Information Center in Gauge Cluster
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AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,065
Likes: 2
From: Plano, TX
Information Center in Gauge Cluster
This has been revisited hundreds of times, but I think I may have a new angle on it.
When I bought the car, the information center looked pretty crappy - dead pixels and rows all over, never consistent, barely legible. As I understand, they get so bad you can't see anything sometimes.
People have argued that it's related to heat, but I'd like to figure out what actually fails, not just what causes it to fail. On the hottest days of the summer (105 ambient), there were days when it looked perfect and days when it looked like crap, so this leads me to believe that it's not directly heat related.
I'd like to figure out how it works so I can figure out which component actually fails and then determine what causes it to fail (or act up). Could it be a weak signal, interference, water, heat, friction, vibration, shock, or is there something I'm missing? Is the problem at the source of the signal or at the screen itself? Has anybody dissected this any further?
When I bought the car, the information center looked pretty crappy - dead pixels and rows all over, never consistent, barely legible. As I understand, they get so bad you can't see anything sometimes.
People have argued that it's related to heat, but I'd like to figure out what actually fails, not just what causes it to fail. On the hottest days of the summer (105 ambient), there were days when it looked perfect and days when it looked like crap, so this leads me to believe that it's not directly heat related.
I'd like to figure out how it works so I can figure out which component actually fails and then determine what causes it to fail (or act up). Could it be a weak signal, interference, water, heat, friction, vibration, shock, or is there something I'm missing? Is the problem at the source of the signal or at the screen itself? Has anybody dissected this any further?
Audiworld Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
can't find the reference, but I recall reading it was the chip on the ribbon cable
it isn't replaceable individually even if you could get it...
A different issue is the LEDs/backlight can go out... that seems to be only at high-temps. Screen goes darker in a small area.
I lose lines and pixels at all times & temps (including 'below the snowflake' and up to 100+) But the missing lines are different, sometimes I get one back after a while, almost like it moves to a different horizontal position. I've never been back up to full.
A different issue is the LEDs/backlight can go out... that seems to be only at high-temps. Screen goes darker in a small area.
I lose lines and pixels at all times & temps (including 'below the snowflake' and up to 100+) But the missing lines are different, sometimes I get one back after a while, almost like it moves to a different horizontal position. I've never been back up to full.
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,021
Likes: 6
From: Toronto
What fails is a ribbon that connects between the LCD and circuit board.
The heat and humidity drys the ribbon and the tiny ink synthetic lines brake down, and loose the connection, so when it is hot the ribbon expends and brakes down and you either see missing pixels or fading text, when it is cold the ribbon shrinks and your get almost perfect LCD screen
The ribbon is not replacable it comes in one piece with LCD glass
The heat and humidity drys the ribbon and the tiny ink synthetic lines brake down, and loose the connection, so when it is hot the ribbon expends and brakes down and you either see missing pixels or fading text, when it is cold the ribbon shrinks and your get almost perfect LCD screen
The ribbon is not replacable it comes in one piece with LCD glass
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,021
Likes: 6
From: Toronto
Preety much aftermarket units will have contrast background brighter then OEM, there are no aftermarket units that are the same as Oem, Most of the companies who repair them use aftermarket units from China
The Chinese LCD are ok however they have poor quality contacts that require extra soldering skills and they are very easy to damage if not solder properly, plus the ribbon is made out of hard plastic that is hard to bent around the make it fit
if you have good soldering skills and want good quality LCD no chinease and want to do it yourself contact me off line, I might be able to help you.
Oem units are very hard to get the company stopped producing them 3 years ago, and supplies have run out and they stopped making them, plus they tight the suppliers list they shorter to companies who repair for VAG only
The Chinese LCD are ok however they have poor quality contacts that require extra soldering skills and they are very easy to damage if not solder properly, plus the ribbon is made out of hard plastic that is hard to bent around the make it fit
if you have good soldering skills and want good quality LCD no chinease and want to do it yourself contact me off line, I might be able to help you.
Oem units are very hard to get the company stopped producing them 3 years ago, and supplies have run out and they stopped making them, plus they tight the suppliers list they shorter to companies who repair for VAG only
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