Instrument cluster flickering - infinite loop

[uglyrudy]

Hi all,

I've got a 2004 A3 2.0FSI with a recurring 'insrument-cluster flickering' problem. Whenever I open the driver's door, the clock and trip meter light up and, after about 30 seconds, they go out. All normal so far. Straight after that, the speedo, tacho and cluster warning lights start flickering wildly for a few seconds like there's a loose electrical contact or something, and the clock gets reset to zero. After about 30 seconds of nothing happening, the whole episode starts again and it's like the car has got into some kind of infinite loop. Eventually, maybe an hour or so later, it stops. It's like the car is trying to go to sleep but keeps getting woken up as it's about to doze off.

I get the same behaviour after I've been driving and just turn the ignition off. After about 30 seconds the cluster flickers for a couple seconds and heads off into the usual cycle.

None of this happens when the ignition is on, with or without the engine running, and the clock and trip meter behave normally.

I've had the cluster out and checked things like connectors and earth connections and I recently installed a new battery, but no change.

I've done a bit of reading about CAN bus and understand a bit about the CAN gateway telling different modules (including the instrument cluster) to go to sleep. For what it's worth, I found that the 2004 A3 has a dedicated line between the gateway and the cluster for exactly this purpose. Apparently, later models don't use a dedicated line.

I've had access to VAG-COM and include a printout below. There do seem to be issues with communication between the CAN gateway and the instrument cluster.

Do any of you Audi geniuses out there have any clues what's going on or any ideas on what I could try to figure out for sure what's at fault? Any advice gratefully accepted.





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Chassis Type: 1K0
Scan: 01 02 03 08 09 15 16 17 19 25 42 44 46 47 52 56

VIN: WAUZZZ8P14A089447 Mileage: 66960km/41607miles

00-Steering Angle Sensor -- Status: OK 0000
01-Engine -- Status: Malfunction 0010
02-Auto Trans -- Status: Malfunction 0010
03-ABS Brakes -- Status: Malfunction 0010
08-Auto HVAC -- Status: Malfunction 0010
09-Cent. Elect. -- Status: Malfunction 0010
15-Airbags -- Status: OK 0000
16-Steering wheel -- Status: OK 0000
17-Instruments -- Status: OK 0000
19-CAN Gateway -- Status: Malfunction 0010
25-Immobilizer -- Status: Sporadic communication error 1000
42-Door Elect, Driver -- Status: OK 0000
44-Steering Assist -- Status: Malfunction 0010
46-Central Conv. -- Status: OK 0000
47-Sound System -- Status: OK 0000
52-Door Elect, Pass. -- Status: OK 0000
56-Radio -- Status: Malfunction 1010

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 01: Engine Labels: 06F-906-056-AXW.lbl
Part No SW: 06F 906 056 T HW: Hardware No
Component: MED9.5.10 00 5407
Revision: 00000000 Serial number: AUX7Z0C9FNA0IZ
Coding: 0000075
Shop #: WSC 06435 000 00000
VCID: 3A71C3AC759126C82F1

Part No: 06F 907 807 A
Component: NOX 0309170034 004 3608
06F907807A NOX 0309170034 004 3608

4 Faults Found:
16575 - Fuel Pressure Sensor (G247)
P0191 - 008 - Implausible Signal - Intermittent
18058 - Powertrain Data Bus
P1650 - 008 - Missing Message from Instrument Cluster - Intermittent
18058 - Powertrain Data Bus
P1650 - 008 - Missing Message from Instrument Cluster - Intermittent
17978 - Engine Start Blocked by Immobilizer
P1570 - 008 - - Intermittent
Readiness: 0000 0000

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 02: Auto Trans Labels: 09G-927-750.lbl
Part No: 09G 927 750 C
Component: AQ 250 6F 0428
Coding: 0000008
Shop #: WSC 06435 000 00000
VCID: 3163E480A8E7E5909EB

1 Fault Found:
01317 - Control Module in Instrument Cluster (J285)
004 - No Signal/Communication - Intermittent - MIL ON

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 03: ABS Brakes Labels: 1K0-907-379-MK60-F.lbl
Part No: 1K0 907 379 D
Component: ESP FRONT MK60 0102
Coding: 0053894
Shop #: WSC 06435 000 00000
VCID: 336FEE8852FBD780EC7

