Instrument Cluster problem
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Joined: Oct 2005
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Instrument Cluster problem
My whole Instrument Cluster had been acting up ever since i got my car back from a shop for a job that involved changing Timing belt, water pump, coolant tank, cam chain tensioner...etc, but nothing electrical at all. (BTW, my car is 97 A4 1.8T manual quattro)
The symptomns of the current problem is that the entire instrument cluster keeps turning ON and OFF while driving. The effect is that all the needles (RPM, gas, speed) will all swing up as the cluster is turned on, and then drop as the cluster is turned off. This happends repeatedly while driving the car. Also in effect, it's logging fewer miles.
There's also a little tad-tad noise right behind the emergency light switch in the center console.
Other than these 2 issues, there's absolutely no other electrical problem (oh, 2 bulbs are out in the instrument cluster).
So i wonder if anyone has any idea what's wrong. Is it a Load Reduction Relay problem? I don't have a lot of electrical or car repair knowledge but i'm starting to learn, any pointers on how to diagnose the problem would be much appreciated.
The symptomns of the current problem is that the entire instrument cluster keeps turning ON and OFF while driving. The effect is that all the needles (RPM, gas, speed) will all swing up as the cluster is turned on, and then drop as the cluster is turned off. This happends repeatedly while driving the car. Also in effect, it's logging fewer miles.
There's also a little tad-tad noise right behind the emergency light switch in the center console.
Other than these 2 issues, there's absolutely no other electrical problem (oh, 2 bulbs are out in the instrument cluster).
So i wonder if anyone has any idea what's wrong. Is it a Load Reduction Relay problem? I don't have a lot of electrical or car repair knowledge but i'm starting to learn, any pointers on how to diagnose the problem would be much appreciated.
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Joined: Sep 2003
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no idea, but check your connections to the back of the cluster. Since you have a few
<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/63206/clip.jpg"></center><p>
bulbs out, use that as an excuse to remove the cluster and replace the bulbs.
I'd replace all of the bulbs at once (search for a bulb number cause I have no clue)
Maybe the shop was thinking of doing you a favor and decided to fix it but ended up f-ing it up. The cluster is easy to remove.
Tilt your wheel in the fully down position
remove the trim piece between the top of the steering column and the dash (just clips in there... pull towards you)
move the accordion trim out of your way and remove the two torx (unknown size) screws.
Pull the left side of the cluster out slightly to access the 3 wiring harnesses
Unclip the harnesses. two have little levers on them that you move up to disconnect.
Push the left side of the cluster back into the dash and pull the whole cluster out straight.
Once out, remove the torx screws and unclip the back of the cluster.. be careful not to break it... you'll kinda have to work around the cluster making sure that they don't reclip themselves as you unclip the others.
Find the bulbs and replace them. (I never replaced my bulbs but I have removed and disassembled my cluster many times.
bulbs out, use that as an excuse to remove the cluster and replace the bulbs.
I'd replace all of the bulbs at once (search for a bulb number cause I have no clue)
Maybe the shop was thinking of doing you a favor and decided to fix it but ended up f-ing it up. The cluster is easy to remove.
Tilt your wheel in the fully down position
remove the trim piece between the top of the steering column and the dash (just clips in there... pull towards you)
move the accordion trim out of your way and remove the two torx (unknown size) screws.
Pull the left side of the cluster out slightly to access the 3 wiring harnesses
Unclip the harnesses. two have little levers on them that you move up to disconnect.
Push the left side of the cluster back into the dash and pull the whole cluster out straight.
Once out, remove the torx screws and unclip the back of the cluster.. be careful not to break it... you'll kinda have to work around the cluster making sure that they don't reclip themselves as you unclip the others.
Find the bulbs and replace them. (I never replaced my bulbs but I have removed and disassembled my cluster many times.
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