This may sound goofy, but need to order a new fuel gauge sending unit for the bug.
When looking on the CIP website,  they sell two different gauges, one being a vdo gauge & the other, a non-vdo. Of course the non-vdo is $10 less.
the question, is VDO a brand name or is there something special about a VDO sending unit that I may need to order it instead?
thanks
Ron

Thanks David,
Just wasn't sure if something about one could have to do with grounding, etc.
Still remember before getting in volkswagens, there was the topic of 6 volt stuff and had to be careful about radios and anything else that you installed.
Thought I'd ask before I regreted something.

Well, the first test, where I took the lead off the sending unit at the gas tank and grounded it,  the gas hand went to full then back to empty, so (although don't like to assume), but if the needle on the gauge moved, would that then tell me that the sending unit would be bad?
I wll also try to remove the fuel sending unit and put the volt meter to it and see what happens.
Thanks
Ron

These things are goofey sometimes. Where the wiper rubs on the wraped windings, it could have broken wire or the wiper could not be touching in spots, but the dang thing still could work somewhat. Thats why I said we sometimes had to put all 3 parts in .  Go figure.  I have seen the tank sending units melted down into glob do to the voltage limiter shorting out somhow. Thats why I told you about the" blinking light test" on the limiter. If it doesn`t blink, Its bad. You can`t tell by just looking at it.

correct on the test light except mine looks like a ice pick wih one lead and the bulb inside. Anyway ground one lead, connect or probe the limiter connecter that pushes on the speedo housing(right side looking in).With the switch on it should blink. You can ck. the other side for power.(push on wire conn)