Hi Everyone,
I'm toying with the idea of putting some extra gauges in my '89 90q20V and I'm looking for some help/advice. Ideally, I'd like to get a set of the factory console gauges, but unfortunately they were either not available or were an extremely rare option here in Australia and so they just don't turn up at the auto wreckers here.

So as an alternative, I was thinking about getting some of the after market VDO gauges together with a 3 gauge fascia and connecting them up to the original wiring that I'm sure is hiding away behind my ashtray.

So my questions are:
Has anyone done this before, if so is it a PITA? Will after market VDO gauges (oil temp and pressure) be compatible with the factory senders, or will the Ohm ranges be all out of whack? Does anyone know what connections are available behind the ashtray (and which is which) and what wires I will have to run through the firewall? Any and all help is greatly appreciated......

 

<center><img src="http://www.mnaudi.com/members/tabularasa/Coupe_interior.jpg"></center><p>
The factory gauges are VDO. However they have very strange markings. If there are factory hookups underneath the dash, they may not read correctly with your regular gauges.

For example the oil temp gauge has a thick hash mark at 130 C. I forget what the other marks are but they are non-linear.

You can sorta see it in the pic, it's the gauge on the far left. 130 is right in the middle. I think it denotes "normal" operating temp. Two ticks over (clockwise) is another thick hash mark. I think that means "maximum".

 

I've done what youre talking about with the OEM gauges from a coupe. I dont know about aftermarket gauges, but I was able to plug the wire harness I got from the guy who sold me the gauges right into my existing connection. You'll have to make sure you have the 2 prong oil pressure sender in order to make the gauge work. I believe that the only wires you'll have to run through the firewall are the ones to the oil pressure sender and oil temp sender. Search Audifans.com and try to find the OEM equipment here in the states. They are pretty easy to find if you want to pay shipping.

 

Hokie_90, *natewhite, Myself (still in the process), and a few others have done this.

It's easy enough to do, once you have all the pieces assembled. These include: VDO gauge set, metal gauge bracket, appropriate trim pieces, 2-prong oil sensor.

Apparantly all the wiring should already be hiding somewhere at the bottom of the center consol. I have yet to confirm this on my car, but this was the case for Hokie_90 and others. So in that respect it's prettymuch plug and play. HOWEVER you will need a different oil sensor. You need a sensor with 2 prongs, where one is for the normal "dummy light", and the second is for your pressure gauge. There will be 2 plastic connectors down by this sensor. The BLUE one should be plugged in and is for the dummy light, then there should be a BLACK one hanging loose -this is your gauge-. You shouldn't have to run any wires through the firewall. If your Audi assembly team was on the ball, wires should already be in place.

Apart from that, it's just getting the bracketry and whatever trim you want. For you though, the correct brackets might be difficult to find since you have no wreckers to source from (that's where I got all my stuff.) Gauge sets come up once in a while on Ebay, and also Hokie_90 got his from a user in one of these forums (you just need to ask around.) As for trim...probably the best you could hope for is to find black, and then paint (?) it the colour of your dash -taxi pack grey-.

I believe that the brackets are all standard, so as long as it came out of a 90 (or CQ) it should mount properly. If you're interested, next time I'm at the wreckers I can pull gauges with bracket &amp; ashtray assembly (it's the last one!) from one of the 90's and FedEx it to you (for a small fee of course). Although the gauges aren't in excellent condition. There's some spots of condensation &amp; dust on the inside of the face. It's a bit noticeable, and more so if sunlight shines through it. Not the nicest looking, and I'm sure if you held out, you could get gauges in better condition. But it's up to you.

Just keep your ear to the ground. Stuff pops up more often then you'd think, yah just gotta be ontop of it.

At the bottom is a link to an auction that HAS ENDED. But it gives you a rough idea of what you should be looking for. The 2-prong oil sensor is also shown for your reference. You can buy them somewhere (probably thepartsbin.com) but I don't know where specifically...Hokie_90 does, you can ask him.

Well Duck, that's about all I know. I've assembled all the pieces save for my special wood gauge trim. But once that arrives it'll be an afternoon to get all the stuff in. Sounds like a fairly simple project to me. good luck

check yah later<ul><li><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&amp;item=2432186362&amp;cat egory=6763&amp;rd=1#ebayphotohosting">Example of ebay VDO gauge set</a></li></ul>

 

let me know if you find a set in your area and i'll come pick it up.

That is definitely my next mod!

 

Bracket -picture one-
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/53503/bracket.jpg">

Bracket -picture two-
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/53503/bracket2.jpg">

All the trim
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/53503/gauge_access1.jpg">

Small piece of trim between gauges &amp; climate control
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/53503/extra_trim2.jpg">

check yah later

 

in my area. But like I just wrote, they aren't the best looking gauges. There are dusty spots &amp; crap on the inside of the gauge lens. It's not totally noticeable, except for that it's all prettywell across the middle on each gauge. It's most noticeable when the sun hit 'em. If I were you, I'd hold out to find nicer ones. But it's up to you. BTW, I live in Vancouver British Columbia. You aren't anywhere near me, eh?

check yah later

 

seattle.

 

heh, close enough. My cousin lives in Seattle...I bust down to visit him once in a while. coo

 

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