RE: [T3] Fuel Sender

[jason.smith@sarcom.com]

>jason.smith@sarcom.com wrote:
> 
> > I called VDO and spoke with a technician and he said that 
> the guage of 
> > the wire did not matter, but that it is 18 gauge.  I don't 
> know if I 
> > believe him that it does not matter.  The resistance seems 
> to give the 
> > reading?
> 
>Jim wrote:
> He either didn't have any idea what he was talking about, or 
> he thought you 
> were asking about the wire LEADING TO the fuel sender. THAT 
> wire might be 
> 18AWG, but I'd guess more like 20. The gauge certainly is 
> important for the 
> sensor wire. It is about 12" long and must have a resistance 
> of about 100 Ohms. 
> It's about 30-32AWG, nowhere near as big as 18.


Unfortunately it was your first suggestion.  I even explained to him why the
resistance was important, but he still insisted it did not matter :( Maybe
I'll call again and get a different tech.

So I got to thinking and trying to find a similar gauge wire.  I had an old
computer mouse laying around at work, so I cut the wire open to see what I
could find.  There were some nice thin wires inside all wound together.  I
took it home unwound a strand and compared it to the original wire and it
seemed correct, but maybe a hair thicker, but still thin enough to break a
few times.

I soldered it to the contacts and wrapped it around the bottom.  That was
difficult, I am not very good with solder, especially since it has been
quite some time since I have even used a soldering iron.

Everything seems correct.  I reinstalled the aluminum tube and installed it
in the tank.  At first it seemed to work, I had not put all the bolts into
the tank just 3.  But once I secured all 5 bolts it was apparent that the
resistance was to great.  The gauge now reads 1/1 all the time :(  

I had found some copper wire that was a little thinner.  Would copper work
OK for this application, getting soaked in gasoline?  I guess I'll keep
trying until I find the right resistance, I guess I should measure the
resistance before installing.  I wonder if I can change or adjust the gauge
to the new resistance?  Some of the new gauges have a little hole where you
can adjust the gauge?

Thanks for the help.

Jason Smith
71 Square FI AT
Columbus, OH USA
http://jasontsmith.tripod.com/vw.htm

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