Fuel Gauge

[timdeniz]

hi there,

my fuel gauge on my van is very erratic - one minute it is half full the next it is nearly empty.

does anyone know if this would be fixable by a very green novice?

it is a westfalia joker 1985 1.9 petrol - if that makes any difference.

Thanks!

Tim

[Footprint]

Firstly I wonder if you're quite sure there's a problem with the gauge.

The VW has quite a wide, flat tank, with the sensor at one side, as such a small change in the angle at which the van sits can make a significant difference in the gauge reading. Where I habitually park my van is far from level and when parked it leans to the left, which means whenever I get in and turn the ignition on the gauge reads much higher than it does ten seconds after I pull away and I'm on the flatter part of the road. Climbing hills and heavy braking consequently make a sizeable alteration to the reading too.

[BOXY]

^^^^^^ Yep WHS. Just get used to filling up every 200 miles instead.

[langb20]

I agree with what has been said, this is typical with these vehicles
but a further theory to add...
If by erratic you mean empty to half full and back again in a few seconds, then you may find that the sender is on it's way out.
What can happen if you normally run the tank empty-ish or within a typical level - the metal strip on the sender can wear preferrentiallly in that section so it'll go dead when worn out but re-connect again if fuel sloshes around and brings it higher or lower to a good bit of metal again.
I try to fill up and run-down the tank over the full range if possible rather than visiting the garage every other day for a tenners worth