Porsche 914 Fuel Gauges
The "Combination Instrument"
The fuel gauge delivered in the Porsche 914 cars also houses the
indicator light for the parking brake / hydraulic brake system, an oil
pressure warning light, an alternator warning light, and, in the case
of Sportomatic models, an oil temperature warning light. Subsequently,
the 1970 and 1971 Porsche 914 Owner's Manuals refer to this gauge as a
"combination Instrument." The 1972 owner's manual calls it the "Fuel
Gauge Dial." Actually, VW-Porsche changed the fuel gauge frequently
enough
that the department which produced the owner's manuals appears to have
had a difficult time keeping up (as discussed below). By 1973, however,
this instrument had become merely a "Fuel Gauge."
This is important, because 1973 also hailed the introduction of a real "combination instrument"
housing both fuel level and oil temperature gauge inserts. This COMBO GAUGE came only in 2.0L
vehicles purchased
without the "Appearance Group" (which included a seperate TEMP GAUGE in
the CENTER CONSOLE). Of course,
there was no
mention of this combination gauge until the 1975 Porsche 914 Owner's
Manual (wherein it is referred to merely as the "Oil Temperature
Gauge"). The parts catalog
refers to all Porsche 914 and 914/6 fuel gauges or combination fuel
level / oil temperature gauges as "instrumant clusters."
Not surprisingly, the Porsche 914 fuel gauge tends to be referred to
by many names. For the sake of clarity. P914 will refer to the them
only as "fuel gauges." additionally, the Porsche 914 and 914/6 units
housing both fuel level and oil temperature inserts will be referred to
as "combo gauges" (or "fuel level / oil temperature combination gauges"
when we feel the need to be verbose).
Current eBay
listings for Porsche 914 fuel gauges (compare listed gauges with those
pictured on this page to ensure authenticity and model year
utilization):
Porsche
914 and 914/6 Fuel Gauges on eBAY
Where's the "B"?
The three-gauge picture at the top of this page (which links to a
larger image) compares the three versions of the "silver button" fuel
gauge delivered in 1970-1973 Porsche 914 vehicles. This image is meant
to depict two variances, the first of which is print tone. 1970-1971
Porsche 914 and
914/6 dash clusters had either off-white print
or bright white print (there is no part number differentiation for
print color); thereafter only bright white print was available. The
gauge at the top of the picture has the off-white print, the other two
have bright white.
The other, more obvious difference is the initial lack, and then
changing placement of, the brake system indicator (B). This churn was
neither a case of omission or a lack of decisiveness by the folks at
VDO; it was an accomodation for the rarely-purchased 1970-1971
Sportomatic option as further explained below.
1970 - Early 1971 Porsche 914 Fuel Gauges
The 1970 to early 1971 Porsche 914
fuel gauge, part number 914 641 102 10, is commonly referred to as a
"silver button" or "silver center" gauge, because it has a
silver-colored cap in the middle. These units have glass lenses and
deep bezel rings, and some had off-white print as noted above. The
current parts catalog includes no mention of this
particular part number fuel gauge.
The 914 641 102 10 gauge is different from later "silver button"
fuel gauges in that the positions of the alternator and
oil pressure lights are reversed, and there is no brake
system indicator symbol on the face. This lack of the (B) icon results
from the desire to accomodate vehicles purchased with the Sportomatic
transmission without the need to use a seperate gauge. Specifically,
the large, red indicator light at the top of the gauge houses two
bulbs. In cars with the standard five-speed manual transmission, both
bulbs are wired to illuminate when the ignition is on and either the
parking brake is engaged or there is an issue with one (or both) of the
brake circuits. In (clutchless) four-speed Sportomatic cars, the bulb
on the right side of this indicator is wired to illuminate when the
tranny oil temp is excessive, and only the bulb on the left is used for
the brake system.