1 Fault Found:
00474 - Control Module for Immobilizer
004 - No Signal/Communication - Intermittent

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 08: Auto HVAC Labels: 8P0-820-043.lbl
Part No SW: 8P0 820 043 HW: 8P0 820 043
Component: KlimavollautomatH11 0130
Shop #: WSC 06435 000 00000
VCID: E9D3CCE0C0B7DD5016B

3 Faults Found:
01274 - Air Flow Flap Positioning Motor (V71)
003 - Mechanical Failure - Intermittent
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 00100011
Fault Priority: 3
Fault Frequency: 2
Reset counter: 199
Mileage: 66078 km
Time Indication: 0
Date: 2012.01.23
Time: 00:09:32

Freeze Frame:
Voltage: 14.10 V
Temperature: 15.5°C
(no units): 164.0
(no units): 29.0
Temperature: 12.0°C

00796 - Fan for Interior Temp Sensor (V42)
011 - Open Circuit
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 01101011
Fault Priority: 3
Fault Frequency: 5
Reset counter: 184
Mileage: 66180 km
Time Indication: 0
Date: 2012.01.23
Time: 00:31:50

Freeze Frame:
Voltage: 13.80 V
Temperature: 27.5°C

01206 - Signal for Duration of Ignition Off Time
008 - Implausible Signal
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 01101000
Fault Priority: 3
Fault Frequency: 1
Reset counter: 184
Mileage: 66968 km
Time Indication: 0
Date: 2012.01.24
Time: 00:00:00

Freeze Frame:


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 09: Cent. Elect. Labels: 8P0-907-279-23-H.lbl
Part No SW: 8P0 907 279 A HW: 8P0 907 279 A*
Component: Bordnetz-SG 1.0 H29 0501
Revision: 00029000 Serial number: 00000000239578
Coding: 008C4F00A0141000000000000000000000
Shop #: WSC 00000 000 00000
VCID: 3B7FC6A87AAB1FC0347

Subsystem 1 - Part No: 8P2 955 119 Labels: 1TX-955-119.CLB
Component: Wischer WWS Audi350 0130
Coding: 16711696
Shop #: WSC 00000

1 Fault Found:
01341 - Control Module in Instrument Panel On Comfort CAN (J285)
004 - No Signal/Communication - Intermittent

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 15: Airbags Labels: 8P0-959-655-84.lbl
Part No SW: 8P0 959 655 F HW: 8P0 959 655 F
Component: Airbag 8.4ED H01 0130
Coding: 0010603
Shop #: WSC 06435 000 00000
VCID: 458BA0500C6F5930523

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 16: Steering wheel Labels: 1K0-953-549-MY8.lbl
Part No SW: 1K0 953 549 HW: 1K0 953 549
Component: Lenksäulenmodul 009 0030
Coding: 0010002
Shop #: WSC 06435 000 00000
VCID: EFE7A2F8FE53336048F

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 17: Instruments Labels: 8P0-920-xxx-17-MY7.lbl
Part No SW: 8P0 920 930 G HW: 8P0 920 930 G
Component: KOMBIINSTR. VDO H25 0110
Revision: D07 Serial number: 2249CD07008908
Coding: 0002923
Shop #: WSC 61800 981 64302
VCID: 3669D79C4189C2A8CB9

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 19: CAN Gateway Labels: 1K0-907-530-V1.clb
Part No SW: 1K0 907 530 B HW: 1K0 907 951
Component: Gateway H08 0090
Revision: 08 Serial number: 24001039032931
Coding: 3F0F0342070101
Shop #: WSC 06435 000 00000
VCID: 264907DC9129B2287B9

3 Faults Found:
00474 - Control Module for Immobilizer
004 - No Signal/Communication - Intermittent
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 00100100
Fault Priority: 2
Fault Frequency: 142
Reset counter: 224
Time Indication: 0

