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VDO gauge help!

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Hi all. Looking to finally get round to installing my VDO gauges in my GTI. Only issue I have is that I don't know where to buy the senders from for the Oil temp and Oil Pressure. I know ebay do them but there are different types and I don't want to buy one that isnt correct.  Can someone send me a link or item number I can use to buy the right ones? Heres a picture of the gauges if it helps.

20590886_10159082633305331_1460544861_o.jpg

Hope to hear from someone soon! 

Last edit: by Santiago

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Oil Temp (on the left) is a black sender that has a single pin, it is usually on the Oil Filter flange  Look at 89 or earlier CIS cars as the Oil Temp sender and the Water temp sender was the same.



Volkswagen Parts - OEM & Genuine Online Parts Catalog | German Auto Parts

Oil Pressure sender is a dual sender, it has the oil pressure side, and a low pressure switch, it is on the left side of the engine to the front of the head.  It is usually a 0.3 bar for the low pressure light and a 5.0bar for the gauge.

similar to this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Audi-4000-80-Quattro-VW-Cabriolet-Oil-Pressure-Gauge-Sending-Unit-FAE-035919561-/360678536331?epid=1634507346&hash=item53fa1db48b:g:cuwAAMXQDK1RvxVn&vxp=mtr



Be warned not all of the are the same, I bought a generic one for @ 20dollars US, and had issues with the thing.  I opted for the correct costly one and it worked fine.

For the Voltmeter, it is best that you connect it to a switched source and a separate ground.  The way VW did it was to put it at the end of the voltage chain, and it would lead to incorrect voltage.  I moved mine to the black/yellow wire on the Demister, and was presented with a more accurate reading…. ie: when running down the road with the (relayed) light on and a/c working prior I would have @ 12V, where the battery was actually @ 13.25V.  When I changed it around I was seeing 13V on the Gauge.

Cleaning, and replacing your Battery to frame and frame to engine grounds, as well as all the other grounds on the car go a long way to ensuring that you have a great electric system.

Hope it helps.

What do Divorces, Great Coffee, and Car Electrics all have in common?

They all start with GOOD Grounds.

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Briano1234  that is very helpful, thanks alot! I noticed though that these parts seem to be for a late cabby, mine is an 83 GTI, will this make a difference? Also is  the part numbers I need in the links? Don't fancy buying parts from overseas, unless that is my only option. Finally, CIS, what is it short for? :ninja:

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Should be the same for the early Golfs, GTI, and Verts.
You could source those local to you, as I tend not to buy from overseas either, they were examples of what to look for.
 

What do Divorces, Great Coffee, and Car Electrics all have in common?

They all start with GOOD Grounds.

Where are my DIY Links?

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those gauges need the 0-180 blue collar oil temp sensor, part number 049919563B.

I dont know about US cars but for euro models the oil temp sensors for the MFA and some VDO is white part number 049919563A. its not the same rating as the black coolant sensor 049919501/027919501.

for the oil pressure gauge as long as the oen you get is rated for 0-5bar gauge it should be fine, ideally get a 2 pole one though as it will then replace one of the original switches. 035919561 as above is the most common part number, but 035919561A will also work.

as for voltage tapping into the blower feed wont give such a useful reading IMO, as it will only tell you the voltage the X relay is putting out. The VW location is tapped into the coil live power rail on the ignition switch, to me this is a bit more useful as it tells you how much voltage the coil is seeing. if its low that tells you your ignition switch might be bad

Hello my name is John and I'm a dub addict.



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rubjonny Thats great help thankyou. So just to check I have so far found a website for oil temp sensor..

http://www.classic-vw.co.uk/oil-temperature-sensor-0-180-049919563a-5223-p.asp

Is that correct? Or does it definitely have to be the blue collar sensor

And for the Oil pressure ive found this part…

https://www.buycarparts.co.uk/fae/2494903

Seem ok? Heritage did have a Genuine VW one for £77 but its not currently available and knowing them it wont be in anytime soon.

They're the first ones I saw that I can get shipped from the UK instead of the US, but my worry is that ive never heard of the last website. But they seem ok?

Be great if you could confirm this  :thumbs: 

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049919563A is the white collar 0-150 sender used for VW MFA clusters, the one you need is part number 049919563B

the oil pressure sender should work fine based on the specifications mentioned :)

Hello my name is John and I'm a dub addict.



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Massive help, thankyou!

Now, does anyone have a guide anywhere i can use to install them?   :) :lol:

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VDO gauge help!

Doesn't using a 60 - 180 sender knock the 60 - 170 gauge out?

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for whatever reason the VDO is marked 60-170, but it needs the 180 degree blue sensor :)

Hello my name is John and I'm a dub addict.



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I'm guessing it would vary on the make and model of the car?

Still waiting on a 'how to' guide if anyone has one??

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the sensor needs to match the gauge, there are a couple variations out there. for example most VW type gauges  need the same white 0-1.50 sensor as the MFA gauge does, audi generally need the blue one. but certain models are exceptions, the blue one is listed for some passat for example, and audi also lists the white one

what exactly do you need to know? its very simple, the 3 gauges need 2 earths one for the gauge itself and another for the illumination, pop that to the claw above the fusebox.  For illumination power, look for a spare blue/grey behind the fusebox, theres usually a spade hanging about for just this kind of thing. Or tap into the ciggy lighter. then theres 1 wire per oil gauge into the engien bay, and finally choose an ignition live source that suits you best.

