Electronic gremlins

[rob hod]

 Very interesting mike, - For a while now on my '88 100 my digital clock
backlighting has been intermittant with the lights on. (it should just dim
when you turn the headlights on, but as often as not it just goes out). To
be honest I've lived with it as it's not a big problem to me, however at the
weekend on a long journey (in the wet) the speedo started cutting out, again
no huge biggy but if I had the cruise on, of course it would take out the
cruise control with it... Doh!

Funny thing was that using the left indicator brought the speedo back to
life temporarily (until I turned it off)! Anyway I suspected ingress of
moisture and/or earthing issues. Certainly it seemed to be behaving itself
OK again today.

 However is it the case that this link in the cluster could be the problem?
or part of the problem?

 Cheers, Rob.

> Message: 3
> Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2005 11:21:12 -0400
> From: Mike Arman <armanmik at earthlink.net>
> Subject: Electronic gremlins
> To: quattro at audifans.com
> Cc: "m35a1 at juno.com" <m35a1 at juno.com>
> Message-ID: <6.1.2.0.0.20050727110914.0285ed20 at mail.earthlink.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed;
> x-avg-checked=avg-ok-2CE33313
>
>
> >: "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
>
>