00381 - Databus Instrument Cluster
014 - Defective - Intermittent
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 00101110
Fault Priority: 1
Fault Frequency: 1
Reset counter: 224

01304 - Radio
004 - No Signal/Communication - Intermittent
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 00100100
Fault Priority: 2
Fault Frequency: 27
Reset counter: 205
Mileage: 0 km
Time Indication: 0
Date: 2012.01.23
Time: 00:00:00


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 25: Immobilizer Labels: 1K0-920-xxx-25.clb
Part No SW: 8P0 920 930 G HW: 8P0 920 930 G
Component: KOMBIINSTR. VDO H25 0110
Revision: D07 Serial number: AUX7Z0C9FNA0IZ
Shop #: WSC 00000 000 00000
VCID: 3669D79C4189C2A8CB9

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 42: Door Elect, Driver Labels: 8P0-959-801-MAX1.lbl
Part No: 8P0 959 801
Component: Tuersteuerger. H10 0010
Coding: 0000048
Shop #: WSC 06435 000 00000
VCID: F8F599A48B1D74D8995

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 44: Steering Assist Labels: 1Kx-909-14x-44.clb
Part No: 1K2 909 144 L
Component: EPS_ZFLS Kl.069 H07 1806
Shop #: WSC 61800 981 63324
VCID: 356BD0905C8FC9B0C23

1 Fault Found:
00750 - Warning Lamp
013 - Check DTC Memory - Intermittent
Freeze Frame:
Mileage: 66120 km
Temperature: 23.0°C
Voltage: 12.10 V
Voltage: 11.90 V


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 46: Central Conv. Labels: 8P0-959-433.lbl
Part No: 8P0 959 433 A
Component: KSG H02 0040
Coding: 008800186D288505485A016000
Shop #: WSC 07130 981 57096
VCID: 3A71C3AC759126C82F1

Component: Sounder n.mounted

Component: NGS n.mounted

Component: IRUE n.mounted

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 47: Sound System Labels: 8Px-035-382.lbl
Part No SW: 8P3 035 382 HW: 8P3 035 382
Component: AB2 SUBWOOFERBOXH23 0100
Revision: 00001 Serial number: 10000001051267
Shop #: WSC 00000 000 00000
VCID: F0E5A184E36D2C98515

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 52: Door Elect, Pass. Labels: 8P0-959-802-MAX1.lbl
Part No: 8P0 959 802
Component: Tuersteuerger. H10 0010
Coding: 0000048
Shop #: WSC 06435 000 00000
VCID: F9F39CA0B0176DD0E6B

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 56: Radio Labels: 8P0-035-1xx-56.lbl
Part No SW: 8P0 035 186 B HW: 8P0 035 186 B
Component: concert II JP H53 0060
Revision: 07S Serial number: AUZ2Z3C1011224
Coding: 0001001
Shop #: WSC 06435 000 00000
VCID: 3163E480A8E7E5909EB

2 Faults Found:
01317 - Control Module in Instrument Cluster (J285)
004 - No Signal/Communication - Intermittent
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 00100100
Fault Priority: 5
Fault Frequency: 152
Reset counter: 224

Freeze Frame:
Bin. Bits: 10

01299 - Diagnostic Interface for Data Bus (J533)
004 - No Signal/Communication - Intermittent
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 00100100
Fault Priority: 5
Fault Frequency: 4
Reset counter: 224


End ---------------------------------------------------------------------

[Guest 2]

My dials flicker too sometimes when I turn the ignition on.

Also when I turn the car on, it takes a few seconds for my instrument cluster to wake up after starting too. This happens probably once every 2 weeks. Odd.

Can you clear all faults (Main menu, applications, erase all DTCs) then do a few ignition cycles and rescan?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[uglyrudy]

Chris, I've already tried clearing all DTC's but, after a few ignition cycles, everything comes back the same as before. Thanks.

[jonathanfenton]

Sounds like a knackerd cluster to me... check ecu isnt underwater too

[Danp46]

I've recently purchased a 2004 Audi A3 2.0 FSI and i am having the same problem you had. I just wondered if you were able to solve this issue and if so how?
Thanks, Dan!