www.iFourWinns.com

I just sold a bayliner and have been looking at Four Winns. I have found a 1999 200 Horizon that we intend to buy. It is in excellent shape but has one small problem. The oil pressure guage on the instrument cluster does not always work. Has anyone else had this problem? The local marine shop has said it is in the insrument cluster itself and they can't get one from the factory. Does anyone know where to get one? We really want to get this fixed. They put an external guage on and the pressure is fine it just doesn't read on the dash.

I'm guessing you are talking about the VDO guage cluster that FW used that looks and feels like an automotive dash?

If so, they have been problematic and the reason they are not used anymore. I believe FW sells a retro fit kit that uses the standard guages. These VDO clusters had a problem being temperamental to voltage and would frequently "loose their minds"

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Jvalich
http://www.badcock.com

'04 FW 288 Vista "Mental Floss"

The replacement VDO cluster can be bought from http://rapair.com/Default.aspx?tabid=97 for about $250. I thought I heard the gauges that jvalich mentioned were about $800. I am having the same problem with my 98 Sundowner. I have not decided what I am going to do yet.

THANKS! I have heard that about the cluster. Hve either of you seen the replacment retro fit. Does it look good?

No I haven't seen it. We had a '99 205 Sundowner. When we traded to the 248 Vista, the VDO guage cluster went away. The replaced it a year or two later and as far as I know there were no style changes to the helm. I'm guessing you could look up the later years brochures on the Four Winns Website and get a view of what the nonVDO helm looks like. I'll bet they look real similar.

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Jvalich
http://www.badcock.com

'04 FW 288 Vista "Mental Floss"

I really prefer the looks of the new panel. It makes for a hard desicion. Has anyone ever installed the retro fit? Is it an easy installation or are we looking at lots of labor or professional installation? I have to wonder if this is a common problem why they haven't made this easy and issued a recall.

There are pictures of it posted at the yahoo Four Winns site. I will try to search for them.

I'd like to see what the replacement non-vdo cluster looks like. Anyone have a link to one?
Thanks

These are from the yahoo site:


http://us.a2.yahoofs.com/groups/g_5245536/4611/__sr_/6663.jpg?grInLhEBjJnx05HK

http://us.a2.yahoofs.com/groups/g_5245536/7497/__sr_/b7ea.jpg?grInLhEBANBadrHD

Thanks! They both look very nice! I wonder how hard it would to fabricate something simular for a lot less than $800.00?

Thanks for the pics. Does anyone know if you order the original replacment from rapair if it solves the problem or is it just going to happen again?

I don't know if it will solve the problem, I'm guessing it will happen again.

I have a 2000 240 Horizon which I bought new and I have experienced the same Oil Pressure issue. Finally broke down last fall and bought the new dash setup - it is really nice (but I lost the water temperature on the depth gauge )

I still had issues with the Oil Pressure this spring - so they just ran a new wire from the sender to the new gauge. The dealer claimed they could not do that with the old dash setup because of the harness that it used. My bet is that they could have done that anyway without the expense of replacing the dash.

I do REALLY like the look of the new dash though.

i had the oil pressure issue and just put up with it, then when my house was hit by lightning a couple of years ago, the entire vdo went out. the insurance paid for the vdo replacement. now im having issues with the replacement (fuel, oil pressure and temperature). usually it works fine, but sometimes it sounds like the engine in going to blow if you believe the guages. im having the dealer put in the replacement non vdo panel in a week. tired of messing with it.

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2001 four winns 215 sundowner