I have a similar problem with my Volvo 144S

Among a large slur of electrical problems, the gas and fuel gauge do not work properly. before i replaced the coolant temperature sensor, the temperature gauge would sometimes rise up about a centimeter out of the left corner before dropping back down again. this would happen at random times, when i had just started it, or after running for a while. then i replaced the sensor because my dad said it was probably that more than anything. well, it didn't change anything, it still does the same thing. BTW: i read that the gauges run on 10v, not 8 or 9.
the gas gauge doesn't work at all, i am not even sure it has a needle haha. The guy who i bought the car from; his son hit a rock the size of a small basket-ball with the car :(, smashing a hole in the gas tank in the process. it was since then "fixed" but i don't trust the job that whoever fixed it did. anyway, would that kind of accident knock out the sender, or is it the voltage regulator? i don't think its still the stock regulator because it was taped with electrical tape to one of the plastic-wrapped bundle of wires in the wiring harness under the dash. I found a round relay drifing around in the wiring under there, it is about an inch or so in diameter and two or so inches long. it has two male prongs opposing one another at one end, and another male prong off to the side of those that looks like it had some bad little electrical explosion inside of the reley-if thats even what it is. actually, now, just looking at it, it says '12v' on the side, so it can't be the voltage regulator. wow. anyway, i am pretty familiar with the car's innards, as i bought it for $200, and most everything happens to be worn out.

Any help would be greatly apreciated; i will post the other problems with the car in a different thread, i put this one here because it was a similar problem.

thanks a bunch,

Ben
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btw, even though vw bugs are pretty cheaply built, you have to admit, they are pretty cool little cars. i still prefer my cast-iron B20B to vw's little aluminum engine, tho. :)