VDO gauges

[major hattitude]

Happy Father’s Day looking for input 1989 65 MY all gauges work
Properly on lower helm upper helm starboard gauges are pegged
High including RPM gauge never happened before any ideas what
Is wrong input would be appreciated

 

[Glory]

If it us all gauges I would look at ground, the gauges likely share the ground.

Good luck

 

[major hattitude]

Thank you but it’s only on the upper helm starboard side all other gauges work
Good !

 

[Glory]

Each engine station harness likely have their own power and ground.

 

[cww]

I have this same problem but only on my oil pressure gauges. One side it's always reading high, and the other side reads lower than I know it is, below the point that the alarm would ring if it was actually that low (and I have tested the alarm, it works). Now that I had the engines rebuilt and the oil pressure is higher on both, the gauge that reads high is pegged at anything over idle. Unlike you I have this problem both upstairs and downstairs.

 

[major hattitude]

I replaced the starboard alternator last week I wonder
If that had something to do with it starboard gauges at
Upper helm worked fine before that also oil gauges on lower helm
Are not reading correct on starboard side reading slot higher
Than normal

 

[cww]

I replaced the starboard alternator last week I wonder If that had something to do with it starboard gauges atUpper helm worked fine before that also oil gauges on lower helm Are not reading correct on starboard side reading slot higher Than normal 樂樂樂

Your symtoms are now exactly like mine now that you’ve described them. Bet somebody disturbed a ground when they did the alternator. Dying to find out which one so I can fix mine.

 

[major hattitude]

I’m going to disconnect all the wires from the Alternator tomorrow and see if that changes anything I’ll let you know

 

[tonytrakovich]

Going from memory here. Wouldn’t it be the power side? Red power daisy chains all the gauges. Ground on each gauge goes back to the sending unit. Check connections at alternator. Also check fuses in DC electrical panel on aft bulkhead. Look for a little glass or ceramic fuse that provides power to the ignition.

 

[Bob Quinn]

Watching, having similar problems. Some starboard gauges jumpy and/intermittently drop to zero.
Both tachometers dropped out yesterday.

 

[JuiceClark]

Watching, having similar problems. Some starboard gauges jumpy and/intermittently drop to zero.
Both tachometers dropped out yesterday.

Mine too. The worst part is the tech noticed the ER tachs accurately read 2k rpms while the bridge read 1,800. So, those electric tachs are jumpy, unreliable AND wrong...reading about 10% low.

So, they've gotta be replaced and I'm looking to find the best alternative.

 

[tonytrakovich]

Tachometers are a different system. They run off a tachometer sender mounted on the front of the engine or off your glendinning synchronizer, if you have one. The tach sender sends tiny electric pulses to your tach.

if you have a Glendinning there is a speedo cable that runs from the tach gearbox to the glendinning. The cables go bad and break and the gearboxes wear and break.

 

[Bob Quinn]

Mine too. The worst part is the tech noticed the ER tachs accurately read 2k rpms while the bridge read 1,800. So, those electric tachs are jumpy, unreliable AND wrong...reading about 10% low.

So, they've gotta be replaced and I'm looking to find the best alternative.

Did yours also creep up? example: we start out at 1200 rpm and over the next hour they crept up to read about 1400 or maybe 1500, with no change in throttle positions or boat speed

 

[JuiceClark]

Did yours also creep up? example: we start out at 1200 rpm and over the next hour they crept up to read about 1400 or maybe 1500, with no change in throttle positions or boat speed

I haven't noticed that kind of creepage, yet. Maybe they'll creep up until they're correct! I'll snoop around where it connects to the sync to see if something has gotten a bit fouled and holding it back. It sounds like the vibrations while running are working it to where it should be.

I wonder how many of us have been running at 2k rpms or more thinking they're only at 1,800? How would I have known without a tech in the ER while running?

The jumping around is mostly on the port gauge, and it stops above 800rpm. The port tach doesn't receive any power unless the stbd key is on. So, I'm hoping it's a bad connection, even though I've cleaned them up pretty well.

 

[major hattitude]

I have not looked into the issue with the gauges yet but I was in my engine room yesterday on the starboard side in hour meter was running and no key on the engine not running so I disconnected the sensor for a fuel pressure on a fuel filter and still stayed running so there’s power going to the hourmeter just don’t know where it’s coming from I’m assuming it’s all tied in with the gauges on the starboard side anybody have any thoughts would be greatly appreciated I also disconnected the wire from the alternator that comes from the same fuel pressure
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