Temperature Gauge Switchout - Wiring issues

[johnjmurray]

The temperature gauge (VDO) on my 1993 Ski Nautique needs replaced, the spring has gone bad on the gauge. I ordered a replacement one from Midwest CorrectCraft, since they don't carry or make VDO gauges anymore I had to get a Teleflex gauge. I unscrewed the driver console to swap it out tonight when I noticed, I have too many wires hooked on to the old VDO gauge to fit on the new Teleflex gauge. Does anyone know what I need to do to get this resolved. I have attached pictures.

I can find each wires appropriate spot; expect for the "stem" (black node on top of gauge) on the old gauge there are two sets of wires attached to that, on the new gauge there is only one post....

Any thoughts or help?

[inboardsonly]

RE: Temperature Gauge Switchout - Wiring issues

They're all there....

S= Sender, G=Ground, I=Ignition controlled + wire (purple), L= light.

The above is for the teleflex.

Purple to I, Tan to S, Black to G, and Blue to L...

NOW, one problem you might encounter, the gauge might read backwards.

US sending unit vs. VDO sending units, the european units often made US gauges read backwards.

I had an oil pressure sender go bad, and the replacement would make the gauge read backwards. High pressure at idle, and low at 3000 rpms.

Not sure how to tell apart a US Sender from a European one.

I think is was only an issue in the late 80's, but you never know.

IO

[Andrew]

RE: Temperature Gauge Switchout - Wiring issues

ur "extra" wires will be for the light. i'm not positive, but from the looks of it ur gonna have to rewire the teleflex light with a different connector
thats CC wiring at its finest though.....
its pretty obvious that the same morons from 20 years ago are still in charge of the wiring in nautiques. i'm amazed that everyone of these boats don't burn to the ground. the wiring in my '86 was horrifying and the wiring in a friends 98ss looks like a rats nest. from the pics i've seen on here of the newer boats, nothing has changed. CC is still using crappy daisy chains on all the gauges. they could care less about routing everything out of the way. they'll never fail to leave bare copper showing on the majority of wire ends and you can forget having a nice bundle of wires zip-tied or even taped together......

[johnjmurray]

Update

Thanks for the advice! it worked... I ended up having to fit all 5 black wires in a heavy duty (4 gauge) connector. But in the end it worked. Yellow_Flash_Colorz:

[Tomfooter]

RE: Update

johnjmurray, I have the same problem with my VDO Temp. gauge on my '93 BFN. Could you show me photos of the face of the gauge they sent you? Did you have the white faces with black numbers on your gauges? If you don't mind me asking, about how much did a new guage cost? Thanks!

[johnjmurray]

Tomfooter -

I have attached a picture of the temp gauge below. Have you installed your Teleflex gauge yet? Or do you need to get one? I paid ~$45 from Midwest Correctcraft (www.nautique.com). You can probably find it cheaper elsewhere, but I couldn't find any that got closer to the same style as my 93' SN.

After reading you post, I got to thinking, "I hope by gauge is working?!". I keep my boat on a trailer at my house when not on the river or gone to Lake Tippecanoe for the weekend, so I haven't had it in the water to test the accuracy of it, but on land, it is lights up and acts like a normal gauge (I did a quick dry start).

I'll let you know after this weekend what I find out....

[Tomfooter]

That looks like a pretty good match. Let me know for sure if it works, or if you have to change sending units or any other modifications (other than your re-wiring job) you might have to do. I hope it works good for you!

[1999Sport]

Looks like it's running a little hot to me :evil: Lets just hope it never gets that high in the water, although it probably won't

[johnjmurray]

1999Sport, that reading was with the boat off. When I first turned the key it was all the way down past 120, once I started it up it was up around 140. I only left the boat running <10 secs. When I turned it off that is where the gauge decided to wander... so I'm not worried about it, yet :???:

Tomorrow's Friday and I'll know for sure then.

[1999Sport]

You've gotta love crazy gauge readings when the boat is off....hahhahah.....my tach usually sits around 1000 rpm....my other gauges probably do it too I just never notice.....

[Tomfooter]

Well, how did it work? :???:

[johnjmurray]

TomFooter - Sorry for the SUPER later response... Only 5 months late :???:

But the gauge works perfectly! The only wiring I had to do was join up all of the ground wires to connect to one post on the new gauge.

[Tomfooter]

Good! I'll try to remember this post next spring when I get my boat back out. Thanks!