Needles jumping and lights flickering on A3 dash
 

Hi

I have a 2001 (X) Audi A3 1.8 SE and I'm having a problem with the
dashboard lighting and speed, rpm, fuel and temp dials.

Initially from a cold start (despite the warm weather) the needles were
jumping back and forth and the rpm and spedo backlights flicker. The
clock and mileometer displays also flicker. After the car has warmed up
(5 mins approx) the needles and displays return to normal.
This has been happening for 3 days.

Today for the first 10 mins of my journey the needles remained on 0 and
the lights off.
Eventually they flickered for a while and came back to life. First the
display lights return, then the fuel/temp needles returned to normal,
then finally the rpm and speedo dials.

I also noticed that while the dash lights are flickering the radio
continues to work but it's lit display gets dimmer and brighter.

Does anyone know what could be causing this?
A component on it's way out or a lose wire somewhere?

Thanks,
CP

Re: Needles jumping and lights flickering on A3 dash
 

"CP1234" <cjthorogood@consultant.com> wrote in message
news:1155300374.050213.81060@i3g2000cwc.googlegrou ps.com...
> Hi
>
> I have a 2001 (X) Audi A3 1.8 SE and I'm having a problem with the
> dashboard lighting and speed, rpm, fuel and temp dials.
>
> Initially from a cold start (despite the warm weather) the needles were
> jumping back and forth and the rpm and spedo backlights flicker. The
> clock and mileometer displays also flicker. After the car has warmed up
> (5 mins approx) the needles and displays return to normal.
> This has been happening for 3 days.
>
> Today for the first 10 mins of my journey the needles remained on 0 and
> the lights off.
> Eventually they flickered for a while and came back to life. First the
> display lights return, then the fuel/temp needles returned to normal,
> then finally the rpm and speedo dials.
>
> I also noticed that while the dash lights are flickering the radio
> continues to work but it's lit display gets dimmer and brighter.
>
> Does anyone know what could be causing this?
> A component on it's way out or a lose wire somewhere?
>
> Thanks,
> CP
>

I would lean towards a poor contact or loose wire.

Re: Needles jumping and lights flickering on A3 dash
 

"CP1234" <cjthorogood@consultant.com> wrote in message
news:1155300374.050213.81060@i3g2000cwc.googlegrou ps.com...
> Hi
>
> I have a 2001 (X) Audi A3 1.8 SE and I'm having a problem with the
> dashboard lighting and speed, rpm, fuel and temp dials.
>
> Initially from a cold start (despite the warm weather) the needles were
> jumping back and forth and the rpm and spedo backlights flicker. The
> clock and mileometer displays also flicker. After the car has warmed up
> (5 mins approx) the needles and displays return to normal.
> This has been happening for 3 days.
>
> Today for the first 10 mins of my journey the needles remained on 0 and
> the lights off.
> Eventually they flickered for a while and came back to life. First the
> display lights return, then the fuel/temp needles returned to normal,
> then finally the rpm and speedo dials.
>
> I also noticed that while the dash lights are flickering the radio
> continues to work but it's lit display gets dimmer and brighter.
>
> Does anyone know what could be causing this?
> A component on it's way out or a lose wire somewhere?
>
> Thanks,
> CP
>

I would lean towards a poor contact or loose wire.

Re: Needles jumping and lights flickering on A3 dash
 

"CP1234" <cjthorogood@consultant.com> wrote in message
news:1155300374.050213.81060@i3g2000cwc.googlegrou ps.com...
> Hi
>
> I have a 2001 (X) Audi A3 1.8 SE and I'm having a problem with the
> dashboard lighting and speed, rpm, fuel and temp dials.
>
> Initially from a cold start (despite the warm weather) the needles were
> jumping back and forth and the rpm and spedo backlights flicker. The
> clock and mileometer displays also flicker. After the car has warmed up
> (5 mins approx) the needles and displays return to normal.
> This has been happening for 3 days.
>
> Today for the first 10 mins of my journey the needles remained on 0 and
> the lights off.
> Eventually they flickered for a while and came back to life. First the
> display lights return, then the fuel/temp needles returned to normal,
> then finally the rpm and speedo dials.
>
> I also noticed that while the dash lights are flickering the radio
> continues to work but it's lit display gets dimmer and brighter.
>
> Does anyone know what could be causing this?
> A component on it's way out or a lose wire somewhere?
>
> Thanks,
> CP
>

I would lean towards a poor contact or loose wire.

