Vdo Boost Gauge Noise?

[jschaefer7406]

Hello all,

Purchased a VDO Cockpit international series boost gauge (P/N 150921) in September and had some trouble with a loud metallic ticking noise (mostly on initial throttle lift, sounded like an old analog alarm clock bell). Could be easily heard over the radio. Also was reading innacurately on the vacuum scale (saw only 19" vacuum maximum on decel @ 65 mph; had 26" with old VDO gauge). Anyway, gauge was new from an Ebay VDO vendor. He refused to take it back and VDO said I had to go through the vendor. So, $32 lost...

Purchased another VDO gauge last week (Vision series this time, P/N 150121). Love this gauge, backlit and has a nice stock look. Installed it yesterday and have the same intermittent noise, this time very quiet and tolerable. Still there though . Anyone else have this? Old gauge was a VDO Cockpit series and had a shallow plastic housing. Both new ones are deeper and have metal housings, so a 90° elbow was used, then a barbed fitting, then into an OEM vacuum elbow and to the engine with OEM piping from a stock 850 Turbo gauge. Never had trouble with the old gauge, was always quiet and very responsive. Therefore, I believe it's not the plumbing but an internal issue. Thoughts?

Any help is greatly appreciated,

Joe

[Gage]

off topic how is it we live what like 15min from each other and havbe not metup yet ?

on topic i never had a vdo gauge but i do have a pro-sport that is making noise aswell its just the mech one but it makes a buzzing sound when the backlight comes on

[jschaefer7406]

Hello,

Not sure how we've never met . Almost did once, you had a muffler for my Wife's 850T. Never made it out though ...

On a side note, aren't you looking for an S70 spoiler? My brother has one, has the brake light for the 850 though. If you're interested, he could use the money for Christmas and you wouldn't have to pay shipping . May work out for both of you.

As for the gauge, this noise is very quiet in the new gauge. Still kinda bugs me though. Not sure if its normal, or something I can fix? May try the 1/8" nylon tubing that is typically used. Hate to go through the trouble though, as I don't see why the setup on there now would cause the noise (being a thick-walled nylon tubing also).

Thanks,

Joe

[T5power]

i have the VDO gauge too, it makes that same noise ever since i installed it. like the spring bouncing off of itself when the throttle is released or something

[jschaefer7406]

T5,

Thanks man, good to know. I assume you're using the normal 1/8" gauge tubing?

Glad it's not just me

Thanks,

Joe

[T5power]

T5,

Thanks man, good to know. I assume you're using the normal 1/8" gauge tubing?

Glad it's not just me

Thanks,

Joe

yup yup. everything reads normal. i'd like to take the gauge apart and see if something can be greased up or something :)

[jschaefer7406]

Hello all,

On a similar note, what is everyone using for plumbing on these gauges? I originally had 1/8" copper when first installed in '08, but it made a racket. Tried that after using the 1/8" nylon VDO tubing and having kinks everywhere (from being coiled so tightly when packaged) by the time I had it routed. That's when I installed the larger nylon tubing from the 850T. Is that maybe contributing to the noise?

Other concern is the depth. I can push the gauge in easily until flush, but it pops back out 1/16"-1/8". Tried wrapping the gauge housing with tape to make a tighter fit, but still popping back out. IPD pod. Any ideas?

Thanks,

Joe

[loseR99]

I had a VDO cockpit series that did that, it was a 0-30psi gauge. I then replaced it with a VDO 30inhg - 30psi vac/boost gauge and it never happened. Luck of the draw perhaps?

Also, had nylon tubing kit on both of those vdo gauges with compression fittings and it read fairly accurately.

On my current gauge, Marshall Instruments mechanical, it came with softer tubing, unlike the stuff from Pep Boys. It was a lot easier to deal with, more pliable for routing and easier to straighten kinks. I've also seen guys use Nitrile hose and swear by it, but it just always seemed flimsy, why not just go with silicone.

The Prosport gauge i installed in my dad's S60 has tubing similar to mine, the softer hose, also has an inline filter for the pressure sensor (electronic gauge).

[jschaefer7406]

Hello,

Thanks for the reply. New gauge noise is tolerable, wondering if maybe I need a restrictor. As for the reading, I assume its reading fairly accurately, but not 100% where my original Cockpit series read. Old read 22" warm idle, new reads 20". Old read 26" full decel, new reads 23-24". Do these numbers sound right for 2000 S70, or is the new gauge off?

Loved the original Cockpit series gauge, wish it read to 20 ...

Thanks,

Joe

[EdubT5m]

i have a slight noise out of my vdo as well. i learned to live with it. other than that the gauge seems to be really great and accurate