instrument cluster issue.
 

Hi to everyone, well here i go..haha got a tt about a month ago and my gas and temp gage in the cluster was really acting up. like showing me that the car was running hot etc, so i took it in to this local machanic who has been working on VW/audi for some times. He said he checked it with his computer (vag) and noticed that the temp of the engin is fine and the gage itslef is giving you 20-40 degrees falls reading...so now here what he said. i could either forget about it since the car is working fine. or fix it. clusters are running around 1000 dollars which i don't want to go that directions. anyone's input could be usefull. plus he said that in state there was a settelement with the court which audi had to repair clusters from the year 2000-20004. I don't know if that also applies to canada? etc....thank you all.

auti tt 2000 1.8t quattro.

Re: instrument cluster issue.
 

I would be interested in knowing if Audi has to repair 2000 cluster problems. Keep me posted

Re: instrument cluster issue.
 

no audi dosn't give a damn in canada..haha i guess someone has to take them to the court like in state but sounds like a hessle to me. so i found a place in Concord Ontario which you send your cluster and takes 2-3 days for them to fix it and they also put a lifetime warrenty on it. i am sending mine out today after work and i will keep you guys updated as far as the result. But this could the the only solution to those all temp acting up problems and lights flickering or even engines don't start up. there is tons of side effects with this problem. so anyways wish me luck. Let me know if anyone need more info about that company.

Re: instrument cluster issue.
 

Your erratic Fuel and Temp qauge reading is a fault inside the cluster. There is an intermittent surface mounted line driver chip on the cct board. One option is to remove and send your cluster to ModuleMasters in the USA as they are proven to successfuly fix this problem. If you have immobilizer, do not turn on the ign with the cluster removed or you will roll the Immo Code and anti-theft lockout the car (flatbed to $tealer fix).

Re: instrument cluster issue.
 

i found a place in toronto that i just sent out my cluster on friday and they offer the same service. so just waiting on it.

Re: instrument cluster issue.
 

Sounds great. What shop in Concord are you using?

Re: instrument cluster issue.
 

BBA reman. costing me 400 but hey better than 1000 from the dealer and plus they are putting a lifetime warrenty on it. so its not that bad.

Re: instrument cluster issue.
 

For $400CDN BBA should be doing alot of work to your cluster.

For $349US Modulemasters does the following for a MK1 TT Cluster:

This quality repair service includes the following work performed to your quality VDO instrument cluster:

* Restoration of BOTH the speedometer and tachometer stepper motor system (even if only one gauge is problematic)
* Restoration of fuel and temperature gauges and their related firmware
* New CAN gateway processor chip loaded with latest generation firmware + 5 year guarantee
* Our proprietary plug and play firmware add-on (Smart Set) for immobilizer III (3) systems inside your cluster
* Brand NEW center information LCD with long life metal alloy technology vs printed ink
* Full power up and test of the instrument cluster before and after restoration
* 5 year warranty on new CPU and software. LCD has lifetime guarantee

TT Cluster is 2nd in the list on this link:

ModuleMaster | Services | Instrument Clusters

Re: instrument cluster issue.
 

woow ok i am going to call them on monday to see what this service comes with? maybe i should have asked them first but the fact that they were close by and my car being in the shop waiting for the cluster kind of got me rushed and i choose them..oh well i am going to call them monday and see what is happening..thanks for sending me that site. wish me luck..haha

Re: instrument cluster issue.
 

guys, go to Paul @ pixelfix. Welcome to Pixelfix.info, Canada he has a new chip and will come to you for less than $200.

Re: instrument cluster issue.
 

just checked that site but they want 800 for what i am getting done to my car this other place? where do you find that chip and how dose he come to you? etc....

Re: instrument cluster issue.
 

u dont need a whole cluster likely -just a chip....

contact him for more info.

Re: instrument cluster issue.
 

i just checked that site out and they want around 700 for the service..where is that 200 dollar chip and how would they come to me? thanx

Re: instrument cluster issue.
 

OH OK..just missed your message there...kool..its just my gas and temp gage that are acting up..thanx anayways..

Re: instrument cluster issue.
 

OK here comes a newbie question, how do I get the cluster out

Thank

Mike

Re: instrument cluster issue.
 

