VDO electronic speedo conversion with part numbers and ebay links

[mark2]

I recently converted my 110 from a mechanical speedo to a VDO programmable electronic speedo. While I have an LT95, it works just as well with any LT230 running a mechanical speedo.
131197
It was motivated/necessitated by a diff ratio change to 4.11 and the fact that this seller on ebay has a number for sale at a good price:
VDO Electronic Speedo Cockpit International 12-24V 120km 100mm Diamete FREE POST | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/VDO-Electronic-Speedo-Cockpit-International-12-24V-120km-100mm-Diamete-FREE-POST/253175796557'ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649)
Get in quick because there are only 7 left at this price...(no affiliation to seller)
A 120 km/h max is enough for me and I like the detailed resolution that this scale gives, but there are are many other versions of this speedo, if your 110 is faster than mine, or you want it to look faster..
These 4" speedos drop straight in, with no modifications required to the dash.

These VDO programmable speedos will work with the Landrover sender YBE100530 which bolts straight in to either a LT95 or LT230 in place of the speedo cable:
FOR LAND ROVER DEFENDER 98-07 2.8 4.0 2.2 2.4 2.5 D GEARBOX SPEEDO SPEED SENSOR | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/FOR-LAND-ROVER-DEFENDER-98-07-2-8-4-0-2-2-2-4-2-5-D-GEARBOX-SPEEDO-SPEED-SENSOR/221746161172'ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649)

I recommend this plug, which makes the connections to the back of the VDO speedo a snap.
8 TERMINAL PLUG with terminals SUITS VDO 80/85/100mm Speedo+Tacho Gauges | eBay (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/8-TERMINAL-PLUG-with-terminals-SUITS-VDO-80-85-100mm-Speedo-Tacho-Gauges/322408016878'ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649)

If you use the YBE300530 sender (as opposed to the GPS sender option below), you also need this plug to connect to the speed transducer (TD5 tail light plug) STC4637
Anschluss-Stecker Defender Rucklicht ab '95 | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Anschluss-Stecker-Defender-R%C3%BCcklicht-ab-95/112323285258'ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649)

There are 3 wires which run between the sender at the transfer case and the speedo (+ve, -ve, signal). I used a 240v power cable with the plugs cut off and followed the old speedo cable routing. About 2.2m is needed.
Installed, it looks like this at the transfer case:
131199

Alternatively, you can use a gps sender like this one, which updates at 10 positions per second (10 Hz) as opposed to a typical smart phone gps which only updates at 1 Hz. This will give a smooth reading with no lag.
GPS speed sensor / sender, GPS receiver, speedometer sender, Navigation receiver | eBay (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/GPS-speed-sensor-sender-GPS-receiver-speedometer-sender-Navigation-receiver/261671313265'ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649)

Below are the wiring details if you use the YBE100530 3 wire sender:

VDO pin 2 (12vconnect to YBE100530 pin 1
VDO pin 3 (ground) connect to YBE100530 pin 2 and ground.
VDO pin 8 (sensor signal) connect to YBE100530 pin 3
VDO pin 4 to switched 12v input
VDO pin 6 to bridged to VDO pin 8


Its a really easy conversion, giving the benefits of a super accurate, stock looking speedo, no matter your tire size or diff ratio, smooth needle movement and much better visibility at night.

[Tombie]

Looks good Mark...

The GPS sender is a no go for legality though..
Best to stick to the sender on the box.

[mark2]

Looks good Mark...

The GPS sender is a no go for legality though..
Best to stick to the sender on the box.

Good point. And with the programmable speedo, GPS accuracy can be easily attained.

[manic]

Have had a vdo speedo on the tdi for a number of years now. Solid. Great to be able to calibrate for change in tyre sizes. Nothing bad to say about it except that the light bulb carriers have popped out a couple of times.

I found best way to calibrate is with a gps distance measuring app on a straight stretch of road, using the speedo button to log 1km. Then fine tune the pulse per km count up or down a smidge to match gps speed.

[Red90]

I see that the speedo is the Cockpit line. Does it have through dial lighting or does the lighting reflect around the dial?

[p38arover]

The GPS sender is a no go for legality though..

Who is going to know it's fitted?

[Tombie]

Who is going to know it's fitted?

True.

But.... if you live in say Sydney... going to be a little difficult to know speed when you’re in a Tunnel [emoji41]
Or in the CBD where “Canyoning” occurs...

