VW BUS GAS gauge How I get them to work decent.

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[@Mikefngarage]

FYI I got it to fill up right near the last 1/1 mark. and go empty just under the R hash. So it is possible to get it to work pretty well perfect by bending that rod. just takes a bit of time and works better than any bus sender I have ever used.

[@DanTheManIOM]

Super grateful you posted this. my 67 sender worked ONE freakin summer...that thin wire for a bus is just a BAD idea. Thanks Mike !

[@charleslawrence7194]

Super video Mike. Wish I had the skills you have. I outsource the mechanical and electrical stuff. That way I don't break more than I fix.😂👍😀

[@IAm1InTheIAm]

Cool vid for the folks that actually have a gas guage in their Volk's. My '58 bus didn't even come with any of this stuff, and after watching your dissertation on the subject, it sounds like we may all be in the same boat anyways! My driving range experience in the Last Frontier is more of a Zen thing which involves both ESP, estimation, and experience- the "3E's". That said, I always carry an Extra (4th E!) 5gal of petro happiness up top, and I never pass up a gas station, cuz up here they're few and far between 🙂✌️

[@Mikefngarage]

on my 61 it did not come with a gauge either. I put in a gauge tank then put a aftermarket VDO gauge behind the grills on the dash. With a light that lights up when ignition is on. Even if it is not totally accurate which that one is pretty spot on, it is better to have one than not.

[@IAm1InTheIAm]

@@Mikefngarage huh, I wonder what they did in the old days? I think they watched their odometers, and figured out their range based on what mpg's(25) they got out of a full tank(10.5gal). Oh, not to mention that little knob that taps into the reserve(1.3gal), so it's just the old school way of running with these old girls. Works for me.👍

[@Mikefngarage]

@@IAm1InTheIAm yea kinda sucks though. I have the reserve on my 61 but really hard to keep the miles on track. Easy fix to put a gauge in there and takes some of the worry away.

[@Mikefngarage]

@@IAm1InTheIAm on my bug it is easy because you can see down into the tank and know how much gas is in there.

[@kdickey414]

Another good video Mike! I only own a bug right now, hope to own a bus one day

[@VOLKSPANDA]

Hi Mike! Greetings from Brazil. Bend the rod is exactly what we do here. But there's something else you can do to read more accurate. It's hard to explain without showing but I will try. These 2 horns upside down that work as limiters for the rod. If you also bend them enough to the rod touch them about to fill up the thank It will mark full on the gage. And it works all the way around to mark empty as well. What happens is if the rod touches that part close a short circuit and the gage mark that as full or empty. I don't know if I make any sense here. But I try. It takes time and patience to be perfect but is possible. Thanks for the videos!

[@mysterymonkey]

I always use the VDO adjustable sender units and matching gauge, gauge is a little ugly but they work 100%. Spent a lot of time going through a lot of junk that didn’t work though!

[@tomswindler64]

Great video.kudos 👍👍👍😎😎😎

[@Paulman50]

Gave up on mine, put a 3 ltr reserve tank in instead of fixing it. Now have 2 fuel pumps and 2 cut off solenoids.

[@Mikefngarage]

actually works perfect after that last bend. fills up on full and goes just below the R empty. Just need a few gas cans and some time. One of those pumps. I watched it from completely empty go just to the R with 1 to 2 gallons in it. then to the 1/1 needle width below to full.

[@restocal63vw82]

Excellent video and detailed explanation as usual 👌 my 71 ghia does the same too. It's electrical, accurate but fluctuates alot during driving. Can something be done to dampen the needle movement? Thanks in advance ☺️

[@Mikefngarage]

usually that is handled at the gauge end.

[@restocal63vw82]

@@Mikefngarage thanks for reply, via a zener diode? Am I correct to say thatbon ghia this is missing?

