www.iFourWinns.com

Has anybody swapped this dash if so can post photos

Thanks

Yes, there are a lot of posts on here about the VDO instrument cluster. Both repair and replacement.

Yours looks like it is in nice condition...is it definitely bad? There is a known issue with the ground on these panels, that can be fixed by adding an additional ground to the circuit board. I have only had trouble with mine twice, and both times it was something else. 1st time was a symptom of a failed alternator. 2nd time was a bad fuse...turned out the fuse was not in the fuse block, but in-line fuse in the wire leading to the instrument cluster. So my VDO panel still works great.

There are some other posts that show a complete replacement with round instruments.
Use the search function using "VDO Instrument" because you cannot search just three letters.

Edit: I see you have used the search function, as you have posted your question in four different locations.

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"Knot Easy" 2000 Horizon 240 Volvo 5.7GS /SX
tow: 2017 Honda PILOT EXL-AWD
prev. boats:
'87 Chaparral 198CXL 4.3 OMC Cobra
'69 Jetstar 16ft Ski Boat, 115hp Yamaha
'68 Aluminum Jon Boat, 3hp Sears
'64 Water Wings

I'm not 100% sure if this is a ground issue or not. My fuel gauge is all over the place, it will work fine for a little bit and then all if a sudden Feul light will kick on and alarm will start beeping for a while and then it will go back to normal or tell me I have a 1/4 tank when it's full. I also think my oil pressure gauge is a little high but only sometimes. I just bought the boat and have only been out on her twice both times after about ten minutes I'd start getting the feul issue. Boat had full inspection done at marina and checked out great

The Fuel gauge issue could easily be a bad sending unit, or bad connection at the sending unit.

I would start by cleaning the connection of the ground and send wires at the fuel tank sending unit. Your Horizon probably has a round access cover over the back of the fuel tank (centerline of boat floor, just in front of the engine. This cover would be under the rear seats if you have sunsport seating. After cleaning these connections, coat them with a corrosion preventative such as BoeSheild T-9, or a light coat of grease (such as triple guard grease),

If that doesn't work, I would change the sending unit, as they are only about a $30 item, and they are prone to have a limited life.

In my experience, oil sending units are quite reliable. What do you mean by oil pressure "a little high but only sometimes"? Oil pressure will be highest with a cold engine and higher RPMs. Oil pressure will be lowest with a hot engine at idle.

Ray

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"Knot Easy" 2000 Horizon 240 Volvo 5.7GS /SX
tow: 2017 Honda PILOT EXL-AWD
prev. boats:
'87 Chaparral 198CXL 4.3 OMC Cobra
'69 Jetstar 16ft Ski Boat, 115hp Yamaha
'68 Aluminum Jon Boat, 3hp Sears
'64 Water Wings

You mentioned you just bought the boat, I'm not sure if you're new to boating in general. In case you are new, don't expect the fuel gage to act like one in a car, it will move quite a bit as the boat goes over waves, also will change from being at rest to getting up on plane as the bow goes up in the air.

Having said that, it shouldn't go from full to empty that quickly, just that it from my experience it might vary around a quarter of a tank from actual amount of fuel.

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Terry
Current: 07 Crownline 255 CCR cuddy - 350 Mag MPI/B3 "Casi Cielo"

Previous:97 245 Sundowner 5.7GI/SX

Tow vehicle: 1986 GMC 2500 Camper Special 454/TH400

I have a new sending unit and new ends on the wiring of my chap's fuel gauge, and it still only works half the time.

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1981 Columbia 8.7
2015 Yamaha FZR - 87mph - sold
2006 Yamaha GP1300R - sold
2003 Chaparral 215 SSI - sold
2009 Stingray 195CS - sold
2000 Four Winns H180 - sold
1976 O'day Daysailer II - sold
Rick's Four Winns H180 Mods/Upgrade Thread

Don't really care if the fuel gauge is accurate or even works but the beeping alarm that comes on is very annoying and doesn't stop

It's been awhile since I had a dash like that but is the beeping from the depth alarm? You should be able to set the shallow and deep alarm points on it if so

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2001 328 Vista "Nauta Dream 2"
AB Inflatable 10AL "Little Dreamer"
2000 248 Vista
1997 225 Sundowner


Mike

No it's not the depth alarm I have turned it off and triple checked it. I'm going to try a new feul sending unit and see if that works. Everytime except for once when I disconnected battery for a few seconds and restarted it seemed to reset the gauge to normal

Ahhh yes... the VDO dash panel. We go back a long ways, a most unforgettable foe. Where do I begin....

Two boats ago, I had a 99 Vista 258 with that dash. The low fuel alarm would come on randomly and the gauge would sometimes drop to E, sometimes not. I replaced the sending unit. Finally, right before I got rid of the boat, more gauges would stop working at random and make that ANNOYING alarm go off non stop. The two buttons to control the little info display were just about useless. That cluster was a bad idea and VDO/Four Winns should be flogged for it.

I had my marina add an (additional?) ground wire to the cluster, which was recommended by the forums at the time. No difference.

Getting my present boat, a 97 Vista 278 with regular normal gauge cluster was the BEST thing I ever did.

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1997 Four Winns Vista 278
T - 4.3l EFI
Kohler 4esz Genset
379 hours as of 8/8/21

Here is a link to the dash I made to replace the VDO
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9061

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Anything Worth Doing Is Worth Overdoing
2001 Horizon 180

I love the dash!! Maybe ill doth is at the end of season I just replaced the fuel sending unit but have yet to get out on the water to test if it fixed my fuel alarm issue .

I know you changed the speedo but other then that was it only a matter of splicing the new gauges in under the dash or was more work required

Thanks