At 04:23 PM 6/19/2012, Mike S wrote:
>They interact. You have to iterate several times.

Hi Mike -

Yes, I should have amplified on that, thanks for pointing it
out.  And it probably was a poor move to even suggest it.  Calibrate
the gauge to the standard values if necessary, and live with what it
reads until you can get a new sender or fix the old one.  I've
repaired Toyota senders where the wiper wears through at about 95,000
miles.  Haven't seen the innards of a Vanagon one.

It's easy to check calibration on a temp gauge because the sender
connection is easy to reach.  For the fuel gauge, the 1.9l have a
connector behind the dash somewhere ('85 says it's back in the box on
the firewall, but that's ridiculous), and on the later ones the
procedure is on 90.20.  35R full, 170R empty +/- one needle width for
all years.  VW seem pretty consistently fond of violet/black for the
fuel sender wire, so that should help locate the connector for the
1.9l and previous.  Anyone having trouble can pmail me.  Always check
the gauge supply voltage at 10.0 +/- 0.5 V before doing anything
else.  Check between the skinny pin on the temp gauge and whichever
pin on the gauge you're interested in gives a higher reading (will be
~same both gauges unless a connection problem at the gauge).

Actually calibrating one means having it on the bench.  Anyone really
wants to do it, talk to me.  Anyone wants me to do it for them, talk to me.

Yours,
David