Oil Pressure gauge - mismatched sender?

Iain Mac · 04-05-2012, 08:09 PM

I fitted a set of VDO gauges to my car and finally wired them up today. Volts and oil temp seem to be OK, but oil pressure goes off the scale (5 bar) when I start the engine, and stays there. The sender has a separate terminal for a warning light, but that isn't coming on with the ignition.

Does that sound like a 10 bar sender has been supplied, is the sender faulty (big reading and no warning light coming on), or could the gauge itself be faulty? And is there a way to test both?

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martysmartie · 04-05-2012, 08:50 PM

The sender and gauge have to be calibrated, ground the warning light and see if it illuminates, which it should, if so then the sender is your problem.

Martin

john_p_b · 04-05-2012, 10:50 PM

double check the wiring, got vdo gauges in my kit car and if the ground comes off the gauge goes off the scale.

Iain Mac · 06-05-2012, 12:08 PM

Thanks guys, it seems that my sender is bollocksed.

Cleaned both terminals and that fixed the light, but made no difference to the gauge.

I earthed the cable and the gauge went to 0, so I put the polarity tester on and found that the sender terminal for the gauge doesn't earth, even if I stick the probe right in the centre.

Now to find a replacement.

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04-05-2012, 08:50 PM	#2
martysmartie PassionFord Post Whore!! Garage is empty, add now Trader Score: (1) Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 6,766 Rep Power: 13	The sender and gauge have to be calibrated, ground the warning light and see if it illuminates, which it should, if so then the sender is your problem. Martin

04-05-2012, 10:50 PM	#3
john_p_b I've found that life I needed.. It's HERE!! Garage is empty, add now Trader Score: (4) Join Date: May 2004 Location: leics Posts: 1,307 Rep Power: 11	double check the wiring, got vdo gauges in my kit car and if the ground comes off the gauge goes off the scale.

06-05-2012, 12:08 PM	#4
Iain Mac PassionFord Post Whore!! 2009 Ford Sierra Trader Score: (0) Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Scotland Posts: 4,684 Rep Power: 15	Thanks guys, it seems that my sender is bollocksed. Cleaned both terminals and that fixed the light, but made no difference to the gauge. I earthed the cable and the gauge went to 0, so I put the polarity tester on and found that the sender terminal for the gauge doesn't earth, even if I stick the probe right in the centre. Now to find a replacement.

06-05-2012, 12:08 PM
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