Empi sender bad right out of the box.

super Beetle sender junk right out of the box.
This video tells it like it is.

[@campion05]

Very good class on "caveat emptor". And now a new subscriber. At age 63 I have also learned that not all tools and parts are who they say they are. My wife and me are recent owners of a "71" Super that was an Arizona one family full body off restoration started in 2015. It now resides here in SC. The Bug is in very good condition in, out and under. But not without some issues due to let's say concealed fatigue. The dreaded scraping tunnel clutch tube bracket near the e-brake. That will be addressed later. To the point, I have a fuel gauge that will when cold moves appropriately to my estimate of a half tank of fuel. Then back to empty, then back to half, then empty again without moving ever again. My initial safari through the wires and fresh air box in my path to get to the sender spade connections shows to be good to ground. Admittedly no further resistance nor continuity tests have been done. So with a "waving" fuel gauge needle would you suspect that the regulator could make the gauge act in such a way? I may be premature in asking before completing the electrical analysis. Again thank you for your "shop teacher" style of instruction. It reminds me of my high school electronics teacher in how he would bring out actual hardware to show how devices operated and not just stand at the chalkboard.

[@vwbeetlefuelgaugesystem]

Hi campion.... You did not say if you had a vibrator or a regulator device. That is not important at this time but would be if you are going to determine what is going on with your gauge. A quick test to see if the gauge and reg/vib is working but not a complete test. Have someone sitting it the drivers seat. Key off. Remove the sender wire off of the center lug of the sender... While holding the wire have your assistance turn the key on.... The gauge needle should not move!~ Cautiously connect that sender wire spade lug to the sender assembly, not the sender lug. The gauge should go to full! Quickly if you gauge has a vibrator and kinda slow if it is a regulator. Do not leave that wire touched to ground/frame/sender body more than 5 seconds if the needle swings quick to full... That would mean that you have a vibrator and that the gauge and vibrator is good. Leave it on maybe 10 seconds for the regulator type. If the needle swings nearly all the way in that 10 seconds then all is good there. If the needle performs as it should then the sender is most likely the issue. You can review my video to see which type of voltage regulation you have... Vibrator or regulator on my video here. If you have more questions just provide a reply... Jim kzbin.info/www/bejne/aGqsZKKbi8-Kfqs