Faulty Dashboard

It appears I have a faulty dashboard on my 51 plate A3, this means the dash doesnt work when I first get in the car ( speedo & rev counter flick on & off for about 3 minutes befor esettling down ) last night led to the car not starting due to an argument between the ignition key, the dashboard & the immobiliser

I spoke with a former audi man who says this is a known issue & that Audi had previously replaced these dashboards free of charge, even to cars outside of warranty

Is anyone aware of this, as I would like to be armed with this info before I call my local dealer

Thanks

my 2001 A3 1.8T 32,400km, purchased new in Hong Kong, experienced same instrument cluster problem one week ago while brake servicing and automatic trans fluid change-out were performed.

I was present and I am certain that the agent audi techs did not cause this problem.

the daily temps had just dropped from 18/21 to 12/16 when a brief flat display flashing (2-5 times & than become stable) when ignition key first inserted "first time early morning" - the brief flashing would NOT occur again during the day or evening until nest day first early start-up.

repeted exhaustive diagnostics did not show any error codes - and this issue would only occur once each day when air temp was low (for Hong Kong)

flashing displays + unstable rapid movement temp & fuel guage needles known issue with audis & other vag makes fitted with Jeager (france) and issue relates to fractured pcb solder joints due to thermal movement (due to change to ultra low lead / zero lead solder mandated by eu + usa regs)

the main connector pins (2-connectors A3) may also contribute and require conductive spray coating to re-establish low resistance contact.

in my case, spraying the (2) cluster connectors (small amount of spray) resolved issue.

my original cluster was changed out as goodwill by agent, even though the flashing problem did not re-occur. there were never any fault codes.

please understand that these canbus based automobiles are unsafe to drive if instrument cluster display is not completely stable AND on-board self diagnosis "OK" display does not correctly display & shutdown quickly on startup - immobilizer within cluster (yes, engine ecu & cluster & radio all have immo's) will interact with engine ecu immo & randomly shutdown engine while driving...

audi uk has replaced tt clusters after bbc docu discussing this matter - A3's not covered - my experience different from yours, as i have nearly 30yrs car owner relationship w/agent - I was told no labour + 50% cluster cost would be extended to out-of-warranty owners, if owners acted in reasonable manner, i.e.: no threat of solicitors letters...

first, have your agent/dealer/service depot examine your car - they may want to keep overnight and check flashing/instability early morning 1st startup condition

DO NOT use WD-40 on any audi electrical connectors/circuits - only exception: if you insist, battery posts and/or earthing threaded posts - but I would not use WD-40...

I am aware of (2) spray products - there may be others - perhaps Hurth range of sprays:

http://www.stabilant.com see Stabilant 22A, also entire product line

try vag dealer parts & ask for ZVW 186 001 electrical circuit cleaner

http://www.ambersindustrial.com see Servisol Super 10 / S245 Super 10 Switch Cleaning Lubricant

DIY: At Your Own Risk - unlock car & roll down drivers window - disconnect + battery connection - tilt steering wheel down & gently lift trim cover (at cluster lower edge / top steering column) to expose the (2) torx screws (bottom center cluster) retaining cluster module

cover top of steering column with clean dry cloth to prevent scratching

gently draw cluster toward you - the connector ((1) green shell & (1) purple shell) are on SHORT cabling - DO NOT pull cluster with force

rotate the shell lever to unlock connector from cluster

sparingly (REALLY!) spray into face of connector at pin holes to wet female internal shells

using plastic trash bag - try to contain overspray from contacting all other parts - sparingly spray face of each connector shell - ONLY green shell and ONLY purple shell

reattach connectors to instrument cluster and test by connecting battery and clearing codes

if problem still present - IF solder joint fractures are not large and/or numerous, land side (foil conductor side of pcb of instrument cluster) (first removing white back shell screws & black resin clips) and very lightly spraying suitable conductivity enhancing spray on surface

DO NOT saturate / make running wet / generally over responding - mist and drain/remove excess via LOW PRESSURE canned air spray or shop air - LOW PRESSURE (REALLY!)

reassemble and test, etc...

Do this AT YOUR OWN RISK - and be prepared to replace instrument cluster!!!

Remember - This is significant safety related issue and may result in personal injury if inappropriate or damaging to your car!

i got sim problems wih my audi S3 dash (2000model)

Here in Hong Kong, due to major electronics manufacturing activity within 100km, there are "walk-in" repair specialists who can quickly replace monolith resistors or capacitors or microcircuit chips on pcb assemblies

I showed my original instrument cluster to (2) repair services and each replied that the pcb is too complex to simply re-solder all connections - also while the green & purple shell "main pin-out sets" from pcb (male pins into connector female sockets) were solderable - the front side speedo/tach/water temp/fuel level needles/indicators would have to be removed and cluster face stripped away to fully expose both sides of pcb assembly - repair services (general electronics) would not do - audi agent would not do - I would have to do myself (there is on-line diy for this)

I than decided not to re-solder cluster pcb and agent (probably relieved by my caution) extended goodwill...

long story short, first location of suspect fractured solder joints at the main connector(s) male pin/pcb interface - beyond this, possibly voltage supply (instrument cluster specific) voltage level regulating circuits microchip surface mounted to pcb

I am actually doing you a favor by guiding you to simply replace instrument cluster, albeit costly option, by audi agent service depot

if you can locate (independent) vag-com specialist who has direct personal experience adapting breakers cluster AND your set of all ignition keys (wireless) to client's car - by all means take risk buying breakers cluster

presently audi adapts client keys ONLY on-line remote secure server to prevent car theft - vag-com may not be suitable...

lastly, A3 (8L) & S3 drive-by-wire cars are very different cars from instrument cluster & immo stand point , from earlier drive-by-cable models