If it was me, I would use one of the G spades on the back so the gauge loom can be removed on its own if need be, spades 2 and 5 are ignition live and will tell you what voltage the coil is seeing. 1 and 3 are on the X feed, and will tell you what voltage the X-over relay is putting out, for the blowers, wipers, rear screen etc (the X feed cuts out high-load devices while cranking so as to give maximum power to the starter)

Hello my name is John and I'm a dub addict.



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Hi just bringing this thread back to life as trying to fit my volts meter. 
Happy with illumination but just trying to work out where to get the volts feed from. 
So option1 is tap into the rear window de mister  which in my 81 tintop is the 1.5mm white wire connected to fuse 5. Or do I tap into the heater switch side which is either the white/green or black/green wire - correct?
Option 2 for the more accurate reading is to tap into the coil ignition feed but I'm unsure which circuit this is on? It's labelled as N in my Haynes manual. It's only got a few wires so assuming it's one of them so could trace the correct one back through the firewall and then tap into it there?

‘81 Golf GTi Mk1 TSR1600 tintop
'90s Chesil Speedster on '70 VW Beetle Chassis
‘14 Golf GTi Mk7

 

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Remembering that it is  Voltmeter and not a amp meter so IIRC the original was tied to the Cigarette Lighter.

Putting it on the demister switch is a good choice, Keeping additional wires off the heater switch is a good thing.

The Demister is controlled as a key in circuit and that is probably a good choice.  As you don't want the thing to have power with the key off (think battery drain).

You tie the illumination in to the gray/blue line off the headlight switch.

What do Divorces, Great Coffee, and Car Electrics all have in common?

They all start with GOOD Grounds.

Where are my DIY Links?

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The cigarette lighter is permanent live so that wouldn't be a good idea for a volt gauge ;)

The VDO is tapped to a black 15 (coil live) circuit wire in the dash harness, on the ceramic fusebox the easiest place would be G spade 3, the handbrake light is wired to that you could make a piggy back adaptor so you don't have to chop any wires.

The white wire on screen heater or green/white on switch wouldnt be any good as then it would only work when the screen heater is on :p

Can use the black/yellow or black/red to the screen heater or blower switch, but in this case it will be powered from the X-relief relay. If you prefer to see voltage on the coil circuit you can also use the black/blue wire on hazard switch as well as G spade 3

Hello my name is John and I'm a dub addict.



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Thanks for that. Might as well do it the most accurate way so i'll try your first option rubjonny of connecting  to the black 1.5mm circuit.

This is where i need some help!
1. When you say "G spade 3" do you mean 10 spades on the back of the fusebox? If so these are very hard to access (complex yoga required 🙃).
2. Is that why you say tap into the handbrake light? If so do you mean via the light on the far right of the dash (red exclamation mark logo?)
3. Or should i tap into the wire on the switch on the handbrake? Assuming this cable is accessible by pulling up the carpet around the handbrake?

Apologies for my lack of knowledge but just trying to learn. Thanks again for your time.

‘81 Golf GTi Mk1 TSR1600 tintop
'90s Chesil Speedster on '70 VW Beetle Chassis
‘14 Golf GTi Mk7

 

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1. Yep thats the one, drop it off the hanger much easier:
https://clubgti.com/forums/index.php?threads/fusebox-faq.219775/#post-1945612

2. the handbrake light black wire is already going to G/3, so you can make a little piggy back adaptor so a bit of extra wire with a male spade on it so you can plug both in, or you can get female spade terminals with an extra male spade on the side

3. not the switch on the handbrake, thats an earth

Hello my name is John and I'm a dub addict.



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Thanks, thats really helpful
1. Yes i use your lovely diagrams all the time!
But one practical question - i find getting down to the fusebox extremely difficult. The only way I'm able to work on it is to remove the passenger seat and lie on my back! Am i making life difficult for myself?
2. Noted, I will do that
3. All noted, thanks for clarifying.
What fun these electrics are - but very satisfying when it all works!!
Cheers

‘81 Golf GTi Mk1 TSR1600 tintop
'90s Chesil Speedster on '70 VW Beetle Chassis
‘14 Golf GTi Mk7

 

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1. if you can take out the lower dash shelf on that side, and as I say take the screw out the front and lift the fusebox out of its hanger. apart from that, just have to struggle

Hello my name is John and I'm a dub addict.



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Haha thanks I'll try that although 6'2", 14 stone and a tiny footwell dont mix well :D

While we're on the subject of VDO stuff, can i ask one more question…
I going to fit a 5bar oil pressure gauge too:
https://www.etbinstruments.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=61&product_id=77
But I'm unsure which sender i need as they list 3 - can you advise?
1. Earth Return
2. Earth Return with Warning Contact
3. Insulated Return
I have an '81 tintip 1600 non campaign non MFA.
Thanks

‘81 Golf GTi Mk1 TSR1600 tintop
'90s Chesil Speedster on '70 VW Beetle Chassis
‘14 Golf GTi Mk7

 
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