Not sure if this applies to the Vanagon, but on my old Rabbit and Vw Bug
there was something that looked like a transistor called a 'voltage
regulator' or 'voltage vibrator' When this would go out, it would make the
gauges read funny.

Joel Hembel wrote:

> Hello everyone, I have a situation with my guages on my 82 westy diesel.
> It seems as though my temperature and gas guage read optimistically
> high. Both by about a 1/4 inch. I ran out of gas just when I hit the red
> zone on the fuel guage. An the temp guage reads 2/3rds when the
> thermostadt opens up. (Ive replaced the thermostadt and it still reads
> the same) One other tidbit to add to the mix is the guages run a little
> higher when tha headlights are switched on. Sounds like a ground or poor
> connection???? What should I clean, or try? Thanks for any suggestions.
> Joel