Re: Needles jumping and lights flickering on A3 dash
 

"CP1234" <cjthorogood@consultant.com> wrote in message
news:1155300374.050213.81060@i3g2000cwc.googlegrou ps.com...
> Hi
>
> I have a 2001 (X) Audi A3 1.8 SE and I'm having a problem with the
> dashboard lighting and speed, rpm, fuel and temp dials.
>
> Initially from a cold start (despite the warm weather) the needles were
> jumping back and forth and the rpm and spedo backlights flicker. The
> clock and mileometer displays also flicker. After the car has warmed up
> (5 mins approx) the needles and displays return to normal.
> This has been happening for 3 days.
>
> Today for the first 10 mins of my journey the needles remained on 0 and
> the lights off.
> Eventually they flickered for a while and came back to life. First the
> display lights return, then the fuel/temp needles returned to normal,
> then finally the rpm and speedo dials.
>
> I also noticed that while the dash lights are flickering the radio
> continues to work but it's lit display gets dimmer and brighter.
>
> Does anyone know what could be causing this?
> A component on it's way out or a lose wire somewhere?
>
> Thanks,
> CP
>

I would lean towards a poor contact or loose wire.

Re: Needles jumping and lights flickering on A3 dash
 

Thanks

I wondered about a component slowly dying (capacitor or something)
since it seems ok after it's warmed up. Bumps etc don't have any impact
and I would expect that to make a difference if it was a bad contact or
loose wire.

Do you know if it's easy to take the instrument panel off to check
behind it?

Thanks,
CP

Lez Pawl wrote:

> "CP1234" <cjthorogood@consultant.com> wrote in message
> news:1155300374.050213.81060@i3g2000cwc.googlegrou ps.com...
> > Hi
> >
> > I have a 2001 (X) Audi A3 1.8 SE and I'm having a problem with the
> > dashboard lighting and speed, rpm, fuel and temp dials.
> >
> > Initially from a cold start (despite the warm weather) the needles were
> > jumping back and forth and the rpm and spedo backlights flicker. The
> > clock and mileometer displays also flicker. After the car has warmed up
> > (5 mins approx) the needles and displays return to normal.
> > This has been happening for 3 days.
> >
> > Today for the first 10 mins of my journey the needles remained on 0 and
> > the lights off.
> > Eventually they flickered for a while and came back to life. First the
> > display lights return, then the fuel/temp needles returned to normal,
> > then finally the rpm and speedo dials.
> >
> > I also noticed that while the dash lights are flickering the radio
> > continues to work but it's lit display gets dimmer and brighter.
> >
> > Does anyone know what could be causing this?
> > A component on it's way out or a lose wire somewhere?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > CP
> >
>
> I would lean towards a poor contact or loose wire.

Re: Needles jumping and lights flickering on A3 dash
 

Thanks

I wondered about a component slowly dying (capacitor or something)
since it seems ok after it's warmed up. Bumps etc don't have any impact
and I would expect that to make a difference if it was a bad contact or
loose wire.

Do you know if it's easy to take the instrument panel off to check
behind it?

Thanks,
CP

Lez Pawl wrote:

> "CP1234" <cjthorogood@consultant.com> wrote in message
> news:1155300374.050213.81060@i3g2000cwc.googlegrou ps.com...
> > Hi
> >
> > I have a 2001 (X) Audi A3 1.8 SE and I'm having a problem with the
> > dashboard lighting and speed, rpm, fuel and temp dials.
> >
> > Initially from a cold start (despite the warm weather) the needles were
> > jumping back and forth and the rpm and spedo backlights flicker. The
> > clock and mileometer displays also flicker. After the car has warmed up
> > (5 mins approx) the needles and displays return to normal.
> > This has been happening for 3 days.
> >
> > Today for the first 10 mins of my journey the needles remained on 0 and
> > the lights off.
> > Eventually they flickered for a while and came back to life. First the
> > display lights return, then the fuel/temp needles returned to normal,
> > then finally the rpm and speedo dials.
> >
> > I also noticed that while the dash lights are flickering the radio
> > continues to work but it's lit display gets dimmer and brighter.
> >
> > Does anyone know what could be causing this?
> > A component on it's way out or a lose wire somewhere?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > CP
> >
>
> I would lean towards a poor contact or loose wire.

Re: Needles jumping and lights flickering on A3 dash
 

Thanks

I wondered about a component slowly dying (capacitor or something)
since it seems ok after it's warmed up. Bumps etc don't have any impact
and I would expect that to make a difference if it was a bad contact or
loose wire.

Do you know if it's easy to take the instrument panel off to check
behind it?

