleabay but there appear to be 3 possible Ohms ratings. Anyone know the required values or if this one would work? (1986 280i).
Or does anyone know the part number or donner car? Thanks. Grady
If the fuel sender internal wire is damaged you can repair it
Search Ebay for NiChrome Wire and use it for a re-wind
Here is a very good tutorial - https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...
Anything mechanical wrong with it is easily repaired
Search Ebay for NiChrome Wire and use it for a re-wind
Here is a very good tutorial - https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...
Anything mechanical wrong with it is easily repaired
Interesting link - might try a DIY job. Any idea if a 0-90+/- ohms is correct of a mid-1980s gauge? (Which would make the sender above the wrong one.) The VW guys were posting about 1960-1970s cars and using 0-70 ohms as a value. I've pinged VDO but don't know if I'll get any help.
Anyone have an extra sender and could measure the resistance for me?
Anyone have an extra sender and could measure the resistance for me?
gmw9666 said:
Cool - I didn't even know there was such a thing. Although I would be slightly concerned about adding such a MacGyver device to a Wedge. Grady said:
gmw9666 said:
Cool - I didn't even know there was such a thing. Although I would be slightly concerned about adding such a MacGyver device to a Wedge. Dont use seperate resistors, use a variable resistor
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/25-Watts-High-Power-Wire...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/25-Watts-High-Power-Wire...
Hi Grady,
To answer your original question, you may want to talk to Lauderdale Speedometer at 800.951.5123 https://www.lspeedo.com/
They seem to be very knowledgeable about all instruments and gauges including VDO. However they specialize in marine, and are not cheap. But they should be able to give you an answer - free.
Good Luck,
Wilf.
To answer your original question, you may want to talk to Lauderdale Speedometer at 800.951.5123 https://www.lspeedo.com/
They seem to be very knowledgeable about all instruments and gauges including VDO. However they specialize in marine, and are not cheap. But they should be able to give you an answer - free.
Good Luck,
Wilf.
Thanks Wilf.
I've looked at the VDO sender line and each model as 3 senders, one for the 3 common ohm ranges. Hopefully I can figure my out this weekend.
Next question - There appear to be 5 machine screws holding the sender in place. I assume they are tapped into metal tank. Or are there any surprises there?
I've looked at the VDO sender line and each model as 3 senders, one for the 3 common ohm ranges. Hopefully I can figure my out this weekend.
Next question - There appear to be 5 machine screws holding the sender in place. I assume they are tapped into metal tank. Or are there any surprises there?
Grady,
Try this link; you're a member, right?
http://www.tvrccna.org/members/tvrccna.pl?page=280...
Gist is, contact:http://www.nhspeedometer.com/
May not help you to have a replacement in hand when you pull the old one out, but still may be a viable solution.
Jim
Try this link; you're a member, right?
http://www.tvrccna.org/members/tvrccna.pl?page=280...
Gist is, contact:http://www.nhspeedometer.com/
May not help you to have a replacement in hand when you pull the old one out, but still may be a viable solution.
Jim
Thanks - I am a member but need to find the current PW. Sent a request to the site.
Yesterday, I tested the gauge with my cheapo resister and at 0 ohms it showed empty. But at ~33 ohms it was approaching 1/4 tank. At the other end, at ~ 190 it was full and things went south at 200 (max for the resistor). I'm guessing that translates to a 33-220 sender but I guess I'll pull it off and see. Maybe it is marked.
Have to go move my 90 yr/old mother, her cat and kit to Texas this weekend so it will a bit before I'm under the car again.
Yesterday, I tested the gauge with my cheapo resister and at 0 ohms it showed empty. But at ~33 ohms it was approaching 1/4 tank. At the other end, at ~ 190 it was full and things went south at 200 (max for the resistor). I'm guessing that translates to a 33-220 sender but I guess I'll pull it off and see. Maybe it is marked.
Have to go move my 90 yr/old mother, her cat and kit to Texas this weekend so it will a bit before I'm under the car again.
Grady said:
Thanks - I am a member but need to find the current PW. Sent a request to the site.
Yesterday, I tested the gauge with my cheapo resister and at 0 ohms it showed empty. But at ~33 ohms it was approaching 1/4 tank. At the other end, at ~ 190 it was full and things went south at 200 (max for the resistor). I'm guessing that translates to a 33-220 sender but I guess I'll pull it off and see. Maybe it is marked.
Have to go move my 90 yr/old mother, her cat and kit to Texas this weekend so it will a bit before I'm under the car again.
I'm still using the same password as last year. New password came in email from Terry Telke on 3/8/2017, but I haven't had to switch to it.Yesterday, I tested the gauge with my cheapo resister and at 0 ohms it showed empty. But at ~33 ohms it was approaching 1/4 tank. At the other end, at ~ 190 it was full and things went south at 200 (max for the resistor). I'm guessing that translates to a 33-220 sender but I guess I'll pull it off and see. Maybe it is marked.
Have to go move my 90 yr/old mother, her cat and kit to Texas this weekend so it will a bit before I'm under the car again.
No guarantee that your VDO sender and the one in that article are the same, but his was a "10 ohm empty, 180 ohm full sending unit."
Jim
Hi, I've a similar problem with a 1984 2.8i fuel tank sender unit. Mine seems to be a mechanical problem. It was removed the arm freed up and it worked OK for a few weeks but has now stuck again at 1/4 full. Rather than remove it again to try and prevent it sticking I would like to replace it. Are the senders available? Thanks J C.
Hi John
From what I have found it seems that to get a real true reading of the amount of fuel in the combined tanks would mean fabricating an arm on the sender to read the lowest point and then the highest...
For example: I used a classic mini fuel sender for my 280i and it would read the full tank perfectly but when it got to under half a tank...Well thats anybody's guess...Its quite funny to be at panic stations on empty only to pull into a garage and have the petrol miraculously appear to just under half after 10 miles...
Then there are senders with shorter arms...They read the lowest point accurately but fail over half full...These tend to encourage people to overfill.
So as they say me ole china..."The choice is your's"...
(Please be aware that there is a danger that I'm talking twaddle)
From what I have found it seems that to get a real true reading of the amount of fuel in the combined tanks would mean fabricating an arm on the sender to read the lowest point and then the highest...
For example: I used a classic mini fuel sender for my 280i and it would read the full tank perfectly but when it got to under half a tank...Well thats anybody's guess...Its quite funny to be at panic stations on empty only to pull into a garage and have the petrol miraculously appear to just under half after 10 miles...
Then there are senders with shorter arms...They read the lowest point accurately but fail over half full...These tend to encourage people to overfill.
So as they say me ole china..."The choice is your's"...
(Please be aware that there is a danger that I'm talking twaddle)
Thanks Mark and Hi. I thought I'd cured the wiper arm sticking, obviously not. It's a pain to remove the sender so this time I would like to positivly fix it The point where the arm enters the unit seems to be the problem. Lubrication soon wears off so thought a new sender would be the way to go? Is it by chance a BL Mini sender?
Also Mark can I open another "Can of Worms" 2.8i clutch cables I've just read some of the old posts on the subject; very interesting. However no definitive answer as to type or number. Best option being to get one made? Cheers Mate John C.
Also Mark can I open another "Can of Worms" 2.8i clutch cables I've just read some of the old posts on the subject; very interesting. However no definitive answer as to type or number. Best option being to get one made? Cheers Mate John C.
Hi John
As Andy say's, Im sure mine was a cortina...Here is a selection that could work...Best to check the length..
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=...
As Andy say's, Im sure mine was a cortina...Here is a selection that could work...Best to check the length..
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=...
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