VDO issues

Craig-o · **Posted:** Mon Jul 30, 2012 3:05 pm

Hi Michael,

I took pictures when I added a ground wire to my VDO cluster, but I'm not sure I can find them. Although I know a picture is worth a thousand words, ultimately my VDO cluster had a single, phillips-head screw on the back of the circuit board. This screw (with nothing external attached) was continuous with the GND circuitry of the cluster. All I did was attach a 14g wire to that screw, and ran it back to the engine block, connecting it to the GND for the (-) battery lead. My erratic gauges stopped and haven't re-surfaced.

You'll need a multi-tester and a wiring diagram so you know which pin(s) correspond to GND. I doubt it's a loose GND, it just seems there's insufficient GND capacity with these clusters and they need another wire to increase that capacity.

Good luck. I'll look for pics when I get home.

Craig

bmarin9 · **Joined:** Mon Aug 06, 2012 2:55 pm **Posts:** 2

Ive got VDO problems as well. I found that philips head screw in the back of the circuit board and I attached a 14 gauge wire and ran it back to the negative on the battery. I wanted to run it to the ground thats on the engine but I couldnt find it. Is it hard to get to?

Some of my gauges worked before and then became erratically intermittent after I had it serviced. Now I get nothing out of the panel. I wanted to know where the sending unit was so, I could reset the connection.

So at this point, I don't know if its the VDU, the ground or the sending unit or if its not getting any power.

Brian

jxhopper · **Joined:** Tue May 27, 2008 11:25 pm **Posts:** 62

Craig-o wrote:

Hi Michael,

I took pictures when I added a ground wire to my VDO cluster, but I'm not sure I can find them. Although I know a picture is worth a thousand words, ultimately my VDO cluster had a single, phillips-head screw on the back of the circuit board. This screw (with nothing external attached) was continuous with the GND circuitry of the cluster. All I did was attach a 14g wire to that screw, and ran it back to the engine block, connecting it to the GND for the (-) battery lead. My erratic gauges stopped and haven't re-surfaced.

You'll need a multi-tester and a wiring diagram so you know which pin(s) correspond to GND. I doubt it's a loose GND, it just seems there's insufficient GND capacity with these clusters and they need another wire to increase that capacity.

Good luck. I'll look for pics when I get home.

Craig

I would like to do this in an attempt to solve my VDO issues as well. Those pix would be GREATLY appreciated!

Craig-o · **Posted:** Wed Aug 15, 2012 6:09 pm

I found the photos, but am unable to post - the IMG feature gives me an error message:

It was not possible to determine the dimensions of the image.

PM me and I'll send you the pics.

Craig

jxhopper · **Joined:** Tue May 27, 2008 11:25 pm **Posts:** 62

Craig-o wrote:

I found the photos, but am unable to post - the IMG feature gives me an error message:

It was not possible to determine the dimensions of the image.

PM me and I'll send you the pics.

Craig

Sent you a pm... thanks!

jxhopper · **Joined:** Tue May 27, 2008 11:25 pm **Posts:** 62

Please... if anyone has pics... please post or pm me for my email. I have my vdo out and apart and would like to know where on the board to add the ground. I'd like to get it back in the boat so I can take it back to the lake.

THanks!

jxhopper · **Joined:** Tue May 27, 2008 11:25 pm **Posts:** 62

bump.

yankee817299 · **Joined:** Fri Aug 24, 2012 8:28 am **Posts:** 3

There is a fairly good pict in this thread. Hope it helps.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=833&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=15

yankee817299 · **Joined:** Fri Aug 24, 2012 8:28 am **Posts:** 3

Here is another thread that shows a different avenue to follow in eliminating the VDO guage issues.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9061

jxhopper · **Joined:** Tue May 27, 2008 11:25 pm **Posts:** 62

yankee817299 wrote:

There is a fairly good pict in this thread. Hope it helps.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=833&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=15

Thank you!

jxhopper · **Joined:** Tue May 27, 2008 11:25 pm **Posts:** 62

Well crap. I added the ground wire as in the pic and now not only does the speedometer not work, but the tach is not working as well as oil pressure and water temp gauge.

These things suck. Seems like there should be a class action activity for these units.

yankee817299 · **Joined:** Fri Aug 24, 2012 8:28 am **Posts:** 3

JX, have you made any further progress in solving your VDO issues? Just wondering, I am getting ready to try and solve mine in the off season?

jxhopper · **Joined:** Tue May 27, 2008 11:25 pm **Posts:** 62

yankee817299 wrote:

JX, have you made any further progress in solving your VDO issues? Just wondering, I am getting ready to try and solve mine in the off season?

Yeah. I made progress, alright. I did everything as I saw here. Fired it up. Now my Tach and other gauges do not work either. I am done messing with this VDO pos. What are people using for direct replacement now?

cimolifam · **Posted:** Fri Jul 05, 2013 11:44 am

Here is aupdated link to the Dash VDO Informaiton.

http://www.cdielectronics.com/wp-conten ... nsDash.pdf

Jskinne5 · **Joined:** Tue Jul 16, 2013 2:58 pm **Posts:** 1

I have read what people are saying about the VDO and I am having the same problem. I have a 2000 Horizon 180 with a 4.3. I sent the VDO to CDI and had the dedicated ground wire added. Unfortunately, I cannot find the old ground wire to remove. I called Four Winns and the tech told me to cut the black/purple wire on the #3 position on the harness. Is this correct? Has anyone else done this?

www.iFourWinns.com

VDO issues

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