need 4 new gauges for 1997 speedster

[Nathan Mayo]

My service tech says all 4 gauges are shot. Local Seadoo Dealer says they are unavailable and he can't help. Duh ! I cannot belive that new gauges for a 15 yr old boat are not out there somewhere./U]

I am told that originals were made by VDO, but I haven't been able to verify this and so far I am having no luck on the web, but maybe I can call VDO or Seadoo directly on the good old telephone. In the meantime, does anyone have any ideas?

When I check the microfiche diagrams that all the Seadoo parts places have online I can't seem to find gauges listed anywhere. I feel stupid. Can anyone enlighten me on this ? Surely I am not the only guy who ever needed new gauges for one of these things. They seem to die on a fairly regular basis, so I would think the vendors would have them readily available. I have had no trouble getting new parts for my 35 yr old Datsun 280Z. Are boats that much different when it come to stocking new replacement parts?

Nathan Mayo

 

[Dr Honda]

Yes... boats are that different. Also... not all old car parts are available. Sure... you can get parts for that car because there is a cult following in the Nissan world for the Z cars. Not to mention 100's of thousands of those cars were sold world wide. But... try to get parts (other than generic) for the same era Jensen Rocket III and there will be noting available.


Now... with most other boats... the gauges start life as being generic. SO.. all you have to do is go to your local boat shop and buy some Telefex gauges and bolt them in. You can still do that with your boat... but if you want OE gauges... you have to look at the surplus shops... or eBay.

 

[Nathan Mayo]

You are a prince. I was hoping that the solution would be as you describe, but my tech seems to think that gauges are specific to their sending units, and that there will be voltage, resistance, and other electrical voo-doo problems if we try to go generic outside of " The Seadoo family". Please tell me he is wrong. Is it really just as simple as finding the right size gauge to fit the hole in the dash and slapping it in? If so, I will reccommend you for sainthood.

Sorry I cannot help you with the Jensen Rocket III, but my Z does look and run very well.............Thanks, Nathan Mayo

 

[ocod]

Try patriceg007. Send him a pm
He parts out boats.

 

[Dr Honda]

but my tech seems to think that gauges are specific to their sending units....

They are. If you want to use generic gauges, you need their senders also.

 

[Nathan Mayo]

Apparently seadoo gauges are different

The guy at West Marine agreed with you, and for awhile I had hope. I called my tech so I could come pick up the gauges and compare them at the boat store, but he had been on the phone with Teleflex and VDO, and they both said it won't work and I have to get the ones specifically for the Speedster. I have ordered a shop manual. Apparently generic gauges have 3 wires and Doos have 5. Hmmmm.....maybe those ther 2 wires are to make the gauge lights work?

Maybe I am not dead yet. I WAS pretty disappointed with the lack of help/knowledge of my local Seadoo dealer, whose only counsel was "They are unavailable".

Will let you know how it all pans out. I know the beast runs fine without the gauges, but I'd like to at least know how much gas I have in the tank..........not sure I trust the reserve switch to get me home.

Nathan Mayo

Yes... boats are that different. Also... not all old car parts are available. Sure... you can get parts for that car because there is a cult following in the Nissan world for the Z cars. Not to mention 100's of thousands of those cars were sold world wide. But... try to get parts (other than generic) for the same era Jensen Rocket III and there will be noting available.


Now... with most other boats... the gauges start life as being generic. SO.. all you have to do is go to your local boat shop and buy some Telefex gauges and bolt them in. You can still do that with your boat... but if you want OE gauges... you have to look at the surplus shops... or eBay.

 

[merc596]

I have seen the guages on eBay and the challenger and a couple of other sea doo boats and ski's used the same guages as the 1997 speedster. However, I am slightly confused as I have a 1997 speedster and only have 3 guages (2 tachs, and 1 speedometer) what is the 4th guage?