Anyone have any comments regarding a fuel guage that doesn't go all the way
to full. I know there was a thread about filling with the ignition on. Can
anyone add anything. Thanks.

bb

On 2/4/98 6:28PM, in message
<1.5.4.32.19980205022849.007188c8pop.mindspring>, Bob Blickle
<bblicklemindspring> wrote:

> Anyone have any comments regarding a fuel guage that doesn't go all the way
> to full. I know there was a thread about filling with the ignition on. Can
> anyone add anything. Thanks.

That's one thing that can cause it.. it works on an "averaging" method, and if you fill
with the ignition on, it confuses the hell out of the thing.. will recover in 1-2 days and go
back to normal.  However on my '97, mine took a dump and would only go to about
7/8ths when totally full, wound up being a bad sending unit in the tank, replaced under
warranty..

--
Kevin Collins
collinskpacbell
'97 GTI VR6

> I bought a full tank of gas last night.  I got back in the car, fired it up,
> and the gas gauge didn't budge.  Hmm.  I know the gas went in.  I even
> topped it off ;-)

This is typical behavior if you leave you key in during your fill-up.
Modern VWs have a sampling circuit which averages many readings
over time to formulate a display.  With the key out it starts the averaging
process fresh.  I suspect there is also a fuel usage part of the algorithm
that adjusts it based partly on how much gas you are currently using.

I can make mine display +/- 1/8 tank purely by driving style.
----------
Kevin Nelander
3/96 VW GTI VR6 Candy White
6/85 VW GTI 1.8 8v Black

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>I'm having a problem with my fuel gauge on my 98 GTI VR6.
...
>It took OVER 20 MINUTES for the needle to move from 3/8 of a tank to full.
...
>This is abnormal behavior.

Actually, it's normal behavior if the key is left on (not necessarily with
the car running) when filling up.  The fuel gauge is only allowed to move on
a certain amount within a certain time period to minimize the temporary
effects that hills, accelerating, braking, and turning have on the reading.
I'm not up on the intricate details of the systems operation, but basically
the gauge resets itself when you shut the car off and remove the gas cap
(i.e. when gassing up).

Oh yeah, check this out, too:

h t t p ://www.panix/~aqn/GTI_VR6/gti_vr6/library/engine/fuel_gauge_malfunction.html

This URL is now at:
http://www.gti-vr6.net/library/engine/fuel_gauge_malfunction.html

-Chris

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