Date:         Sat, 17 Aug 2002 00:35:09 -0400
Reply-To:     Laurence Smith <laurence@ALANASMITH.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Laurence Smith <laurence@ALANASMITH.COM>
Subject:      Re: Help needed troubleshooting VDO oil pressure gauge
Comments: To: Tobin Copley <tobin.copley@UBC.CA>
In-Reply-To:  <C791CEDA-B197-11D6-AF39-0003938E6706@ubc.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Have you made sure the VDO dual sender metal housing itself is
grounded (to the engine if possible)?

So you have...

* on the VDO dual sender:
1 terminal with connection to stock wire for idiot light on dash
1 terminal with new wire heading to the gauge
connect the sender's housing to ground using that "P" shaped brace
that comes with it

* on the VDO gauge:
1 terminal receiving resistence signals from the sender
1 terminal to ground (for the reading)
1 terminal to night light
1 terminal to ground (for the light)

If the above setup is done and there are still problems then either
the sender or gauge is faulty.

Laurence Smith
Hamilton, ON
90 Westy (fanumbos)



> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List
> [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
> Of Tobin Copley
> Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2002 12:14 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Help needed troubleshooting VDO oil pressure gauge
>
>
> Hi all,
>
> The scare I had last week with the bus developing a bad-sounding
> knock turned out to be a loose muffler.  I'da thought she'd have
> checked that before calling me on the cell phone, but I guess
> she's be driving our completely trouble-free H*nda for too
> long.  (And she used to be *so good* at roadside repair!).
> Turned out to be a silly thing, but it's hard to fix cars over a
> cell phone, and it turned out to be the kind of mistake /
> surprise I'm happy to have!
>
> Anyhow, the scare impressed upon me that I have to get on to
> getting my oil pressure gauge working. What i have bought and
> installed is a VDO 0-80 lb dual-terminal sender and a guage.
>
> The problem:
>
> 1) The gauge goes to max pressure as soon as power is applied,
> even with engine off.
>
> 2) To eliminate bad wiring from the equation, I tried a temp
> set-up with the gauge right by the engine, with new sender wire,
> power straight from the battery, ground straight to the battery
> ground strap.  Gauge still goes to max pressure.
>
> 3) If I remove the sender wire from the terminal on the sender
> and *ground* the sender wire, then apply power to the gauge, the
> gauge needle moves smoothly up to zero and stays there.
>
> I think the gauge part of the sender is bad (although the idiot
> light part appears to be working properly) and therefore the
> sending unit should be replaced.  Specifically, I think the
> gauge part of the sender is stuck in an open circuit condition.
> But my electrical knowledge is pretty much limited to a firm
> grasp of the magic smoke theory, so what do I know?
>
> So, list people: thoughts on where the trouble lies?  Agree /
> disagree with my diagnosis?  Any help appreciated.  I'd really
> like to get a gauge working in this thing.  (I replaced the main
> and connecting rod bearings 700 miles ago, and would like to get
> a heads up if things are going bad again).
>
> Thanks,
>
> T.
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> ------------
> Tobin Copley        Bowen Island, BC, Canada      49deg
> 23'N-123deg 19'W
>
> '82 Westfalia 1.6L NA diesel ("Stinky")
> '97 son Russell                                  =============
> '99 daughter Margaret                           /_| |_L|
> |__|:| clatter
>                              SPEED KILLS!       {.
>   .| clatter!
>                         Drive a Vanagon diesel   ~-()-==----()-~
>