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Thread: Gauge Tech Question

  1. #1
    455Rocket
    Alright guys...
    I replaced my orginal SW gauges w/ some VDO units... All work except the temp gauge. The gauge doesn't want to climb above 100 degrees, but I know I'm running around 180 normally by the old gauge
    Wiring is ok b/c the gauge is showing SOMETHING (Just re-wired w/ #12 wire etc... so no probs w/ that)
    A few years ago I remember the engine rebuilder asking me what kind of gauges I had to get a correct replacement sending unit... SO I figure I need another sending unit to match the new gauges.
    Do you concur? Any experence w/ this problem?

  2. #2
    YeLLowBoaT
    that would be my guess as well.

  3. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
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    2,626
    You definitely MUST match the gauge to the sender. Just get the correct VDO sender for that gauge.

  4. #4
    455Rocket
    I'm blindly guessing Rex Marine... but that's my answer for most everything.
    Where oh' where shall I go for said unit?
    P.S. I don't know where else to go for such quick info... Thanks ya' all

  5. #5
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
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    10,871
    Let me know what the VDO gauge number is (or at least the exact temperature range) and I might have a sender for it. VDO discontinued most their marine series stuff a few years back so we no longer carry but I do have some misc senders and stuff left.

  6. #6
    SmokinLowriderSS
    Don't know if this'll apply or not, but, when I put my new digital gauges in, it said to NOT USE any thread sealant on the senders as it could alter the grounding path conductivity and make the gauge mis-read. Just a thought.

  7. #7
    455Rocket
    Let me know what the VDO gauge number is (or at least the exact temperature range) and I might have a sender for it. VDO discontinued most their marine series stuff a few years back so we no longer carry but I do have some misc senders and stuff left.
    Temp. Range is 100 to 250 degrees:
    The gauge is the standard VDO marine issue... black face, white letters, blue lines... I know Carrera used the series I have as standard issue in the early 90's - As im sure many others did
    Sender looks like it needs a 3/4" NPT hole... it's sitting in a Eldelbrock Torker... so there could be other hole size options i'm not famillar with at this point.
    Any help would be appreciated!

  8. #8
    455Rocket
    Don't know if this'll apply or not, but, when I put my new digital gauges in, it said to NOT USE any thread sealant on the senders as it could alter the grounding path conductivity and make the gauge mis-read. Just a thought.
    Point well taken... but the sender worked fine w/ the old gauge a month ago... I used sealant on the #2 and #3 threads only

  9. #9
    SmokinLowriderSS
    Point well taken... but the sender worked fine w/ the old gauge a month ago... I used sealant on the #2 and #3 threads only
    Sounds like a miss-match, time for a new sender. :idea:

  10. #10
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Posts
    2,626
    Point well taken... but the sender worked fine w/ the old gauge a month ago... I used sealant on the #2 and #3 threads only
    Not all manufacturers use the same resistance profile for their gauges/senders. What worked with the old may not be correct for the new. It is always a good idea to buy them as matched sets.
    You should really NEVER use sealant on a sending unit that uses its body as a ground path to the engine. Not likely to be your problem in this case but it can cause excessive resistance in the circuit, leading to gauge inaccuracy.

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