And *may* get picked up at roadworthy inside a garage where it can not receive a signal.

[mark2]

I see that the speedo is the Cockpit line. Does it have through dial lighting or does the lighting reflect around the dial?

Its not the Vision series which is supposed to have through dial lighting and a fibre optic pointer.

But in reality, the visibility is fine (much better than the old mechanical speedo). I'm using green led's.

[mark2]

Quick update on the wire colors:
Note that the wire colors on the STC4637 plug dont align with with what you'd expect for the speed transducer pins.
Black shown in the photo above is +ve, green is -ve, red is signal (pins 1,2,3 respectively).
I tried depinning the connector but gave up before I destroyed it.

[p38arover]

True.

But.... if you live in say Sydney... going to be a little difficult to know speed when you’re in a Tunnel [emoji41]
Or in the CBD where “Canyoning” occurs...

And *may* get picked up at roadworthy inside a garage where it can not receive a signal.

I do wonder about tunnels. Do they have a leaky GPS feed in the tunnels? My cars' (both) GPS seem to continue working just fine in the M5 tunnel.

[Tombie]

GPS units nowadays tend to “calculate” and average when signal is poor or lost.

It’s possible they may have a GPS repeater in tunnels. Hmmm interesting.

[nismine01]

Any driver worth their salt will soon recognise revs and speed and the correlation so when GPS signal is not available will be able to keep speed by the tacho.

Where they could come undone is if they haven't set in their mind what revs = what speed in that gear!

Cheers

Mike

[manic]

Any driver worth their salt will soon recognise revs and speed and the correlation so when GPS signal is not available will be able to keep speed by the tacho.

Where they could come undone is if they haven't set in their mind what revs = what speed in that gear!

Cheers

MikeDo you see a tacho on the OP's dash? Suppose if you're real salty you could guage your speed on engine tone.

[BadCo.]

Do you see a tacho on the OP's dash? Suppose if you're real salty you could guage your speed on engine tone.

Boost and EGTs is how I gauge my speed :)

[manic]

Holding a wet finger out the window of a moving car to guage speed would be ridiculous.... the correct procedure, as written in all aftermarket GPS speedo user manuals, is to hold your hand flat out the window and feel for the level of resistance.

[rangieman]

Holding a wet finger out the window of a moving car to guage speed would be reduliculous.... the correct procedure, as written in all aftermarket GPS speedo user manuals, is to hold your hand flat out the window and feel for the level of resistance.
:Rolling:

[Tombie]

Any driver worth their salt will soon recognise revs and speed and the correlation so when GPS signal is not available will be able to keep speed by the tacho.

Where they could come undone is if they haven't set in their mind what revs = what speed in that gear!

Cheers

Mike

I’ll try that if I’m ever pulled over..

Sorry Officer my Tacho said I was doing 80 [emoji41]

When Eastern states are pinging drivers for +2 km/h I’d like to see how you go!

A good driver will know his vehicle but I seriously question down to the kilometre...

[Ranga]

Bugger, caught your post too late, all gone now.

My speedo has the jitters, and the trip meter doesn't zero properly (the leading 0 doesn't line up correctly).

Is it possible to update the odometer with the correct kms, or do you have to start again from zero?

[weeds]

Bugger, caught your post too late, all gone now.

My speedo has the jitters, and the trip meter doesn't zero properly (the leading 0 doesn't line up correctly).

Is it possible to update the odometer with the correct kms, or do you have to start again from zero?

Cordless drill and a cable tie......

[Red90]

Bugger, caught your post too late, all gone now.

My speedo has the jitters, and the trip meter doesn't zero properly (the leading 0 doesn't line up correctly).

Is it possible to update the odometer with the correct kms, or do you have to start again from zero?

VDO will program it for you. Some vendors can do it as will.

[VladTepes]

So with a Tdi do I need the speed transducer thing you mention (with some reference to the TD5 tail light plug?)

What was the 'good' price previously on offer?

This seems far from a cheap conversion based on current prices on links you provided (including postage).

VDO Cockpit International Speedo 0-120km/h 100mm 12/24v $213

FOR LAND ROVER DEFENDER 98-07 2.8 4.0 2.2 2.4 2.5 D GEARBOX SPEEDO SPEED SENSOR $60
(mines a 1995 is this still the correct sensor?)

8 TERMINAL PLUG with terminals SUITS VDO 80/85/100mm Speedo+Tacho Gauges $19

That's already $292.

and if this is also required "Anschluss-Stecker Defender Rücklicht ab '95" that's another $20.

