Board logo

Ford Coolant Temp Sensor With VDO Gauge
bombero - 23/12/14 at 10:26 AM

Does anyone know if you can successfully run the Ford standard coolant temp sensor (the one fitted into the top of the thermostat housing at the gearbox end of the cylinder head) with a VDO gauge? I know that some VDO gauge/sender combos require to both be VDO items. My current set-up is an early zetec with a housing fitted with a single contact VDO temp sensor and separate earth wire.

big-vee-twin - 23/12/14 at 06:30 PM

The guage and sensor have to be matched to be acurate.

bombero - 24/12/14 at 07:45 AM

quote:
Originally posted by big-vee-twin
The guage and sensor have to be matched to be acurate.


This is what I was thinking. Is there anyone out there that has managed to source (suss) a way in which the Ford sender works with the VDO gauge? I'm sure I've seen kitcars fitted out like this...?

Paul Turner - 24/12/14 at 12:13 PM

In the early Zetec stat housing (plastic or alloy) there are 2 temp senders. The one at the top with the large thread is for the ECU, the one nearer the bottom with the small thread is for the temp gauge.

But for a VDO gauge you need a matching VDO sender. Got a VDO gauge in mine with the correct VDO sender simply screwed into the lower small thread. If its a single cable sender like mine in a plastic housing you need to earth the sender body or it will not work.