Hi there,

Here is the procedure. I have to do the same thing at some point.
:)

Audi Instrument Cluster
Removal Instructions
1) Obtain the anti-theft
radio security code. If card
is lost, then dealer can get
it for you with your VIN# at
no charge.
2) Switch the ignition off.
3) Disconnect the battery
Ground (GND) strap.
4) Wait 10 minutes for the
immobilizer system to fully
shut down or you may
trigger the immobilizer.
5) LEAVE BATTERY
DISCONNECTED UNTIL
YOU GET YOUR
CLUSTER BACK OR YOU
WILL INSTANTLY
TRIGGER THE
IMMOBILIZER!!! NOTE: It
is not necessary to remove
the steering wheel in the
diagrams. For ease of
illustration the steering
wheel is not shown.
6) Use steering wheel
adjuster lever to pull out
and pivot steering wheel
downwards as far as
possible.
7) Remove driver's storage
compartment or padded
knee panel. For knee
panel, remove the two
Torx bolts near the gas
and brake pedals. Then
pull the knee panel up
and forward with quick
effort; it will detach from a
clip and drop enough to
access the two screws -1-
in the next step. The knee
panel requires no further
removal.
8) Loosen screws.
9) Pull out instrument
cluster from the front.
10 Release cable ties (or
cut with snips) on rear of
instrument cluster.
11 Release bright violet
retainer catches on blue,
grey and green electrical
connectors (gently release
violet latches with flat
screwdriver and lift) a gear
will disconnect each color
plug from rear of
instrument cluster.
Installation
1) Connect electrical
connectors and secure
wiring harness in clip on
back of instrument cluster.
2) Remaining installation
is performed in reverse
order of removal.
3) After installaing,
reconnect battery and
check operation.
4) Re-code and check
operation of anti-theft
radio.

Re: instrument cluster issue.
 

Thank you for your quick response

Re: instrument cluster issue.
 

Here is the Module Master link to removal instructions including a few pics. These folks do good work.

ModuleMaster | Help

Re: instrument cluster issue.
 

I have a 2001TT has anyone had their cluster fixed @PIXELFIX in Mississauga?
Price seems great but does it work , also is it hard to remove cluster I am fairly mechanical ? :confused:

Re: instrument cluster issue.
 

I would like to try PIXELFIX too but I am not quite sure if I could trust the work they do. Please share any experience.
Thanks

Re: instrument cluster issue.
 

Hi there,

I called them for the fuel gauge fix on the instrument cluster which gives you the correct level of gas and kilometers.

However they don't have the chip needed to do the fix and they have not called me back about it.

Its been about 2 weeks.

So I'm not to sure about them.

Ask them before you send anything if they have the parts they need.

Randy.

Re: instrument cluster issue.
 

Assured that Module Masters can fix that issue as it is a failing line driver chip on the circuit board. You'll likely find that the hotter the dash is then the more erratic the Fuel (and Temp) gauges become.

Good Luck

https://www.audiforum.ca/gallery/fil...ster_front.jpg

https://www.audiforum.ca/gallery/fil...uster_rear.jpg

Re: instrument cluster issue.
 

I got it fixed by PixelFix. I sent it out on Thursday afternoon (Canada Post Next delivery) and I got the unit back on Monday morning. Everything was clean and perfectly packaged. PixelFix really did a good job. They even sent me a replacement for one of the mounting screws that I had damaged while trying to remove the unit.
This is Thumbs up for PixelFix
GA

Re: instrument cluster issue.
 

Thank you for your feedback. I will give them a shot.

Any tips or concerns when getting it out and putting back in. There are some very complete instructions listed above, but sometimes not everything is covered

Mike

Re: instrument cluster issue.
 

Hey you're in Montreal!? Me too!

I'm gonna need to send mine to pixelfix it looks like.

Re: instrument cluster issue.
 

I had mine repaired by Pixelfix last summer and when I took the car out of storage, it worked the first day and then the LEDs are flashing and I have no gauges.

I haven't heard back from them yet. Any ideas?

Thanks

Mike

Re: instrument cluster issue.
 

Which LED's are flashing, the center display or the various warning lights in the Tach and Speedo? Is there any warranty coverage from PixelFix?

You could VAG Scan Engine Module 1 and Instruments Module 17 to check for communication DTC's between the two modules.

Most of the MkI TT Instrument Clusters seem to start failing around 100K KM's. The one I posted above at 125K KM's was fixed by Module Masters and ran great for about a year, then the Fuel Gauge went erratic again and is now pinned beyond max all the time. The original Center Display has nearly completed it's entire failure process too.

A friend has a 2001 TT with 80K KM's and the original Instrument Cluster including Center Display are still working perfectly.

A factory replacement cluster is around $1K for the part plus Immobilizer coding at the dealer and as far as I know, it will develop the same issues over time as the originals were never updated to prevent these common failure points.

Re: instrument cluster issue.
 

It is the lights in the tech and speedo. I will have my mechanic have a look but the tach or either gauges aren't working either.

As far as warranty, I am going to guess no

Thanks for your ideas,

Mike