Electronic gremlins

[Mike Arman]

>: "m35a1 at juno.com" <m35a1 at juno.com>
>Subject: Electronic gremlins
>To: quattro at audifans.com
>
>Hello list.
>I have been getting grief from my '90 V-8 Quattro in the electronics area.
>I followed the thread about the load reduction relay causing similar 
>problems but have not been able to locate this device to check it.
>Problem(s):
>Intermittantly, and with no reason or pattern:
>1. the fuel gauge and temp gauge will not come on. The seatbelt light will 
>then begin to blink and the gauges will flutter while the seatbelt light 
>is blinking 'on', then the belt light will go out and the gauges will work.
>2. the speedo will not register, then suddenly come on.
>3. the oil pressure indicator on the 'systems status' light will come on, 
>even tho there is sufficient oil and the gauge has not gone below 1.8.
>4. the status light will show a bad bulb. when I check, the left rear 
>tailights are out. Flipping the light switch off then on again corrects 
>this situation.


This is not a load reduction relay problem.

You'll get to remove the instrument cluster (dash pad comes off first, 
steering wheel can stay on), carefully dissect it to the point where you 
can remove the two large PC boards. At the junction of the two PC boards, 
there is a green inline pin connection, about nine contacts, slides into an 
inline socket on the other board.

The pin-to-board solder connections get flaky (technical term) after a 
while and need to be CAREFULLY resoldered. Now would also be a good time to 
replace the various instrument lights that are burned out. Put it all back 
together and you will be AMAZED at how well everything seems to work all of 
a sudden. Use some contact enhancer (low-end RatShack or high-end hifi 
store) on everything that slides into everything, and you'll never have to 
do this again.

If you are not comfortable with soldering PC boards and do not have the 
right tools (solder pencil and ROSIN core solder), find someone who is - 
you can destroy the instrument cluster if you are not careful, and then 
your car absolutely will not run, ever again. This isn't a difficult job, 
but it is not for someone who has no electronics experience.

If you are really, really unhappy about doing this, you could overnight me 
the cluster and I'll reflow the connections and send it back to you. I'm in 
Daytona Beach area. No charge, you pay freight both ways ;-)

All your dashboard related electrical gremlins will then be exterminated.


>I had a/c condensate leaking into the cab. I cleaned and re-routed the 
>drain line and solved that problem. There had been condensation on the 
>relays on the pass. floor. I removed each of them and dried them out, then 
>drove for about a week with the carpet removed to let the area dry out.
>A separate matter: I had removed the steering wheel to repair the 
>windshield washer switch. In the process, I had the ignition switch on 
>with the airbag disconnected (which I've learned is a no-no). The airbag 
>light is now on constantly.

Reset with VAG tool something or other - see the archives.


>Anyone offer any advice or instruction regarding the gremlins or the 
>airbag light?
>Thanx
>Ken




Mike Arman
90 V8, not just a car, an ADVENTURE!




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