Jetta dead cluster

[EddieR]

Greetings guys. I am new here and looking for some help. I own a 2009 Jetta Tsi. So, I was driving in heavy traffic about a week ago when suddenly the car just switched off on its own. The cluster just went blank but the lights and windows were working fine. I turned the car off and back on and nothing. The cluster showed the mileage and the time only, the same way it does when you first open the door to get into the car. Nothing happened when I turned the car on or tried to start it. About 5 minutes later without me doing anything, while the key was in the on position, the cluster sprung to life all on its own. On the way back home later the same night while stuck in heavy traffic again the same thing happened twice again. It stayed dead for a few minutes and then sprung to life on its own. First thought was a loose fuse....? Checked and reseated all the fuses in the engine bay as well as on the right door. Did it have anything to do with temperature, as it seemed to do it while in heavy traffic...? I was confused. Over the next week, the car did the same thing twice again and always in heavy traffic. Then yesterday I parked well in the evening but in the morning starting from completely cold the car would not come on at all. When you open the door, the time, mileage etc comes on as usual but turning the key on does nothing. The lights work, the aircon lights come on when pressed and every other electronics in the car seems to work fine. I have tried a new battery, checked all the fuses and still nothing. Please help, where should I be looking...?

[EddieR]

Just an update. So I tried to switch on the car 24hours later and still nothing. So I left the key in the on position and went into the house. 10 minutes later when I came back the dash was on again and the car started and drove just fine. Just came back from a 10km school run and the car drove just fine. Got back home, parked and switched off just fine. Tried restarting the car again and the dash is dead. I bet if I leave it on for a while it would come up again. Please help, I am desperate and confused.

[EddieR]

So, just to give an update in case anyone ever runs into a similar scenario. I gave up on DIY and eventually called an auto electrician to take a look. Unfortunately when he came over I was away and When i got back he car had been fixed (at least for now). His report says there was a bad relay underneath the steering wheel. That was replaced and the car started right up. So if anyone ever runs into a similar situation that may be an optional place to start. Cheers....