Vdo temperature gauge not working

Discussion in 'Mech Tech' started by Vincent Price, Jul 27, 2022.

  1. Hi all installed a vdo temperature gauge with the sump sender and wiring kit from jk kampers ..trouble is it only gets to 50 degrees I.e its not working properly...any ideas why....I thought maybe the wire I used was not thick enough the one supplied by jk was very thin i have not checked the sender by putting it in boiling water as I would have to drain the oil and i have only just done it...any help appreciated
     
  2. bluerustybucket

    bluerustybucket Supporter

    did a new Alloy sump plate come with it ?
    When I fitted mine (with the alloy sump plate) it didn't register much above 50°. checked it with boiling water and it was reading OK
    ended up putting the original steel one back on and that seems to read a bit higher.
    I was a little disappointed with it really !
     
  3. How far have you actually driven to see 50c?
    I'd get in touch with JK.

    I got a VDO temperature dipstick sender kit from them last year to replace an old vdo temp gauge and the readings were lots lower than on the old gauge.
    It took ages to read any temp, then never seemed to go above 80 ish

    I put it down to using the new gauge but old dipstick sender (the new dipstick sender never got to me for another 5 months ish).

    I did test the new gauge with the new dipstick sender in boiling water and it wasn't very accurate, but it was just a quick test
     
  4. Thanks for reply so did yours work OK once you got the new dipstick sender ...was this the problem not the gauge....I have driven the van 500 miles around the nc500 about 1000 miles all in and only just got above 50 and that's when I drove to the top of a mountain...it gets to 50 ok but just stays there annoyingly
     
  5. mikedjames

    mikedjames Supporter

    You might have a lot of paint on the oil drain cover. Try earthing the sender with a wire from the bolt part of the sender to the engine block. Without causing an oil leak...


    There is also the fact that VDO make an oil temperature sender and gauge with up to 150C range, and a water temperature sender and gauge with up to 120C range. These pairs will misread badly when swapped over. As happens when purchased as a package from somebody who doesnt care or realise they mixed them up.

    You can usually tell the recipients because they will swear that VDO gauges are hopelessly inaccurate.

    While those of us with matched pairs of senders and gauges report 2-5C accuracy or better..

    Here is a fairly old document giving resistance with temperature for each of several types of sender.

    https://www.hamble.online/vowo14/TemperatureResistanceChart(1).pdf
     
    Last edited: Jul 27, 2022
  6. Shamefully im still running the new gauge with the old dipstick sender, so cant answer that at the mo.

    Ill try to remember to swap it over before i next go out in it.
     
  7. Thanks for the reply guys I will keep trying to resolve this p.s the sump plate is a new csp one specific to the kit and sump sender...do you mean add a extra earth cable direct form the sump sender to the engine block thanks again
     
  8. P.s checked the gauge it goes upto 150 so must be correct but worth a try thanks
     
  9. mikedjames

    mikedjames Supporter

    Yes in case the lovely thick fresh paint is actually acting as insulation.
     

Share This Page