Fuel issues

I have a replica from Vintage Speedsters built in 2009 and I'm having fuel gauge issues... The sending unit is working fine but once I burn through a couple of gallons the fuel gauge jumps all over the place...It's obvious to me that its just reacting to the float in the tank. Is this common or is my voltage regulator not working? I'm wondering if I need to replace the entire gauge or if I can just buy a voltage regulator and install it inline right above the sending unit...

Also, sense I'm having these issues I don't actually know when I am really low on gas so does anyone know what the tank capacity is on this type of car? I usually fill up after 150 miles or so and it takes 6 gallons but I think it's got at least a few more in the tank when I do this.

Casey---give Kirk at Vintage a call. He is super-helpful and I bet he can give you an answer and a fix over the phone. If it were not for Kirk, my car might have been one of those 4 year old garage queens with 300 miles on it! Get his contact info here---just click on the tab for "makers" at the top of this page.

Fuel gauge bouncing is nothing new. The sending unti is nothing more than a bent arm that floats on the fuel surface. As the fuel slooshes - so does the tank float - so does the gauge. This assumes that when the car is sitting still, at a stop light for example, that the gauge settles downs. After that, any vehicle motion causes 1/4 tank oscillations on the gauge.

How much fuel you got? Take an extra lawn mower refill tank full of fuel, then go "run the car out". Only then will you know where on the gauge you need to grab a refill. 3/4 empty is a safe bet, but still an inconvenience. Now you know why he VW had a "reserve" handle.

The Beetle tank sender requires a vibrator attached to the back of the speedo, this is used along with the stock "float-style" sender. Stops the fluttering from happening.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1036431

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/VW-Fuel-Gauge-Vibrator-113-957-099A-/260728973463

http://www.mamotorworkstv.com/vw/product/vibrator-fuel-gauge-for-oem-gauge_302675/

A much better choice is a Ghia sender. It will fit right into a Beetle tank and is the "tube-style" like the 914 has. It's much more stable, less finicky, and eliminates the fluctuation at the gauge end.

Luck,

TC

Ya got it half right T.C.
The vibrator ONLY works with the Beetle Fuel gauge that is in the Beetle speedo. I messed with the vibrator on my 914 gauge for a week and it had no effect, so I nixed it.
The tube type Ghia sender however is a 90% cure for the wagging needle syndrome. I've had one in for years. They are getting pricy, though.
Once and again you can find one on Ebay for a reasonable price.
AND, the way it sits canted in a Beetle tank instead of perpendicular like in a ghia tank, when the gauge reads close to empty, you still have over a gallon in the tank as a reserve.

~WB

Keep your tank near empty, the gauge won't bounce ...I'm just say'n.

" . . . the way it sits canted in a Beetle tank instead of perpendicular like in a ghia tank, when the gauge reads close to empty, you still have over a gallon in the tank as a reserve."

Good to know ! ! I have a repro Beetle tank and an original Ghia tank both in great condition, I was just gonna grab one (either one) to use in the Fiat. Like you, I ALWAYS use the Ghia sender and just figured that the tanks were enough alike that it would work perfectly in either.

Maybe the "reserve" tank option is a good one, thanks for the info, I'll have to pay special attention to the angle when I mount the tank.

Then there's the dropped front end to factor in as well . . . possibly ALL Speedsters (with lowered front ends) have a smallish reserve of fuel not showing up on the gauge?


TC

"possibly ALL Speedsters (with lowered front ends) have a smallish reserve of fuel not showing up on the gauge?"

Yup - about 1/2 to 3/4'ths of a gallon, depending on configuration. The float/tube stays about 1-2" up off of the bottom.