Instrument Cluster Display Dead

[akenharris]

Hello Everyone,

I was driving on the express way, pretty chilly outside today around 27f/-1c, I didn't have my AC on and decided to roll down my window to get some fresh air in the car, then next thing I know the display in the center of the instrument cluster had turned off. Very odd. Any ideas? I will most likely be seeing Audi very soon, the jingle the car makes when an error has occurred or someones seat belt is not on is very distorted sound now (Louder and rougher)

[RING IT OUT]

Long shot...there's a button on the bottom of your wiper stalk...push that button and see if any of the computer functions show up in the display. If not, try pushing the "mode" button on the left side of the steering wheel...see if anything lights up in the display.

If not, I can't advise. I'm hoping somehow you've *darkened the display through the mode function.

[Amorphic]

I doubt it was the weather that affected it. Many of us in Canada have taken these cars through -30 C without issue (other than the screen being slow). Sounds like some kind of electrical error.

[drob23]

Gotta scan with vcds to get an idea. The problem remained after restarting the car?

[akenharris]

Long shot...there's a button on the bottom of your wiper stalk...push that button and see if any of the computer functions show up in the display. If not, try pushing the "mode" button on the left side of the steering wheel...see if anything lights up in the display.

If not, I can't advise. I'm hoping somehow you've *darkened the display through the mode function.

That was the first thing I tried and it didnt work out. I'm going to to continue playing with it tomorrow

Gotta scan with vcds to get an idea. The problem remained after restarting the car?

Problem remained, I guess I'll have to go get it scanned

[roadkillrob]

Mine went entirely white one time, restart didn't fix it but sitting overnight it fixed itself.

[604_s4]

Hello Everyone,

I was driving on the express way, pretty chilly outside today around 27f/-1c, I didn't have my AC on and decided to roll down my window to get some fresh air in the car, then next thing I know the display in the center of the instrument cluster had turned off. Very odd. Any ideas? I will most likely be seeing Audi very soon, the jingle the car makes when an error has occurred or someones seat belt is not on is very distorted sound now (Louder and rougher)

Hey I had this exact problem for a few weeks now, it went blank then i would shut the car off wake up the next morning then it would work again, then while driving the screen would just go blank then i would hear a "DING" about 3 times. Then it was off for 1 week straight then 3 days ago it came back on with a low oil message i fill up the oil and the screen has worked every since....very weird anyone else have this problem? I also drive a 2011 s4 b8

[Brozee]

Pull the battery on the car for 5 minutes and do a hard reset. That should fix the issue. If not looks like your instrument cluster has a wiring issue or it just died/fried.

[d.p]

Its ghost.

[blackfunk]

I had this problem last year with the extreme cold. Had to take a vid to show the dealer, they eventually replaced it.

[Mr.Tan]

Mine went entirely white one time, restart didn't fix it but sitting overnight it fixed itself.

this happened to me the other day. Got in the car to drive and it went white.... stopped car, got out and locked it and then unlocked and started the car up and it was fine.

[Dr GP]

There seem to be quite a few electronic glitches with these cars. i'm starting to believe that the electrical engineers at Audi used to work for Lucas Electronics prior to working at Audi.

[jygesq]

There seem to be quite a few electronic glitches with these cars. i'm starting to believe that the electrical engineers at Audi used to work for Lucas Electronics prior to working at Audi.

or BMW!

[Riu]

Mine went entirely white one time, restart didn't fix it but sitting overnight it fixed itself.

I valeted my car at my parents country club and when I got the car back the screen was white... I was like wtf....

Turned car off and back on and it was still white.

Turned it off waited 10 min and turned it back on and it works. This was prob 3-4 months ago.

[B8Addict]

I valeted my car at my parents country club and when I got the car back the screen was white... I was like wtf....

Turned car off and back on and it was still white.

Turned it off waited 10 min and turned it back on and it works. This was prob 3-4 months ago.

Exact same issue on mine and resolved the same way... Weird.