Thanks,
CP

Lez Pawl wrote:

> "CP1234" <cjthorogood@consultant.com> wrote in message
> news:1155300374.050213.81060@i3g2000cwc.googlegrou ps.com...
> > Hi
> >
> > I have a 2001 (X) Audi A3 1.8 SE and I'm having a problem with the
> > dashboard lighting and speed, rpm, fuel and temp dials.
> >
> > Initially from a cold start (despite the warm weather) the needles were
> > jumping back and forth and the rpm and spedo backlights flicker. The
> > clock and mileometer displays also flicker. After the car has warmed up
> > (5 mins approx) the needles and displays return to normal.
> > This has been happening for 3 days.
> >
> > Today for the first 10 mins of my journey the needles remained on 0 and
> > the lights off.
> > Eventually they flickered for a while and came back to life. First the
> > display lights return, then the fuel/temp needles returned to normal,
> > then finally the rpm and speedo dials.
> >
> > I also noticed that while the dash lights are flickering the radio
> > continues to work but it's lit display gets dimmer and brighter.
> >
> > Does anyone know what could be causing this?
> > A component on it's way out or a lose wire somewhere?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > CP
> >
>
> I would lean towards a poor contact or loose wire.

Re: Needles jumping and lights flickering on A3 dash
 

Thanks

I wondered about a component slowly dying (capacitor or something)
since it seems ok after it's warmed up. Bumps etc don't have any impact
and I would expect that to make a difference if it was a bad contact or
loose wire.

Do you know if it's easy to take the instrument panel off to check
behind it?

Thanks,
CP

Lez Pawl wrote:

> "CP1234" <cjthorogood@consultant.com> wrote in message
> news:1155300374.050213.81060@i3g2000cwc.googlegrou ps.com...
> > Hi
> >
> > I have a 2001 (X) Audi A3 1.8 SE and I'm having a problem with the
> > dashboard lighting and speed, rpm, fuel and temp dials.
> >
> > Initially from a cold start (despite the warm weather) the needles were
> > jumping back and forth and the rpm and spedo backlights flicker. The
> > clock and mileometer displays also flicker. After the car has warmed up
> > (5 mins approx) the needles and displays return to normal.
> > This has been happening for 3 days.
> >
> > Today for the first 10 mins of my journey the needles remained on 0 and
> > the lights off.
> > Eventually they flickered for a while and came back to life. First the
> > display lights return, then the fuel/temp needles returned to normal,
> > then finally the rpm and speedo dials.
> >
> > I also noticed that while the dash lights are flickering the radio
> > continues to work but it's lit display gets dimmer and brighter.
> >
> > Does anyone know what could be causing this?
> > A component on it's way out or a lose wire somewhere?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > CP
> >
>
> I would lean towards a poor contact or loose wire.

Re: Needles jumping and lights flickering on A3 dash
 

"CP1234" <cjthorogood@consultant.com> wrote in message
news:1155310034.131542.272240@b28g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com...
>
> Thanks
>
> I wondered about a component slowly dying (capacitor or something)
> since it seems ok after it's warmed up. Bumps etc don't have any impact
> and I would expect that to make a difference if it was a bad contact or
> loose wire.
>
> Do you know if it's easy to take the instrument panel off to check
> behind it?
>
> Thanks,
> CP
>
> Lez Pawl wrote:
>
>> "CP1234" <cjthorogood@consultant.com> wrote in message
>> news:1155300374.050213.81060@i3g2000cwc.googlegrou ps.com...
>> > Hi
>> >
>> > I have a 2001 (X) Audi A3 1.8 SE and I'm having a problem with the
>> > dashboard lighting and speed, rpm, fuel and temp dials.
>> >
>> > Initially from a cold start (despite the warm weather) the needles were
>> > jumping back and forth and the rpm and spedo backlights flicker. The
>> > clock and mileometer displays also flicker. After the car has warmed up
>> > (5 mins approx) the needles and displays return to normal.
>> > This has been happening for 3 days.
>> >
>> > Today for the first 10 mins of my journey the needles remained on 0 and
>> > the lights off.
>> > Eventually they flickered for a while and came back to life. First the
>> > display lights return, then the fuel/temp needles returned to normal,
>> > then finally the rpm and speedo dials.
>> >
>> > I also noticed that while the dash lights are flickering the radio
>> > continues to work but it's lit display gets dimmer and brighter.
>> >
>> > Does anyone know what could be causing this?
>> > A component on it's way out or a lose wire somewhere?
>> >
>> > Thanks,
>> > CP
>> >
>>
>> I would lean towards a poor contact or loose wire.
>

Even though my diode display is fading (yes, that common Audi prob) I would
not have the **lls to remove it.

I have heard of problems with circuit board tracks where when cold track(s)
are broken yet when warm/hot they join back together.

It might even be a dry/iffy solder joint.

dj
A4 2.4 SE '98