Ouch.

[Red90]

That is about right on cost. But don’t get a Cockpit gauge. Get a Vision one. They are a lot nicer.

[Tins]

Holding a wet finger out the window of a moving car to guage speed would be ridiculous.... the correct procedure, as written in all aftermarket GPS speedo user manuals, is to hold your hand flat out the window and feel for the level of resistance.

This has the added advantage of allowing you to tilt your hand up and down and pretend that you are an aeroplane.

[Albert]

Speedo 120Kmh Remanufactured 100mm VDO | eBay (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Speedo-120Kmh-Remanufactured-100mm-VDO/322844362093?hash=item4b2b06056d:g:sa8AAOSwxzdZ7o3 L)

just received mine $110 + $19 for plug and bulbs + $30 for postage.
I assumed the sender I had from a Disco 1 would work, but it only has 2 terminal, the one in the link has 3. [bigsad]
Bugger, only went and got this because I thought I had the sensor.
Oh well, it can wait a bit longer, Haven't had a working speedo for 3 years

[Albert]

After looking around for a while, I found this wiring diagram.
http://www.defendersource.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=87512&d=1389196177
It shows I can use the 2 pin sender off the Disco, but it has a 120 Ohm resister on the output of it.
would anyone know if the resister is just for the link into to the ECU or needed to run the speedo as well?
Would love to try, but don't want to destroy my new speedo before i get to use it.
Another useful link, testing VDO gauges:
http://redirect.viglink.com/?format=go&jsonp=vglnk_152277008375318&key=a6771b0d4adffcc988dfff082867cfe3&libId=jfjrv9690101hgkp000DAeyhksbai&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.defendersource.com%2Fforum%2F f6%2Fvdo-speedometer-67665.html&v=1&out=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bugsandbuggies.com%2Fpdf%2Fvd o%2F0-515-012-178.pdf&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com.au%2F&title=VDO%20Speedometer%20-%20Defender%20Source&txt=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bugsandbuggies.com%2Fpdf%2Fvd o%2F0-515-012-178.pdf

[Red90]

The resistor is only if you are connecting it to a 14cux efi system. If just hooking to the speedometer you connect it across pins 7 and 8.

http://www.tachographsandspeedometers.co.za/images/electronic%20Speedometer%20Connectivity%20Diagram% 2004.jpg

[nick_e]

Does anyone know which transducer is compatible with the LT77, if there is one?

Would love to upgrade the speedo on the 110 to electronic, the cables break way too often on the original one.

[Red90]

The transducers go in the transfer case not the gearbox.

[nick_e]

Let me rephrase, can you get a transducer that fits the earlier LT230s from 200TDI model defenders?

[nick_e]

After some googling, looks like the YBE100530 will fit with a slight modification to the shaft on it.

Are the cheap YBE100530 on ebay serviceable or is it worth forking out for the genuine or vdo ones? The cheap ones are less than half the price.

[Red90]

After some googling, looks like the YBE100530 will fit with a slight modification to the shaft on it.

Are the cheap YBE100530 on ebay serviceable or is it worth forking out for the genuine or vdo ones? The cheap ones are less than half the price.

As far as I know you can only by ones made by VDO. There are no other options.

With some early boxes the box side is a bit too big so you need to add a bit or girth to the transducer.

[nick_e]

As far as I know you can only by ones made by VDO. There are no other options.

With some early boxes the box side is a bit too big so you need to add a bit or girth to the transducer.

Really? They look very similar.

FOR LAND ROVER DEFENDER 98-07 2.8 4.0 2.2 2.4 2.5 D GEARBOX SPEEDO SPEED SENSOR | eBay (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/FOR-LAND-ROVER-DEFENDER-98-07-2-8-4-0-2-2-2-4-2-5-D-GEARBOX-SPEEDO-SPEED-SENSOR/221528987944?hash=item3394281928:g:vysAAOSwVFlT9hZ D)
FOR LAND ROVER DEFENDER 98-07 2.8 4.0 2.2 2.4 2.5 D GEARBOX SPEEDO SPEED SENSOR | eBay (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/FOR-LAND-ROVER-DEFENDER-98-07-2-8-4-0-2-2-2-4-2-5-D-GEARBOX-SPEEDO-SPEED-SENSOR/161264748830?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.M BE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D20140106155344%26meid%3D76ec33 ee208b4fe0b917e57d03fcf53c%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1 %26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D221528987944%26itm%3D16126474883 0&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851)

[nick_e]

Maybe this is the one I should be using? Looks much smaller...