[akenharris]

Alright. Disconnected battery, gave it a couple of second, reconnected it. Problem still exist. Fuse maybe? Going to my local Audi Dealership tomorrow. Will keep updated.

[littleredwagen]

Alright. Disconnected battery, gave it a couple of second, reconnected it. Problem still exist. Fuse maybe? Going to my local Audi Dealership tomorrow. Will keep updated.

you need to leave it disconnected for more than a few seconds, you need at least 5-15 minutes since there is still residual power in the car systems.

[604_s4]

Alright. Disconnected battery, gave it a couple of second, reconnected it. Problem still exist. Fuse maybe? Going to my local Audi Dealership tomorrow. Will keep updated.

Let me know what you find out, mine went blank again this morning . Thanks.

[blackfunk]

It has to be replaced. Don't wait because it doesn't happen while it's warm. You may need to take a video because it doesn't throw any codes.

[604_s4]

It has to be replaced. Don't wait because it doesn't happen while it's warm. You may need to take a video because it doesn't throw any codes.

Is this covered under any tsb? I'm just out of warranty.

[roadkillrob]

Exact same issue on mine and resolved the same way... Weird.

I complained to my dealer about the white screen thing when it was in for an oil change last week, they replaced the cluster and said there was a service bulletin for the issue.

[Mr.Tan]

I complained to my dealer about the white screen thing when it was in for an oil change last week, they replaced the cluster and said there was a service bulletin for the issue.

all years? if this is true then i'll be calling to make an appointment to have mine fixed

[blackfunk]

Is this covered under any tsb? I'm just out of warranty.

No TSB, I'm still under warranty though.

[roadkillrob]

all years? if this is true then i'll be calling to make an appointment to have mine fixed

I will late if the service bulletin number is listed on my paperwork tomorrow

[604_s4]

Any updates OP?

[Mr.Tan]

kinda dead, but i wanted to give my own update to anyone who may have issues... I took my car in today and dropped it off for some service work. Metioned the screen in cluster went white on me a couple weeks ago for a day. They are replacing the entire cluster for me because they've heard its happened before and aren't taking any risks.


so if any of you had this problem and are still under warranty, take it in and have it looked at.

[akenharris]

Alright, so on Valentines day Cupid worked his magic and my display came back on. No less than 5 minutes later it went out again. I had an appointment to drop my car off at Audi on the 18th of February, and that morning my Display came back on. So it works again. My display has gone from completely dead (the day I posted this thread itself) to back and fine (as of 18-2-2015). I will keep updates as to whether it happens again, my local dealership has the part in case it does go out again.

[roadkillrob]

For anyone that has these weird issues, get a video of it when happening - the dealer uses it as evidence of the issue to justify the replacement, so makes it a bit easier to get replaced.

[06SilverA3]

Similarly, my '09 A4 Quattro Cabriolet S-line (8H B7) instrument panel displays, all 3, the central large DIS and both small red mileage/odometer/date etc. at the bottom of the speedo and tacho are black. Because all 3 are out it feels like they lost a common ground or power line, but fuses all check out and there's nothing amiss with the wiring or connectors to the rear of the cluster. The gauges and idiot lights work fine, and the car runs fine, and no VCDS codes relating to this at all. What are my options?

Can I repair this?
Do I send this out for repair?
Do I buy a used replacement and have it cloned?
Do I buy a used replacement and clone it myself?
Do I take out a third mortgage and drop it off at the dealership?

Thoughts?

[f1torrents]

get a used cluster and swap the display. Its just plugged in, No soldering or wiring.
You just have to remove the cluster and open it.
3/10 difficulty.

Assuming the display is at fault of course.

[06SilverA3]

get a used cluster and swap the display. Its just plugged in, No soldering or wiring.
You just have to remove the cluster and open it.
3/10 difficulty.

Assuming the display is at fault of course.

Sounds simple . Can I do that for all 3 displays, are they all attached separately?

[f1torrents]

Oh sorry. I didn't catch that the smaller ones are out as well.
I jumped the gun on that.

disregard my previous post.