All
Porsche® 914 models were delivered with a VDO
fuel
gauge (referred to in the parts catalog as an "instrument cluster")
or a oil temperature/fuel combination gauge (similarly referenced in the parts
catalog). This page focuses on the fuel gauge, and the combo gauge is
described on another page accessible via the button on the left. As with all
914 gauges, the fuel gauges are black-faced with white print and a red-orange
needle, although some of the 1970-1972 units had off-white print (no
part number differentiation). They also house indicator lights for the oil pressure, alternator (marked with a
"G" for generator),
and hand brake (B). Like the speedometer and combo gauge, the fuel gauge case is
100mm in diameter. Unlike the
speedometers, tachometers and console gauges, the fuel gauges (and combo
gauges) are not sealed; they can be disassembled via removal of tiny screws on
the back. Problems pervasive to all 914
combo gauges include needle
fading and lens fogging / scratching, although fogging issues can be fairly
easily remedied through removal of the gauge mechanisms and subsequent
cleaning.
NOTE:
People often refer to the fuel gauge as a "combo gauge"
because of the multiple indicator lights; in fact, Porsche literature
refers to this gauge as the "combination instrument." For the sake of
consistency and to avoid confusion,
P914 will only use the "combo" moniker for the oil temp/fuel
gauge.
Current
eBay listings for Porsche 914 fuel gauges (compare with items on this page to
determine year and ensure authenticity):
The
1970 - 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 a
silver-colored cap in the middle. These units have
glass lenses and deep bezel rings. The current parts catalog includes no
mention of this particular part number fuel gauge. This gauge is
different from subsequent "silver button" fuel gauges in that
it has no handbrake indicator symbol on the face
and the positions of the alternator and oil pressure lights are
reversed. As noted above, some of
these early units had off-white print with no part number
differentiation.
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 handbrake indicator
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).
Mid
1971 - 1972 Model Year Porsche 914 cars were equipped with a fuel gauge
bearing part number 914
641 102 20. The current parts catalog includes no mention of this
particular part number fuel gauge. This gauge housing in this version
also contains a fuel-level insert which is removable via
four screws on the back and a second rear plate enabling removal of the two-bulb handbrake indicator
insert and subsequent installation of another gauge
mechanism. The face plate of the ".20" gauge contains an
off-center symbol (B) at the top for the handbrake warning light, an alternator warning light
symbol (G) which is on the left
and the oil pressure light (OIL) on the right. As noted above, some of
these early units had off-white print with no part number
differentiation (print comparison picture shown at right). As with all "silver button" gauges, the two-piece,
painted steel bezel on these units is prone to rust. This gauge is pictured in the 1972 owner's manual
(reproduced at right).
P914
is currently offering the 914
641 102 20 fuel gauge pictured for sale. Details are available in the SALES
section
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. It
differs from the earlier ".20" fuel gauge in that the handbrake
symbol (B) is centered at the top and there is a corresponding single, centered bulb instead of twin offset bulbs for
this indicator. Additionally, some later ".40" gauge housings
have only a
single removable rear plate enabling access to the fuel level mechanism and
do not include the upper "blank" plate similar to the later
"black center" gauge housings ("dual-plate" version
pictured). The illustration of this gauge from the 1973 model year
owner's manual is reproduced at right. As with all "silver button" gauges, the two-piece,
painted steel bezel on these units is prone to rust.
P914
is currently offering the 914
641 102 40 fuel gauge pictured for sale. Details are available in the SALES
section.
Fuel
gauges used in the 1974-1976 Porsche 914/4 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 brass bezel rings, and the majority have plastic lenses that are prone to
scratching, although I have come across some that have a factory original
glass lens. The illustration of this gauge from the 1974 model year
owner's manual is reproduced at right.
The
Porsche 914/6 models were all equipped with
fuel/temperature combination gauges which are described on the
"Combo Gauges" section, accessible via the button to the left.
