ben_TDi

Hi guys, been reading this site quite thoroughly, as Ive just bought an A4 TDi, was wondering, after changing a blown bulb behind the mileage display (thank god it was just a bulb! p ) would it be possible to fit an instrument cluster with the all the diagnostics on (that real pretty dot matrix display ) ) as I just have a simple "idiot light" etc, and also would I need a new stalk for the trip computer et-al that would come with it?? P.S. I live in teh uk so I thinkthats where Ill have to source my parts from!! any experience/advice is much appreciated,

Thanks,
Ben

quattrofrog

Its been discussed a bit, and I'd love to do it.... but at no less than $500 new instrument clusters arent cheap. The problem is the wiring of that display, also... those dot matrix displays are shoddy, they die frequently especially in hotter climates. Its not uncommon my aunts E320 had the same problem. There are 3 cluster plugs that connect to the back of that kombinstrument cluster one on either side and one in the middle for the LCD. The trip computer variant is going to have more wires going to the middle cluster plug, Find out the pinout for this plug and you're golden as the data bus connection should be the same, the trick is going to be wiring the new stalk, because you're gonna need its pinout also. This is a good 6-8 hours of tinkering. I could do it, but right now I havent the money to spend on it as those stalks new are at least 100 quid, maybe more.

The new bulb is like a quid or two from the stealership, they come in like 3 wattages and the color of the base determines the wattage.

Ben what year is your car? I'm actually looking sooner or later to swap a mirror with somebody in the UK because I have a 96 with the mis-matched mirrors. I want to have a pair of the smaller ones but I need the Left hand side one. Used ones run 75 quid in the UK and arent available here in the US. Basically I'm looking for the UK passenger side mirror housing and mirror for swap with a US spec driver side.

ben_TDi

Yeah, I would imagine they are pretty expensive, but there are quite a few good breakers yards in my area, with alot of new(ish) cars which you can just go and "pick at" ) so i reckon if I can get a new stalk and instrument cluster, the existing wiring will already be there (can't see audi putting in a different loom because somebody ticks the "fancy display" box on the options list!)

my theory comes from the brief poke around i had last night, the temperature display only displays exterior temp, but the plug for it has 8 pins, this must be some kind of serial bus from the ecu with the temperature encoded on it, along with engine/sensor codes which the low spec unit ignores, same goes for the Uber stalk for the trip computer, it will just plug into the general loom, of which some wires will go to the ecu, although they might not be utilised, but the connectors will be the same (I hope) so its just a case of having a good look at the local breakers yard ) anyone else got any ideas on this, or know something that I should!! (like, it will all blow up in my face! p )

By the way, I have a '98 Dark metallic green A4 TDi SE 90Bhp £75 for a used mirror?? bit steep!! Maybe from an Audi specialist, but general breakers it would be about £25 I would imagine! havent really looked at prices yet though, might have to for my "project" )

Thanks,
Ben

AXE

Someone sent me the following info. I hope it helps.

Talk to me on AIM(AXE A4) or MSN(audiosaxe@hotmail.com) for more info. I managed to find someone who has done this successfully but has since sold the car.

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my '99- connectors

32 pin connector (blue)

1. terminal 15
2. turn signal, right
3. speedometer output 1
4. open
5. sender for fuel gauge
6. airbag
7. terminal 31 sensor ground (gnd)
8. coolant temperature
9. terminal 31 load ground (gnd)
10. oil pressure switch
11. engine rpm signal
12. terminal 61
13. cat
14. self leveling suspension
15. terminal 58d
16. malfunc indicator lamp (mil)
17. high beam
18. turn signal, left
19. abs
20. terminal 58s
21. door contact (driver)
22. engine coolant low
23. terminal 30
24. terminal 31 load ground (gnd)
25. k wire
26. parking light, right
27. parking light, left
28. speedometer (input)
29. brake fluid level/pressure
30. s-contact
31. seat belt buckle
32. esp


32 pin connector (green)

1. open
2. open
3. open
4. open
5. w-wire
6. tailgate (lowline)
7. brake pad (highline)
8. input for outside buzzrer ctrl (not curr assgnd)
9. input or outside chime ctrl (not curr assgnd)
10. low fuel level warning-output signal for engine conrol module
11. standing time output
12. air conditioning cutout
13. parking brake
14. electronic throttle
15. side marker light
16. open
17. open
18. open
19. open
20. open
21. oil temp
22. open
23. open
24. open
25. open
26. open
27. open
28. open
29. open
30. speedometer output 2
31. open
32. open

my 99.5+ connectors

Blue 32 pin for basic functions

1. terminal 15
2. brake pad wear
3. tachometer output 1
4. not used
5. tank sensor
6. tank warning obd 2
7. terminal 31 (sensor ground)
8. coolant temperature
9. terminal 31 (load ground)
10. oil pressure 2 (high)
11. rpm signal
12. a/c shut off
13. e-gas/glow plug control
14. level control
15. terminal 58d
16. trailer turn signal
17. high beam
18. left turn signal
19. not used
20. terminal 58s
21. driver door contact
22. low coolant
23. terminal 30
24. terminal 31 (load ground)
25. consumption signal
26. right parking light
27. left parking light
28. tachometer input
29. brake
30. s contact
31. tachometer output 2
32. esp/asr

green 32 pin for auxiliary functions

1. door contact (all doors)
2. transponder 1
3. not used
4. not used
5. W-wire
6. tailgate
7. right turn signal
8. external buzzer
9. eternal gong
10. airbag
11. stand still time output
12. terminal 61
13. parking brake
14. check
15. oil level/temperature
16. not used
17. transponder 2
18. CAN high speed (powertrain) (high+)
19. CAN high speed (powertrain) (low-)
20. CAN high speed (powertrain) (screen)
21. abs
22. CAN low speed (comfort) (high+)
23. CAN low speed (comfort) (low-)
24. CAN low speed (comfort) (screen)
25. engine lid
26. not used
27. belt buckle
28. k-wire
29. outside temperature input
30. not used
31. selector range display
32. not used

gray 32 pin connector for multifunction display
1. menu slection switch (menu)
2. menu selection switch (out A)
3. menu selection switch (out B)
4. menu selection switch (enter)
5. CAN high speed (high+)
6. CAN high speed (low-)
7. CAN high speed (screen)
8. passenger door contact
9. right rear door contact
10. left rear door contact
11. enable
12. clock
13. data
14. brake light
15. windshield washer fluid level
16. rear lights/low beams
17. left board computer
18. right board computer
19. board computer, reset
20. not used
21. not used
22. not used
23. button branch 1 navigation
24. button branch 2 navigation
25. button branch telematic
26. not used
27. not used
28. not used
29. not used
30. not used
31. not used
32. not used

quattrofrog

98 had different greens, I think 97 was the last year for emerald green pearl, which is what I have. 98 might also have a different housing, i'm not sure. Too many variations thanks to audi and their fascination with changing parts every so often.

As for the connectors. I dunno what my pinout is, but from the info provided by AXE you might be in luck, as it seems it is possible. The warnings all seem to be images in the kombinstrument cluster unit. So basically all you are doing is applying + voltage to different terminals for it to display various larger idiot lights. LOL! So like the door open ones could be wired to any of the door sensors... hmmm I love this kind of ****, I am such an ubergeek I am like pavlov's dogs salavating over the idea of this.


You know I'm gonna do this now right? Next one of these things I see on ebay i'm gonna ****** up as soon as I have the money. I'll score the stalk from a junk yard or someplace.

Thinking

AXE

Be sure to keep me informed .. i'll be taking a closer look at this in 1-2 months

AXE

Do you have AIM or MSN?