Instrument cluster dead in the cold
 

I've got a problem with the gf's 2001 Audi A3. The instrument cluster is
completely dead first thing in the morning when the car is cold, but after
about 20 minutes of driving the whole thing pops into life. The car starts
up fine, its just that you're driving with a completely inert display.. no
speedo, fuel gauges, temp, clock etc..

I've taken out the cluster and checked that the connectors going into it
aren't loose and I've also replaced all the fuses relating to the instrument
panel but its still there. Today I called up Audi and they said it sounds
like it needs a new instrument cluster which will cost serious £££.

Any other hints?

Re: Instrument cluster dead in the cold
 

"Don Turner" <leavemealone@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:427bb667$0$2600$da0feed9@news.zen.co.uk...
> I've got a problem with the gf's 2001 Audi A3. The instrument cluster is
> completely dead first thing in the morning when the car is cold, but after
> about 20 minutes of driving the whole thing pops into life. The car starts
> up fine, its just that you're driving with a completely inert display.. no
> speedo, fuel gauges, temp, clock etc..
>
> I've taken out the cluster and checked that the connectors going into it
> aren't loose and I've also replaced all the fuses relating to the
instrument
> panel but its still there. Today I called up Audi and they said it sounds
> like it needs a new instrument cluster which will cost serious £££.

sell it/px it while its warm

Re: Instrument cluster dead in the cold
 

"Don Turner" <leavemealone@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:427bb667$0$2600$da0feed9@news.zen.co.uk...
> I've got a problem with the gf's 2001 Audi A3. The instrument cluster is
> completely dead first thing in the morning when the car is cold, but after
> about 20 minutes of driving the whole thing pops into life. The car starts
> up fine, its just that you're driving with a completely inert display.. no
> speedo, fuel gauges, temp, clock etc..
>
> I've taken out the cluster and checked that the connectors going into it
> aren't loose and I've also replaced all the fuses relating to the
instrument
> panel but its still there. Today I called up Audi and they said it sounds
> like it needs a new instrument cluster which will cost serious £££.

sell it/px it while its warm

Re: Instrument cluster dead in the cold
 

"Don Turner" <leavemealone@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:427bb667$0$2600$da0feed9@news.zen.co.uk...
> I've got a problem with the gf's 2001 Audi A3. The instrument cluster is
> completely dead first thing in the morning when the car is cold, but after
> about 20 minutes of driving the whole thing pops into life. The car starts
> up fine, its just that you're driving with a completely inert display.. no
> speedo, fuel gauges, temp, clock etc..
>
> I've taken out the cluster and checked that the connectors going into it
> aren't loose and I've also replaced all the fuses relating to the
instrument
> panel but its still there. Today I called up Audi and they said it sounds
> like it needs a new instrument cluster which will cost serious £££.

sell it/px it while its warm

Re: Instrument cluster dead in the cold
 

> I've got a problem with the gf's 2001 Audi A3. The instrument cluster is
> completely dead first thing in the morning when the car is cold, but after
> about 20 minutes of driving the whole thing pops into life. The car starts
> up fine, its just that you're driving with a completely inert display.. no
> speedo, fuel gauges, temp, clock etc..

Is it only when the weather's cold or when the car's cold? It sounds to me
like a bad connection that gets made when the area heats up. Possibly a
cracked track or dry solder joint on the circuit board. I doubt it needs a
new panel but possibly a bit diagnosis with a multimeter and then a simple
fix.

Try putting it in the fridge or freezer for a few hours then check
connectivity on the PCB tracks. Multimeters are pretty cheap from Maplins or
similar. Soldering is easy but there's a knack so if you're not confident,
get someone who is.

Alternatively you could try sourcing a 2nd hand cluster from a similar car
to test if it's the cluster or not.

Re: Instrument cluster dead in the cold
 

> I've got a problem with the gf's 2001 Audi A3. The instrument cluster is
> completely dead first thing in the morning when the car is cold, but after
> about 20 minutes of driving the whole thing pops into life. The car starts
> up fine, its just that you're driving with a completely inert display.. no
> speedo, fuel gauges, temp, clock etc..

Is it only when the weather's cold or when the car's cold? It sounds to me
like a bad connection that gets made when the area heats up. Possibly a
cracked track or dry solder joint on the circuit board. I doubt it needs a
new panel but possibly a bit diagnosis with a multimeter and then a simple
fix.

Try putting it in the fridge or freezer for a few hours then check
connectivity on the PCB tracks. Multimeters are pretty cheap from Maplins or
similar. Soldering is easy but there's a knack so if you're not confident,
get someone who is.

Alternatively you could try sourcing a 2nd hand cluster from a similar car
to test if it's the cluster or not.

Re: Instrument cluster dead in the cold
 

> I've got a problem with the gf's 2001 Audi A3. The instrument cluster is
> completely dead first thing in the morning when the car is cold, but after
> about 20 minutes of driving the whole thing pops into life. The car starts
> up fine, its just that you're driving with a completely inert display.. no
> speedo, fuel gauges, temp, clock etc..

Is it only when the weather's cold or when the car's cold? It sounds to me
like a bad connection that gets made when the area heats up. Possibly a
cracked track or dry solder joint on the circuit board. I doubt it needs a
new panel but possibly a bit diagnosis with a multimeter and then a simple
fix.

