FE-FC Holden Discussion Forum

 hi all i have a new vdo temp gauge installed in my grey motored fc ute i connected the sender wire to the sender in the cylinder head and had no movement on the gauge i think it may be because the sender only goes to an idiot light in the dash .has any one else  had this problem and is the cure a new sender unit from a later model with a gauge and if so which model all suggestions gratefully accepted cheers clive

The guage should have come with it's own sender in the packaging, you'd be right about the original sender.

Clive,

The original Holden sender is an on/off switch - it's normally "off", but turns "on" once you get to the "oh crap - too hot!" temperature. It won't drive a temperature gauge. To run the gauge, you need a sender that is always "on" - at low temp it is "a little bit on", and as things get hotter it gets "a little more on". Give the VDO guys a yell - they should be able to supply the right sender. You will need to think about where you are going to mount the sender though:
 :) replace the original sender (then you get no idiot light),
 :) tee into the original sender hole (then you get crappy temperature readings as the sender has no flow going past it),
 :) use the second hole in the cylinder head (only good if you have a later FB/EK/EJ grey motor head),
 :) use the spare hole in the thermostat housing (if you have an FX/FJ/FE/FC thermostat housing),
 :) tap a new hole into the thermostat housing (if you have a later FB/EK/EJ thermostat housing),
 :) try to find a sender that inserts under the radiator hose (similar to the Davies Craig thermofan senders).

Cheers,
Harv.

thanks for the  fast responce i will get onto vdo and get them to send me a new sender unit i will then fit it in the original hole with an adapter if neccisary once again thank you