fuel gauge is going crazy 96 passat

[diesel?]

my fuel gauge just went crazy, my wife said there was a sound like a fan in the dash somewhere and the needle goes all the way from empty past full until it comes to rest on the temperature needle. I went and started it up and the needle did go crazy and swung really fast from empty past full and stopped on the temp needle and then when I shut it off I could hear what sounded like a little motor whirring after the needle went back to empty. I would like it if it was almost any mechanical problem or anything not under the dash so much better, I hate electrical stuff. If anybody had a good idea of what the problem is and how to fix it I would appreciate it so much. Or maybe there is another thread that would help. thanks

[Keithuk]

If the fuel gauge goes over to full and the tank isn't full it sounds like there is a short to earth on the sensor wire.

I deleted your other double post.

[chittychittybangbang]

Ah, the dying instrument cluster. Common problem. Either bad connection, low voltage, or bad cluster (or dying cluster).

If your battery voltage is low or car won't start and you keep cranking it, it resets the cluster. The odometer reset to 0 too right?

[diesel?]

thanks for deleting the double post. I will check the ground wire, my wife just filled it up and it is back to normal for now, I hope the ground is dirty and the cluster is not dying. The odometer didn't reset I have a vr6 cluster I took from the junkyard soon after I got this car hoping I could use it in case something went bad on mine, do you know if the parts are interchangeable at all or should I just get rid of it?

[chittychittybangbang]

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=101455 I normally try to avoid linking to "the other website" but they have this writeup which shows how to swap it. It's compatible but rpm is off.