RPM gauge light issue

[andyEm]

Hi

 

I am wondering (before AD service visit) what could be a reason that lower part of my RPM gauge not illuminaiting

On the RPM gaue only engine gauge and from 30-50 illuminating , from 10/20 and above 60/70 etc not illuminating

 

any idea what could be a reason? maybe you know smth about some tsb regarding similar symptoms?

I assume that AD suggests gauge change for some incredible amount of money....

 

rgds

my car is 11MY superb 3.6 sedan

[psycholist]

It's probably a solder connection to the LED's on the board in the control panel. I have the same thing on the top of the speedometer. I actually spotted it failing as I was driving as it flickered a couple of times before it went out - my car is a 2011 too, but this is a VW part issue rather than a Skoda specific problem.

 

You dealer will tell you the instrument panel is not serviceable, but it comes out of the car very easily. Drop the steering wheel to it's lowest, remove the trim each side and there are 2 bolts (T20 or T25 I think). Undo them and wiggle the instrument panel past the edge of the centre vents, undo the plug at the back and your done. Also you can lock the car with the instrument panel missing, which is handy.

 

To take it apart there are a few videos on youtube, but once you know that sliding a small screwdriver into a rectangular hole in each of the plastic clips holding the instrument panel together releases the clips everything is easy until you get to the point where you need to remove the needles. This is where I decided to stop as the needles are too well attached for me to risk forcing them. Also be careful what you use as you can mark the needles or the black plastic behind them if you use anything hard on them.

 

After this failed attempt I got some advice from a youtube video showing how to do this for a VW Golf (The panel is the same in certain models:

)

 

He said he had to twist the needles anticlockwise quite hard before they popped off their axles. Twisting the needles clockwise incidentally isn't a problem (I did it while I had the panel apart with no ill effects) provided you leave them turned to their anticlockwise limit stop before powering the instrument panel again (This may not matter either as the needle sweep may reset the position calibration each time you start the car).

 

Each needle is driven by a stepper motor and the axles on them are not very heavy (Not to mind the question over whether the motor or the needle will break first), so for the moment I'm leaving it alone, but once winter hits properly and keeps me indoors I might go at it again. You lose the time and trip data when you unplug the instrument panel, but the odometer is unaffected.

Edited 23 November, 2015 by psycholist

[numskull]

It's probably a solder connection to the LED's on the board in the control panel. I have the same thing on the top of the speedometer. I actually spotted it failing as I was driving as it flickered a couple of times before it went out - my car is a 2011 too, but this is a VW part issue rather than a Skoda specific problem.

 

You dealer will tell you the instrument panel is not serviceable, but it comes out of the car very easily. Drop the steering wheel to it's lowest, remove the trim each side and there are 2 bolts (T20 or T25 I think). Undo them and wiggle the instrument panel past the edge of the centre vents, undo the plug at the back and your done. Also you can lock the car with the instrument panel missing, which is handy.

 

To take it apart there are a few videos on youtube, but once you know that sliding a small screwdriver into a rectangular hole in each of the plastic clips holding the instrument panel together releases the clips everything is easy until you get to the point where you need to remove the needles. This is where I decided to stop as the needles are too well attached for me to risk forcing them. Also be careful what you use as you can mark the needles or the black plastic behind them if you use anything hard on them.

 

After this failed attempt I got some advice from a youtube video showing how to do this for a VW Golf (The panel is the same in certain models: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFC5JviTPI8 )

 

He said he had to twist the needles anticlockwise quite hard before they popped off their axles. Twisting the needles clockwise incidentally isn't a problem (I did it while I had the panel apart with no ill effects) provided you leave them turned to their anticlockwise limit stop before powering the instrument panel again (This may not matter either as the needle sweep may reset the position calibration each time you start the car).

 

Each needle is driven by a stepper motor and the axles on them are not very heavy (Not to mind the question over whether the motor or the needle will break first), so for the moment I'm leaving it alone, but once winter hits properly and keeps me indoors I might go at it again. You lose the time and trip data when you unplug the instrument panel, but the odometer is unaffected.

Brill write up!

[peterposh]

Make sure you wear gloves so you don't leave fingerprints on it , as they are sure to be seen when you've reassembled it