VDO Cluster issues

[Moku'ula]

Howdy,

I have a 1999 Four Winns Horizon 180 with what appears to be the infamous VDO cluster. The speedometer doesn't work (I'm going to replace the transducer). The other gauges kind of flicker on and off. I've found that if I disconnect the unit everything except the speedo seems to reset and functions for a while.

I've read that the units need an added ground. If I simply attach an added ground back to the engine from the current bare ground wire that goes into the harness, will that resolve the issues?

Please let me know if you've had similar issues and worked through them.

Thanks.

Jef
Moku'ula
1999 Four Winns Horizon 180 LS
VP 4.3L GL-WT

 

[Moku'ula]

Re: VDO Cluster issues

Anybody out there who has figured out the old VDO Gauge Cluster grounding issue?

I've found some general info online, but nothing that specifically states where to connect the new ground to the harness of the cluster.

Thanks again.

Jef

 

[LGNYboater]

Re: VDO Cluster issues

I have a 2001 18' Horizon with the same issue. All of the VDO guages come and go for no apparent reason. Some days they work, some they don't. I've disconnected all of the electronics and re-attached from behind, but no luck. I've also found that sometimes the boat won't start.... full battery...... the saftey lanyard is on..... but I get a click on the ignition..... to attempt to turn over. Usually by pushing the little red button under the engine hood resets something and I'm good to go. However, it may take 2-3 attempts. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't! So.... something electrical is not right. I'm going to try this grounding technique and see if it helps.

Does anybody know where I should start with running a ground wire from to the engine block? Is it from the ignigtion switch housing or is their a general ground for all of the VDO instrument guage cluster? I'll post feedback of my findings ASAP if I can find out where to start. Thanks!

 

[AmericaRocks]

Re: VDO Cluster issues

Anyone had any luck with this issue. I am also having the problem with my 2001 Horizon 230. After reading many threads here and on the iFourWinns, last weekend, I attempted to run the new ground from the negative battery to the bare wire coming off of PIN4 (I even cut the wire), but no improvement (in fact my speedo quit working altogether so I am going to have to reconnect the wire and see that is the issue or I messed something else up.) My cluster is actually dead when starting out for the day and then starts to work intermittently (resets frequently) after the boat warms up. It is very frustrating. Any help would be appreciated. I'm not quite ready to drop the $500+ on the new cluster.

John

 

[AmericaRocks]

Re: VDO Cluster issues

I attempted to run the new ground from the negative battery to the bare wire coming off of PIN4 (I even cut the wire), but no improvement (in fact my speedo quit working altogether so I am going to have to reconnect the wire and see that is the issue or I messed something else up.)

Just to keep everyone posted. I didn't have much time to work on this issue this weekend, but I did undo what I did above and spliced the bare wire coming out of PIN4 back together and my speedo started working again.

Any other suggestions on where to connect the new ground wire?

Thanks,

John

 

[Silvertip]

Re: VDO Cluster issues

There are only three ground points on a boat. 1) at the ground buss on the fuse/breaker panel. 2) at the battery negative post. 3) anywhere on the engine block. All three of these points use the Negative battery terminal as a ground reference and they are electrically the same point. However, since wires connect the engine block and ground buss to the negative terminal of the battery, the BEST (most electrically stable) ground is at the battery.


LGNY -- your starting issue is not related to the VDO cluster problem. You have a bad ignition switch, bad wiring between it and the starter solenoid, a bad starter solenoid, etc. The button you are pushing is circuit breaker reset button. If that breaker trips, something is drawing too much current but it is not the VDO cluster.

 

[AmericaRocks]

Re: VDO Cluster issues

There are only three ground points on a boat. 1) at the ground buss on the fuse/breaker panel. 2) at the battery negative post. 3) anywhere on the engine block. All three of these points use the Negative battery terminal as a ground reference and they are electrically the same point. However, since wires connect the engine block and ground buss to the negative terminal of the battery, the BEST (most electrically stable) ground is at the battery.

Thanks for the info Silvertip. I may have not been clear on my question. I have a wire running from the negative battery post to my VDO Cluster, but I don't know where to connect it on my Cluster. As Moku'ula pointed on in the original post, there are many references to running a dedicated ground from the VDO Cluster to the Engine Block or Negative Battery Post. Referencing this technical bulletin (http://www.sso-usa.com/marine/TechnicalSupport/pdf/Bulletins/Manuals/VDOClusterManual2000.pdf), I came to the conclusion that the bare wire coming out of PIN4 would be the best ground so I cut that wire and ran a dedicated wire back to the battery. No luck, and my speedo quit working and cluster still reset often. I reconnected the wire and speedo starting working again and cluster still resets. I now have a dedicated ground wire coming from battery to the cluster, but I don't know where best to try connecting it next.

 

[Moku'ula]

Re: VDO Cluster issues

Just to keep those in this thread in the loop on what I've tried to do to address this issue...

I ran a wire from the engine and 'piggy-backed' it to each wire that entered the harness that was listed as a ground - none of that worked. My next step was going to be using one of the empty spaces in the harness as a grounding point, but I was afraid I'd fry the unit. I think I will try my original steps again but from the negative terminal to the harness...

What would be great is if one of the guys who shipped his unit to VDO for the extra ground would chime in and let us know how it came back.

Anyway - summer has been great - even without knowing my speed...

Jef

 

[AmericaRocks]

Re: VDO Cluster issues

Just to keep those in this thread in the loop on what I've tried to do to address this issue...

I ran a wire from the engine and 'piggy-backed' it to each wire that entered the harness that was listed as a ground - none of that worked. My next step was going to be using one of the empty spaces in the harness as a grounding point, but I was afraid I'd fry the unit. I think I will try my original steps again but from the negative terminal to the harness...

What would be great is if one of the guys who shipped his unit to VDO for the extra ground would chime in and let us know how it came back.

Anyway - summer has been great - even without knowing my speed...

Jef

Jef,

There are several having this same issue and someone dug up an old thread over on iFourWinns (http://www.smwebhead.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=833&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=15) and someone who solved their problem posted photos of where they soldered the wire directly onto their panel. I haven't tried it yet, but will the next trip to the lake.

John

 

[Moku'ula]

Re: VDO Cluster issues

Well...

The good news is I'm going to have a speedometer - the bad news is it's gonna cost more $$$.

I tried the fix (added an extra ground to what is the ground terminal of the volt gauge in the cluster). All I succeeded in doing was shorting the circuit board at that point. So now my volt gauge is fried along with the speedo - which still pops back to life intermittently...

Regardless - I wanted new individual gauges anyway...

So next inquiry- who has rewired their gauge panel and who can offer up some pointers. I'm going with white/opaque 1/2 inch plexiglass with the holes bored out using hole saws. I've got the template from the old panel for the shape of the panel. I've found several sweet gauge sets for under $200 on ebay with all but the depth gauge - which I guess I'll buy ala carte. I'll have a pitot-style speedo which will require me to switch out the paddle wheel transducer I have now and run the pitot tube below decks. All I really need to know is how to daisy chain the gauges - I saw one generic wiring diagram, but pictures would be sweet.

It will be a somewhat scary day when I cut off the wiring harness that plugs into the existing cluster - I have docs from VDO that show where each wire runs from - sensors, grounds, 12v - but any guidance would be appreciated.

Thanks for the help.