Fuel gauge not working right

I have the VDO 3 gauge set from VS and i cant get the fuel gauge working right. It goes to all the way to full when the tank had no fuel at all. I have tried just unhooking the sensor and it still goes all the way to full. Please someone tell me whats going on with this and how can i fix it.

Thanks
Mike

Make sure it is wired correctly... maybe try to switch the two wires. I don't have mine here so this is a guess.

I seem to remember that with the ignition switch on and the sender wire disconnected at the tank the gauge should read full. Are you sure you have the gauge wired correctly?

How can you have it wired wrong. there is a sendor wire, power wire and ground wire. I have all the wires pluged in the right spot for sure. I have seen were if you take the wire from the sendor that the gauge should go to empty if the gauge is working right. i tried this and it just stayed on full.

Mike

Mike I have a similar problem except my gauge reads empty all the time. If I disconnect the sending gauge wire, it go's to full. I have checked the wiring so many times I am fed up with it. I have taken the gauge from the dash and wired it directly under the hood to battery, gauge and ground (grounded gas tank as well) only to have the same results? I have taken the sending unit from the tank and moved the float up and down with no results. I am wondering if I may have the wrong sending unit for the VDO gauge? Hope you get this figured out.

New VDO senders are available; the best replacement would be a VW sender instead of the "universal" sender. I think they all have the same resistance operating range and will work with any VDO gas gauge.

The sender for Ghias is for a larger tank than the standard VW tank; just get a VW sender with the same mounting and gaskets as the one in your tank. You may have to customize the length of the float arm and bend it so that you get the "full" reading when the tank is full and "empty" reading when you have 1 gallon left as a reserve.

I just started having this problem. The fuel guage was always working correctly. I just had a mechanic replace the engine, added a new temp guage. Now the fuel guage is not working. He's checked the connection several time. John with JPS said to send him the guage and he would fix it. I guess it's the guage that's malfunctioning. I'll let you know if that correct's my problem.

I had the same problem.
Did you buy the Brazilian VDO or the "real" VDO gauge and sending unit. I bought the Brazilian set and it never worked correctly, had to switch it out for new sending unit and gauge.

Not much help. I drove a 356sc daily and it had the reserve tank. I just learned my driving range, and 'filled' up and set the trip meter to 0 and went from there. This was no small trick as the 110 octain fuel stations were not on every corner.

I must elaborate, this was a 'restoration' progect, and I'll be damed if I could find an origional replacement gauge for for this 356. I can say this, YOU WILL get to know your ride more intamently with out the gauge, as is the case with all gagues. I sure wish my girl came with gagues, but nome of them do. HAVE FUN, or go to a dealer, and buy one off the shelf. (can't do that with a girl eather, and have shoped nine countrys)