Temperature gauge broken on defender, what are my options?

Just took a look on ebay and they seen to fetch up to £30 even for a second hand item (which is likely to break again given the age)

What are my options? has anybody fit aftermarket gauges before, what would be involved, is there a guide anywhere? (i used the search function but couldn't find anything)
Its a 1985 90 with disco 200TDI

I need a cheaper more reliable solution

I have two 200tdis and both have a proper capilliary temp gauge fitted dead accurate, highly recommended, the supplied adaptor fitted both my 200 engines, 1xdisco and 1xdef lump, naturally yours may be different.

This type, Im sure you can find cheaper, but probably not by a lot.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TIM-52mm-...hash=item20fdea3f35:m:mMDByrtDiLASZGoVOXt-Hwg

As above, fit a capillary gauge or an aftermarket electrical one with matching sender (plenty of options available for both types).

Personally I run a full set of Durite gauges on my 300TDi, the temp gauge appears more accurate than the OE item.

Vdo gauge and sender and dedicated wire

Might get one of those, oe gauge is poo IMO

Best thing with the capilliary ones is no power or wiring required, just swap the std bulb holder over to the new gauge, job done.

lynall said:

Best thing with the capilliary ones is no power or wiring required, just swap the std bulb holder over to the new gauge, job done.

Click to expand...

So that one posted will fit will it? If so will purchase - the oe gauge is vague as hell lol

Yes the one posted fitted both my def and disco 200 engines, even if it doesnt its just a cheap adaptor required.
So accurate I could tell you to within a hundred yards on my regular commute where the stat fully opens as you watch the temp go above normal, then stat opens and temp drops below normal then stabilises at running temp, sadly in the winter you can also see it drop below normal in line with the heater getting weaker and you freezing!

Cool. Purchased!

What gauge do you have in there? Original? Do you have the correct sender unit for it? What engine did it have originally?

Have you tried directly earthing the gauge with a fly lead to make sure its actually broken?

How did you get on with the fuel gauge?

done a bit of testing this evening, Temp Gauge is fine, green power feed seems to have lost power (was working before so perhaps popped a fuse,
When i go straight from the green / black sender wire to earth it reads full, this tells me that the sender / fuel level sensor is faulty.
So 2 issues really, replace fuel sender, replace fuse to power feed wire.

That should be the fuel gauge sorted then i'll move on to the temp gauge.

(hope that makes sense, i confuse myself with electrics)

Your tank will have the sender and pick up pipe in one unit I suspect. Next thing to do would be to whip it out and put a multimeter across it, it works like a variable resistor which basically comprises of a contact arm sweeping along a wire coil, it may just need a clean but you have to take its casing off first which isn't designed to come apart, when you whip the sender out you will see what I mean. Put the meter across it and check resistance as you sweep the senders float throughout its travel,

Another thing to check is the low fuel light, It may be that if the light works, so should the sender, but its been a while since I had one apart so I may be wrong.

Ordered a new fuel sender as i believe this to be the fault, will soon see.
Browsing ebay i found this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-52mm-Un...696283?hash=item3cfc0c355b:g:in8AAOSwstxVeqZY

I have read on more than one occasion that any universal electric gauge will work in conjunction with the original defender fuel sender, can anybody confirm this?
The reason i ask is that i just bought the water temp gauge and sender plus a volt gauge exactly the same style, would be nice to have a matching set.

Many of the gauges come with a matched sender. If it does, it makes sense to use it. If it doesn't you need to check that the new gauge/sender combination are reading correctly - maybe with an infra red thermometer or similar.