These early fuel gauges contain a fuel-level insert which is
removable via four screws on the back. In addition to the fuel level
plate, the ".10" gauge housings have a second rear plate enabling
removal of the two-bulb insert and subsequent
installation of another gauge mechanism. As with all "silver button"
gauges, the two-piece, painted steel bezel on these units is prone to
rust. This fuel gauge is pictured in the 1970 and 1971 Porsche 914
owner's manuals (entry from 1971 manual reproduced at right).
Late 1971 - 1972 Porsche 914 Fuel Gauges
Mid 1971 - 1972 Model Year Porsche 914 cars were equipped with a
fuel gauge bearing part number 914 641 102 20. As with their
predecessor, the current parts catalog includes no mention of this
particular part number fuel gauge. The face plate of
the ".20" gauge places the alternator warning light symbol (G) on the
left and the oil pressure light symbol (OIL) on the right in either off-white or
bright white print (as noted above). Additionally, an off-center
brake system symbol (B) appears beneath the large, two-bulb indicator.
Apparently someone realized that it would be best to
provide a visual reminder of the location of the brake system
warning light as opposed to the tranny oil temperature warning light
for customers who purchased the Sportomatic option.
Of course, the Sportomatic option was eliminated after
1971, so this change was not timely.
As with the earlier models, these second generation fuel gauges contain fuel-level and brake warning inserts which are each removable via four screws on the back. As with all "silver button" gauges, the two-piece, painted steel bezel on these units is prone to rust. This fuel gauge is correctly pictured in the 1972 Porsche 914 owner's manual (reproduced at right) and errantly shown in the 1973 Model Year owner's manual.
1973 Porsche 914 Fuel Gauges
The 1973 and very early 1974 model
year Porsche 914 fuel gauge is part number 914 641 102 40. This
is the part number (errantly) listed as correct for all 1970-1973
Porsche 914 vehicles in the current parts catalog. Because the
Sportomatic tranny was no longer being offered, the "dual-use"
accomodation of the top indicator was no longer required. Subsequently,
the ".40" fuel gauge brake system symbol (B) is centered,
and there is a corresponding single, centered bulb instead
of twin offset bulbs. The engineers put the extra wire to use by
connecting it to the flasher, so the parking brake / brake system
warning light flashes in all 1973 and later Porsche 914 cars.
Additionally, some later ".40"
(and all later ".50") gauge housings have only a single removable rear
plate enabling access to the fuel level mechanism ("dual-plate"
version pictured). As with all "silver button"
gauges, the two-piece, painted steel bezel on these units is prone to
rust.
As noted above, the department that produced the Porsche 914
owner's manuals were having difficulty matching the rate of change for
the fuel gauge. Subsequently, the 1973 manuals incorrectly picture the
".20" gauge used the prior year. This ".40" gauge is pictured in early
1974 Porsche 914 Owner's Manuals.
1974 - 1976 Porsche 914 Fuel Gauges
Fuel gauges used in the 1974-1976
Porsche 914 models are commonly referred to as "black center"
gauges, because they have do not have the silver-colored cap found in
the earlier style. These units, bearing part number 914 641 102 50,
have shallow, black-painted steel or (in 1976) brass bezel rings, and
the
majority have plastic lenses that are prone to scratching, although we
have come across some that have a factory original glass lens. The
illustration of this gauge from the late 1974 model year and 1975 model
year owner's manual is
reproduced at right. Notice that, in a truly classic move of laziness,
desparation and/or cost cutting, the illustration of the ".50" fuel
gauge is simply the negative-color image of the prior ".40" unit (the
center
circle betrays this fact, as the actual gauge has nothing in the
center). As shown, the fuel level / oil temp combo gauge
(last version) finally appeared in the owner's manual for the 1975
model year, despite being introduced in the 1973 Porsche 914.
Unfortunately, it is also an incorrect negative-color image
illustration.NOTE: The combo gauge was
standard in all Porsche 914/6 cars and correcly documented in the
owner's manuals. The 914/6 did not have a "plain" fuel gauge. Access
the COMBO GAUGE page for more details.