FOR LAND ROVER DEFENDEROVERY Mk1 300 Tdi 1989-98 GEARBOX SPEEDO SPEED SENSOR | eBay (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/FOR-LAND-ROVER-DEFENDEROVERY-Mk1-300-Tdi-1989-98-GEARBOX-SPEEDO-SPEED-SENSOR/151267914327?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.M BE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D20140106155344%26meid%3D30bc43 4a3ea2454ca9fc2e8171adbee3%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D4 %26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D161264748830%26itm%3D15126791432 7&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851)

[Red90]

Maybe this is the one I should be using? Looks much smaller...

FOR LAND ROVER DEFENDEROVERY Mk1 300 Tdi 1989-98 GEARBOX SPEEDO SPEED SENSOR | eBay (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/FOR-LAND-ROVER-DEFENDEROVERY-Mk1-300-Tdi-1989-98-GEARBOX-SPEEDO-SPEED-SENSOR/151267914327?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.M BE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D20140106155344%26meid%3D30bc43 4a3ea2454ca9fc2e8171adbee3%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D4 %26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D161264748830%26itm%3D15126791432 7&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851)

That style is not as good.

[dickyjoe]

Just read this thread. I've often thought a GPS speed sensor would be the way to go.

What would even be better is if you could fail back to the gearbox if the GPS signal was lost in a tunnel, etc. And the ability to adjust the output from the gearbox unit.

Rich

[BadCo.]

The VDO electronic ones are programmable, for example when you change to larger or smaller tires.

[rijidij]

I did this conversion in my County. The VDO speedo is easy to program for whatever setup you have and very accurate.

[eeyore]

So I've collected all the pieces to do this conversion but on attempting to fit the sensor it seems I've somehow order the wrong part. I order a YBE100530 from eBay which looks like this:

146770

A bit of googling suggests it should have the alloy collar like this:

146771

Does anyone know if the Land Rover part number- i.e. YBE100530 - should include the collar ? That is, is the part I bought actually just the VDO component rather than actually a (complete) YBE100530? Obviously, if I was replacing a dead sensor on a TD5 I could just remove the nut and fit the collar from the existing sensor...

[CraigE]

Looks good Mark...

The GPS sender is a no go for legality though..
Best to stick to the sender on the box.

Dont know about that plenty of new cars using gps speedos and more accurate than the Defender transducer if any changes are made.

[steveG]

The resistor is only if you are connecting it to a 14cux efi system. If just hooking to the speedometer you connect it across pins 7 and 8.

http://www.tachographsandspeedometers.co.za/images/electronic%20Speedometer%20Connectivity%20Diagram% 2004.jpg

Having just done an electronic speedo conversion on my County/LT95 - I can confirm the above info is correct if using the YBE100540 sender (from D1 etc). Connect the sender to pins 7&8 on the speedo.

NB - seems there are 2 different square drives in the transfer case drive gears. The original one on my county had a slightly larger size so the sender shaft was a bit sloppy.
I've since read on a couple of UK sites that its a known issue. Some people fitted a square brass sleeve to overcome it.
I ended up using the matching drive gear from the disco that donated the sender. Disco one is a different colour gear and no. of teeth, but not a drama since the speedo is calibrated to suit anyway.

EDIT: I'd be really interested to confirm if there's a difference in the square shaft size between the 2 senders if someone has a Defender style YBE100530 sender lying around and could measure it.

Steve

[Ranga]

Anyone know if it's possible to set the odometer to show the correct kms driven?

[steveG]

I recall doing a bit of research when I installed mine, and couldn’t find any reference to it being done.
Definitely not at a consumer level anyway - but being electronic I’m sure someone cluey enough could achieve it.

Steve

[Red90]

Anyone know if it's possible to set the odometer to show the correct kms driven?

Yes. You need to get it done by an authorized VDO service center. They usually will do it for free.

[Ranga]

My speedo is on it's last legs. I'm a bit confused about part numbers to swap to an electronic unit (not GPS), and need to know what part numbers I need. Howard Instruments have confirmed if I buy a speedo from them I can request a mileage on the odometer and they'll set it for free. Anyone able to list the part numbers I need for my 95 Defender so I don't get it wrong?