Audi A6 C6 dash odometer failure and reboot

**retiary** · 05-02-2013,12:11 AM

Hi,

My Audi A6 C6 has developed an annoying intermittant electrical fault. I don't have a clue where to look so any advice appreciated.

The problem started about a year ago when on a long journey the dash unexpectedly 'rebooted' whilst I was on the motorway. All the important stuff continued to work as expected (i.e. engine, brakes etc.) but the cruise control would not latch in until the ignition had been switched off and the engine re-started. Since then the problem has got progressively worse and now it is after about twenty minutes of driving that I get my first re-boot. The mile counter and date display are showing garbage after the re-boot and either go to all 8888's or flash or some entertaining alternative. Just to spice things up the cenral DIS is now showing up rear light cluster failures (usually at least the brake and tail lights but sometimes a full house with the reversing and turn signals too). The rear light failures are sometimes just a warning whilst they work fine but sometimes there is an actual failure and the turn signal will flash double quick due to (i assume) a higher current in the circuit (leak to ground?).

I am suspecting a bad earth on the lamp cluster but that does not explain the dash issues. I have checked the PX footwell and this is all dry.

My local Audi dealer in Stafford want £120 to look at it and then I am expecting the worst (probably min £600 for an instrument cluster plus fitting) with no confidence that this is the root cause.

Has anyone seen anything similar or could point me to a better understanding of what's wired to what. The failure of the cruise control with the dash re-boot makes me think that the same computer is responsible for the speed and distance part.

I managed to take a couple of 4 second clips on my phone that I have posted below (obviously not taken by me because I was driving at the time).

Audi C6 Dash issues - YouTube

AUDI A6 C6 Dash Flicker part 2 - YouTube