New Cluster

[jedichi]

Hey all, I've been told that my 98 1.8t a3's abs bulb doesn't show and has failed MOT. What should i do? replace bulb? new cluster? refurbish cluster? i have no technical expertise with the car, but need it to be MOTd so i can drive it, all suggestions welcome. Cheers

[Bobby101]

Hi Jedichi,
I think it's just a bulb issue. The warning indication lights and direction indicators should all be bulbs. I was going to change my instrument cluster recently because the milage display was only displaying the last three digits (I wish!) but after looking at other threads I've found out that there is an issue with the ecu and the instrument display, not too bad but if you want to have the correct milage it it's an audi dealer job costing more than a few quid!)The handbreak, battery and engine managment should also be bulbs.It's an easy task to perform if your happy to play with a few tools, just set your steering wheel height to its lowest point towards the floor, then remove the plastic cover directly below the cluster and above the cowling (I guess its about 5" long) it just pulls out/off (Haynes manual is handy) and there will be two screws to undo behind it, torque or philips, cant remember, but anyhow, the cluster unit should pull out once the screws are removed. Take it easy cos you don't want to dissconnect any of the cluster display plugs. Another thing to be aware of is the age of the cluster, that was the problem with mine, as the board had cracked solder so don't force it, hope this helps mate, good luck
Regards Bobby101

[jedichi]

can i not remove the cluster from the car at all?dont want to be stuck with a non functioning cluster?

[jedichi]

just removed the cluster and found a piece of tape over the abs and airbag lights behind the dash dials?! my MOT has failed for not showing an ABS light but when i retested it, it works fine, however the Airbag light stays illuminated? what does this mean? can i just have this reset or shall i assume the airbags are at fault? any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Bobby101]

Not sure about that one although black tape does sound a little strange? Have you tried resetting codes with VAG-COM? It could be a stored fault from a previous owner?

[NickPicks]

So there's a piece of tape covering the abs and airbag lights? That probably means that the previous owner had a fault, and they've put a piece of tape over it so that you didn't realise this when you bought it.

The abs light should illuminate when you turn on the ignition, and then go out when the engine has started. If it doesn't do this, it will fail the MOT.

I think that the airbag light being illuminated is not an MOT fail, so if the abs light functions as I've aid above, you should be fine. I would suggest fixing the airbag though.

The first thing you need to do is to get a fault code scan with vag-com or similar (you can do this on your car with a £20 obd cable and the shareware version of vag-com/vcds). This will tell you what fault the airbag controller is storing. It might just need the fault code clearing, or it might be that the connector under the seat has come loose / dirty.

[Bobby101]

Hi again,
Sorry for the late reply, I've been researching into instrument displays and there is a fault that happens with age where the solder cracks on the circuit board. I've read that flexing the board and holding it in position with tape can solve this issue but dont flex it too much or you may make it worse! Could be the reson that you found tape on the board?!? As far as the Air bag issue goes, I wouls agree with NickPicks, try and clear the fault codes via VAG, but you could just remove the bulb for the MOT but PLEASE DO get it sorted asap after, cheers mate!

[NickPicks]

Don't remove the bulb for the MOT. It will not fail on the airbags.

[Alan G H]

The air bag light is coming into the MOT early next year, at the moment you will only get an advisory for it, but it needs fixing asap for your own safety.