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Posted by: Root_Werks Jun 22 2020, 10:48 AM

Been searching the forums and cannot seem to locate which one of the VDO Cockpit fuel gauges work with our 914 sending units?

10-180 ohms
10-65 ohms
0-90 ohms

Putting a 911 combo oil temp/press gauge in the 914 hole and using a 2 1/16 fuel gauge in the dash.

Thanks and sorry in advance if my lack of search skills shows this has already been covered.

Posted by: sixnotfour Jun 22 2020, 11:20 AM

pn on gauge ?? ...then its easy



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Posted by: 914Sixer Jun 22 2020, 11:22 AM

0-90 if I remember correctly. Let some one else chime in too.

Posted by: Root_Werks Jun 22 2020, 11:26 AM

Yup, I think that's it as well. Found a couple of older threads where folks were testing. 0-90 is mentioned a number of times.

Thanks!

Posted by: Root_Werks Jun 22 2020, 11:26 AM

Thanks Jeff, this will actually come in handy to ensure I'm using the correct sending units!

Posted by: sixnotfour Jun 22 2020, 11:38 AM

oh fuel gauge

Posted by: theer Jun 22 2020, 06:00 PM

The gauge to sender match-up.. the bane of my existence right now as I try to get German gauges to talk to my Japanese motor/senders.

Stock fuel sender reads 70/90 (reserve/empty) to zero (full). Note: this is backward from some gauges/senders, which are zero at empty. Make sure you verify the range and direction!

Here's an old thread where did a detailed analysis of the ohm readings vs volume (click see attachment a few posts down):
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/lofiversion/index.php?t72926.html

Posted by: Literati914 Jul 22 2020, 11:40 AM

I have a VDO fuel gauge (301 220) whose range is "60/90-0.5 OHM" .. my auto-electrical understanding is very limited but this seems close enough to me. What could I expect from the gauge if using this with a stock sender? Would it even work at all?


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Posted by: 914forme Jul 22 2020, 12:25 PM

VDO 90-0 Ohms unit most of the time Marketed for the VW Beetle sender.

https://www.vdo-gauges.com/instruments-displays-and-clusters/by-type/fuel/cockpit-fuel-gauge-use-with-classic-vw-beetle-sender.html

Works fine, used one for years in various places in the 914.

Posted by: Literati914 Jul 22 2020, 02:09 PM

Yes, I know.. but found that out after I bought the '60/90-0.5 ohm' unit.. so, since I have it already AND it's range looks so close - I'd like to use it IF POSSIBLE. Any ideas whether this would 'cause problems with the gauge being way off?

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Posted by: 914forme Jul 22 2020, 05:29 PM

The information that Tom posted has all the resistance values. A variable resistor, and ohm meter, and a 12v power supply is all you need to test, and figure out if you can live the with corresponding results.

chances are if it is 90 ohms, empty, then yes, the 60 Ohms empty then the needle will never be below E. 0 Ohms full, is fine the 0.5 Ohm part will not be a huge deal.

Once you know you know, only issue is if someone else drives your car and thinks they have fuel and has to walk 5 miles to the station when they run out, in August on a humid sunny day. BTDT sucked, good news I discovered my fuel float was stuck in the tube, disassembled, cleaned up, worked ever since.

Or if you do not want to build a variable resistor, you can use the tank float, take the skin off, and slide the float up and down.

Testing done, and now you know if you can live with the gauge.

Posted by: GeorgeRud Jul 23 2020, 08:47 PM

You can also try to wire up a low fuel warning light as the connections are available on the sender. The gauge may be inaccurate, but the light doesn’t lie (unless bulb’s burnt out).

Posted by: Olympic 914 Jul 24 2020, 09:11 AM

Is the light still dependent on the float traveling up and down?

If your float is stuck due to corrosion on the rod or wires does something else trigger the light.

Posted by: Root_Werks Jul 24 2020, 10:00 AM

Picked up the sending unit, now just have to find time to put a growing pile of parts on my 914.

That's right, I remember you loose the low level light. Not a big deal if I recall as the small fuel gauge with sending unit winds up being pretty accurate. I had this setup on at least 2 914's that I can think of.

Posted by: Literati914 Jul 24 2020, 01:27 PM

Yep, I plan on installing a small red warning light somewhere near the separate fuel gauge - 'cause honestly I don't trust myself not to accidently run it out.

BTW, as mentioned, it's usually the VDO beetle gauge 301.020 that's recommended .. but I see it's range is actually 73-10 ohm... and the 914 sender is (said to be) 70/90-0 ohm. So my 0.5 ohm (empty) gauge would theoretically be better. Then in the chart posted earlier - reserve light 'just off' is shown to be 69.5 ohm. I wonder what the true empty number is?

Posted by: Root_Werks Mar 26 2021, 11:50 AM

Son of a Monkey, went for a test drive today to check out cleaned up wiring, new fuel gauge.

Filled the tank to test 1/1 and it went to 0. WTF. Double checked the part number and I don't know if I ordered it or maybe sent the wrong gauge, but it's 301 030 for Beetles, backwards.

Update to this thread to help make it searchable.

Ensure your VDO part number is 301 220 and the ohms go 90-0 NOT 0-90.

Posted by: 9146C Mar 26 2021, 02:55 PM

I was looking online for the VDO 301-220...it's no longer listed on the VDO website and most other sites list as NLA.

I built a combo gauge (Bosch Tach and 301-020 fuel gauge) into a modified tach. My fuel gauge currently reads about 5/8 full with only a couple gallons.

I still need to do some troubleshooting looking at my sender resistance...I'm hoping maybe I can get away with resetting the needle zero position...still TBD.

VDO lists another part number (white needle with an approx 270 degree sweep) with a 90-05 range. A2C3833110030

I'm wondering if this one might be more suitable for those with panel mounted gauges.

Posted by: Root_Werks Mar 26 2021, 04:08 PM

You can still find some NOS gauges, but yes, learned the same thing. Getting hard to get a hold of now.

The one I ordered today is a 90-05 range. As long as it's close.

Posted by: sixnotfour Mar 26 2021, 04:54 PM

Full is the new empty...gas prices make it work..