[@user-hv3vo3sw2w]

Hi Mike, thanks for this video and for all your great videos! I have issues with my 67 Ghia fuel gauge. Have the original VDO gauge but replaced the sending unit first with the type you showed then changed about six months ago to the cylinder type the car originally had. The gauge likes to jump around a lot. Any ideas why it does this?

[@Mikefngarage]

old gauge is just being old. The new WW or ISP west ones work better. they dont do that. and still look like the original. Hopefully yours reads right. so many dont.

[@user-hv3vo3sw2w]

@Mike Fn Garage Thanks very much Mike! I'll try those out.

[@jimmywilkinson9190]

Hey Mike ! I trust Rambus gauge if you fill it up at night and the next morning it says R its R and the meth heads 3 houses down gauge says 1/2 . So far this year they only drained the tank once ? What sucks is they take every drop.....

[@Mikefngarage]

WOW....Just leave it empty before you use it OMG....terrible.

[@jimmywilkinson9190]

@@Mikefngarage I now only put 10$ at a time !!!!!

[@markverlick8951]

Hi Mike have a 65 Bus with org. 6V system tried putting that type of sender in tank and nothing....do you think it was because it is not 12V?

[@Mikefngarage]

I have done this with 6v and 12v gauges. The 6v.you do need a step down volt converter. Try grounding the wire to the wire to the gauge at the tank and see if it goes to full. if not the gauge or wiring might be faulty. IF not you can remove the sender in the bus. (that year with the engine still in if you have a bug sender.) Check it wile grounding the sender and moving the rod. see how the gauge moves. Then make sure the rod and float does not hit the side of the tank. Bend the rod like I showed downward and away from the side of the tank. I have these senders in all my type 2s and every one works pretty good. This one has about 1 to 2 gallons of reserve. and some have a bit more. but it does help to have a gauge. On the 65 you will need to really bend that rod away from the side of the tank. Remove the gas and refill it a few times while watching the gauge. It does take time but worth it in the end.

[@fishaussie9112]

Please get back onto karmann ghia

[@Mikefngarage]

waiting on Dale right now to ger back over here. he is doing some sort of house remodel. Uggg

[@notchboy]

Didn't want to cut the hack hatch up on the rear deck giving you access?

[@Mikefngarage]

those senders you can just pull out of there with the gas tank in place.

[@notchboy]

@@Mikefngarage Without removing the motor? 🙂

[@Mikefngarage]

@@notchboy once its changed to the bug one on any year but 67 yea it is not that hard to change it without removing the motor. lift it up and twist it out of there. But on the 67 it is positioned really far back and you cant reach the back bolts. A difference of about 6 inches.

[@DentFreeImagePeterVega]

Mike will this work on early bay window?

[@Mikefngarage]

I think so. I think the 67 either has the same tank or one similar. and you can remove it if you have really long arms without removing the tank. sender is only like 20 bucks. VS 80 or so. for bus VDO. and I was able to get it almost perfectly accurate.

[@DentFreeImagePeterVega]

@@Mikefngarage thanks for your reply Mike! I got a sender from Wolfsburg West but as you said these are a hit or miss and it didn’t work. Will definitely be trying your trick, thanks again!👍

[@Mikefngarage]

@@DentFreeImagePeterVega yea it works GREAT....SO happy I played around with it for a day. Totally worth it. I am going to pull my other one on the dark red bus and adjust it too. can be done with the engine in on the early ones. Later it is a real stretch but possible.

[@jeffsegui3280]

H i Mike just found u started the 67 bus series. Jeff with the 62 VW bus from Niagara falls Ontario Canada. If want to see my bus go to Chrome's channel Vancity Van life playlist year6 vid# 7

[@Mikefngarage]

Oh cool been to NF Ontario many times. Used to fly out of buffalo when it was too expensive to fly to Toronto.

[@jeffsegui3280]

@@Mikefngarage it's Jeff with the 62 VW bus wondering if there is a company that make the so 23 cabinets as I don't have the skills to make them.