VDO Rudder-Angle Indicator Reads Erratically

[timj]

I have the VDO rudder angle indicator sender and gauge installed on our
trawler power boat.

It has started to read erratically with the needle jumping over the gauge
in a jerky fashion. It flicks hesitantly from side to side) and is basically unreadable

I have cleaned the wiring connections to the sender.

Appreciate any advice you can give me to repair (or replace) please?

It did work previously.

[Astrid]

perhaps the sender unit itself is bad?

[twistedtree]

I've got a VDO rudder position setup circa 2008. The sender unit is filled with mineral oil. Could it have leaked out? The top shell of the sender snaps together with the bottom, and there is a rubber seal between the two. I opened mine up by accident and dumped the oil which is how I know this. Just refill with oil and snap it back together it it's empty. Hopefully it's something simple like that. Otherwise I'd agree it's most likely the sender has failed.

[timj]

Thanks for suggestions. I think it probably is the sender. I did open it the other day and some oil leaked out.

This was after it became faulty.

Can you advise type of oil required as I need to top up. I have got it to work - sort of.

It flicks around the dial but now eventually settles on a reading which is about right.

[twistedtree]

Baby oil, preferably unscented. That's what VDO told me.