BBA Reman'd cluster not working! Did I install in wrong?

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Sep 10, 2008 | 01:38 PM

thwyld1

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BBA Reman'd cluster not working! Did I install in wrong?

I just got my cluster back from BBA Reman and plugged it in. The car starts for 1 second and then shuts it off. The immobilizer icon on the cluster is flashing. I'm guessing that's the culprit. Any ideas as to what is going on? Did they send me someone else's cluster? I doubt it...but you never know. Also, I only plugged in in and don't have it completely in the dash. I can't imagine that it has any way of knowing that....can it?

Please Help!

Sep 10, 2008 | 03:02 PM

BluHeaven

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do you have a vag-com? there's a procedure you have to follow to install a cluster

even if it is the one that came with the car.

Sep 10, 2008 | 04:04 PM

jhoeppel

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Really? isn't that the advantage with having your own cluster repaired?

I thought it was simply a drop back in and fire it up process; no need to recode it because it's the cluster you pulled out several days earlier. I do know that you can pull your cluster out (even one with an immobilizer), fiddle with it and reinstall it without having to do anything with your Vag-Com--I've done that.

I was going to send my <repair denied by AoA> cluster to BBA-Reman this fall. Now I'll have to sleuth this out a bit more first.

~john

Sep 10, 2008 | 04:46 PM

thwyld1

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I was under the impression that it was plug n go.

I've contacted BBA Reman and should have an answer in the morning. I was hoping it was an easy fix and something that someone else had screwed up before me. I'll post my solution once I figure it out.

Thanks

Sep 11, 2008 | 04:36 AM

thwyld1

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Apparently, since I did not unhook my battery before pulling my cluster.....

I have to recode to get the immobilizer to stop being an *******. Does this sound correct? I really wish I had known that. Can I recode myself if I find a VagCom? or do I have to get my car towed to a dealer?

Thanks

Sep 11, 2008 | 05:01 PM

jhoeppel

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I've pulled my cluster out without unhooking the battery.. >>

fiddled with the connectors and reinstalled it. All without recoding it with my Vag-com. So I'm not sure this makes sense to me.

I will check with my Bentley but...

~john

Sep 11, 2008 | 05:09 PM

thwyld1

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FIXED!!!!! All I had to do was plug in the cluster, put the key in and let it sit...

for about 30 min. BBA Reman claims that it is resetting the immobilizer. They conveniently placed a barely bigger than a business card sized instruction sheet at the bottom of the box under about 2 gallons of packing peanuts. I guess I should have known to look there.....

Anyway, good to go now and the cluster appears to be good as new! Thanks to BBA Remanufacturing for saving me about $750.