Try putting it in the fridge or freezer for a few hours then check
connectivity on the PCB tracks. Multimeters are pretty cheap from Maplins or
similar. Soldering is easy but there's a knack so if you're not confident,
get someone who is.

Alternatively you could try sourcing a 2nd hand cluster from a similar car
to test if it's the cluster or not.

Re: Instrument cluster dead in the cold
 

"Dave" <dave@nobody.com> wrote in message
news:%CQee.20430$Y46.14728@newsfe1-win.ntli.net...
>> I've got a problem with the gf's 2001 Audi A3. The instrument cluster is
>> completely dead first thing in the morning when the car is cold, but
>> after about 20 minutes of driving the whole thing pops into life. The car
>> starts up fine, its just that you're driving with a completely inert
>> display.. no speedo, fuel gauges, temp, clock etc..
>
> Is it only when the weather's cold or when the car's cold? It sounds to me
> like a bad connection that gets made when the area heats up. Possibly a
> cracked track or dry solder joint on the circuit board. I doubt it needs a
> new panel but possibly a bit diagnosis with a multimeter and then a simple
> fix.
>
> Try putting it in the fridge or freezer for a few hours then check
> connectivity on the PCB tracks. Multimeters are pretty cheap from Maplins
> or similar. Soldering is easy but there's a knack so if you're not
> confident, get someone who is.
>
> Alternatively you could try sourcing a 2nd hand cluster from a similar car
> to test if it's the cluster or not.

Hi Dave,

It only happens when the weather is cold. For example when I park over-night
in a garage which is heated the cluster works first time. Also if I start
the car for the first time when its been sitting in the sun (mid afternoon)
it is also fine.

You may be right with respect to it being a bad solder joint or track
however I would do more damage than good if I attempted to find it. I opened
up the cluster earlier and there are dozens of surface mounted chips with
tiny solder joints.

Does anyone know of a good circuit board electrician in London or the home
counties??

Cheers
Don

Re: Instrument cluster dead in the cold
 

"Dave" <dave@nobody.com> wrote in message
news:%CQee.20430$Y46.14728@newsfe1-win.ntli.net...
>> I've got a problem with the gf's 2001 Audi A3. The instrument cluster is
>> completely dead first thing in the morning when the car is cold, but
>> after about 20 minutes of driving the whole thing pops into life. The car
>> starts up fine, its just that you're driving with a completely inert
>> display.. no speedo, fuel gauges, temp, clock etc..
>
> Is it only when the weather's cold or when the car's cold? It sounds to me
> like a bad connection that gets made when the area heats up. Possibly a
> cracked track or dry solder joint on the circuit board. I doubt it needs a
> new panel but possibly a bit diagnosis with a multimeter and then a simple
> fix.
>
> Try putting it in the fridge or freezer for a few hours then check
> connectivity on the PCB tracks. Multimeters are pretty cheap from Maplins
> or similar. Soldering is easy but there's a knack so if you're not
> confident, get someone who is.
>
> Alternatively you could try sourcing a 2nd hand cluster from a similar car
> to test if it's the cluster or not.

Hi Dave,

It only happens when the weather is cold. For example when I park over-night
in a garage which is heated the cluster works first time. Also if I start
the car for the first time when its been sitting in the sun (mid afternoon)
it is also fine.

You may be right with respect to it being a bad solder joint or track
however I would do more damage than good if I attempted to find it. I opened
up the cluster earlier and there are dozens of surface mounted chips with
tiny solder joints.

Does anyone know of a good circuit board electrician in London or the home
counties??

Cheers
Don

Re: Instrument cluster dead in the cold
 

"Dave" <dave@nobody.com> wrote in message
news:%CQee.20430$Y46.14728@newsfe1-win.ntli.net...
>> I've got a problem with the gf's 2001 Audi A3. The instrument cluster is
>> completely dead first thing in the morning when the car is cold, but
>> after about 20 minutes of driving the whole thing pops into life. The car
>> starts up fine, its just that you're driving with a completely inert
>> display.. no speedo, fuel gauges, temp, clock etc..
>
> Is it only when the weather's cold or when the car's cold? It sounds to me
> like a bad connection that gets made when the area heats up. Possibly a
> cracked track or dry solder joint on the circuit board. I doubt it needs a
> new panel but possibly a bit diagnosis with a multimeter and then a simple
> fix.
>
> Try putting it in the fridge or freezer for a few hours then check
> connectivity on the PCB tracks. Multimeters are pretty cheap from Maplins
> or similar. Soldering is easy but there's a knack so if you're not
> confident, get someone who is.
>
> Alternatively you could try sourcing a 2nd hand cluster from a similar car
> to test if it's the cluster or not.

Hi Dave,

It only happens when the weather is cold. For example when I park over-night
in a garage which is heated the cluster works first time. Also if I start
the car for the first time when its been sitting in the sun (mid afternoon)
it is also fine.

You may be right with respect to it being a bad solder joint or track
however I would do more damage than good if I attempted to find it. I opened
up the cluster earlier and there are dozens of surface mounted chips with
tiny solder joints.

Does anyone know of a good circuit board electrician in London or the home
counties??

Cheers
Don