anyone know the temp sender specs on a VDO temp gauge?

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Nate Nagel - 05 Mar 2008 23:06 GMT

I've got a VDO 400F trans temp gauge in my truck, I have not seen it
come off the peg, I was thinking it should get over 200F as soon as the
engine is warmed up. Do the VDO gauges have high resistance at low
temps and low resistance at high temps as one would expect? (that is,
can I ground the sender wire and see what happens for a rough check?)
It is possible that I am not getting an accurate reading as I did not
braze a bung into the pan, I installed the sender in a pressure test
port on the trans so it might actually not be warming up properly.

Also, it appears that on my trans (Ford E4OD) there is a hole in the
middle of a pan to be drilled for a drain plug. Anyone know if there is
a piece of metal inside there that can simply be tapped for a pipe
thread or is there more involved than that?

nate

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Pete C. - 06 Mar 2008 01:26 GMT

> I've got a VDO 400F trans temp gauge in my truck, I have not seen it
> come off the peg, I was thinking it should get over 200F as soon as the
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
> http://members.cox.net/njnagel

A quick search found http://www.egauges.com site which says:

"VDO Ohm range sender (10-180 Ohms)"

and

"US Ohm range sender (240-33 Ohms)"

Also found is:

http://usa.vdo.com/products_solutions/cars/performance-instruments/vdo-performan
ce-instruments/technical-support-documents/instrument-series/Instruments-Series-
Technical-Support-Documents.htm

Where you should be able to lookup the gauge model number and see what
sender it is intended for use with.

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Nate Nagel - 06 Mar 2008 01:44 GMT

>>I've got a VDO 400F trans temp gauge in my truck, I have not seen it
>>come off the peg, I was thinking it should get over 200F as soon as the
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
>
> "US Ohm range sender (240-33 Ohms)"

I think those are for fuel level senders, the 240-33 sounds suspiciously
like what my memory banks recall as being a Stewart-Warner fuel sender spec

> Also found is:
>
> http://usa.vdo.com/products_solutions/cars/performance-instruments/vdo-performan
ce-instruments/technical-support-documents/instrument-series/Instruments-Series-
Technical-Support-Documents.htm
>
> Where you should be able to lookup the gauge model number and see what
> sender it is intended for use with.

I'd found that, and I already have the sender, but I still haven't been
able to determine the ohm range... oh well, I guess I can always just
tap it to ground and see what happens, *hopefully* nothing will blow up...

thanks for looking

nate

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replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
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Pete C. - 06 Mar 2008 01:51 GMT

> >>I've got a VDO 400F trans temp gauge in my truck, I have not seen it
> >>come off the peg, I was thinking it should get over 200F as soon as the
[quoted text clipped - 26 lines]
> I think those are for fuel level senders, the 240-33 sounds suspiciously
> like what my memory banks recall as being a Stewart-Warner fuel sender spec

http://www.egauges.com/vdo_mult.asp?Type=Trans_Oil_Temp&Series=Vision

> > Also found is:
> >
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> able to determine the ohm range... oh well, I guess I can always just
> tap it to ground and see what happens, *hopefully* nothing will blow up...

See above link. That is the ohm range listed for a VDO 400 degree trans
temp gauge.

> thanks for looking

NP.

> nate
>
> --
> replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
> http://members.cox.net/njnagel

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Nate Nagel - 06 Mar 2008 01:52 GMT

>>> I've got a VDO 400F trans temp gauge in my truck, I have not seen it
>>> come off the peg, I was thinking it should get over 200F as soon as the
[quoted text clipped - 36 lines]
>
> nate

hey, thanks again... your first link led me to this:

http://www.egauges.com/pdf/vdo/0-515-012-178.pdf

which answered my question. now I have something to do tomorrow after
work! :)

nate

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replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
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Pete C. - 06 Mar 2008 01:56 GMT

Also:

http://usa.vdo.com/NR/rdonlyres/1FF1659D-CE67-47DF-B20B-2F64E7D3DDBA/0/Temperatu
reResistanceChart.pdf

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Mike - 06 Mar 2008 02:41 GMT

> I've got a VDO 400F trans temp gauge in my truck, I have not seen it come
> off the peg, I was thinking it should get over 200F as soon as the engine is
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> installed the sender in a pressure test port on the trans so it might
> actually not be warming up properly.

I don't believe there is any fluid flow in a test port, that's why you don't
get a reading. Here are some links to the VDO website that show the info for
testing your gauge and sending unit.

http://www.sso-usa.com/performance/TechnicalSupport/pdf/Bullentins/TemperatureRe
sistanceChart.pdf

http://www.sso-usa.com/performance/TechnicalSupport/pdf/Bullentins/TemperaturePr
essureFuelGaugesTroubleshootingGuide.pdf

http://www.sso-usa.com/performance/TechnicalSupport/pdf/Bullentins/TemperaturePr
essureandFuelSendersTroubleshootingGuide.pdf

> Also, it appears that on my trans (Ford E4OD) there is a hole in the middle
> of a pan to be drilled for a drain plug. Anyone know if there is a piece of
> metal inside there that can simply be tapped for a pipe thread or is there
> more involved than that?

I have never seen a pan that wasn't just thin sheet metal, never saw one
with a chunk of metal inside that could be drilled and tapped.

> nate

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