First of Hi all, my first post here.

 

This is a two part question. First of all I have a 2006 Octavia TDI 2.0 with DSG. I have Googled around but can't quite find the answers I am looking for.

 

Today when I tried to start the car, it would fire up, but then cut out after about two seconds. The dash cluster LED display had some corruption (random pixels showing) and none of the dash lights are working. I am guessing that the engine is cutting out because the immobiliser is some how kicking in due to the failed cluster (I take is the two systems are linked?).

 

So my first question, would you agree this sound like a malfunctioned cluster unit, and replacing it is likely to fix the problem, i.e. I am not over looking anything else, apart from maybe a loose connector at the back, which leads me to my next question...

 

...how do I get the cluster out! I have attached a photo of it so far, with the two screws at the bottom taken out (marked by the red lines), but it seems very stuck. I had a mechanic friend around today who could not remove it (then it got dark). So, again, what am I missing?

 

Many thanks in advance.

Get the car scanned

 

The immobiliser is built in the cluster

 

There could be several causes for the immobiliser kicking in

 

To get the cluster out

 

Insert a trim tool

 

and using a slim ruler, release the metal clips and gently pull

 

 

As "Eddie" says get it scanned as the cluster is the brain of the immobiliser system or is a major part.

Had my cluster replaced a couple of weeks ago by main dealer for a different reason they had both keys and had the car for a good few hours, everything needed to be re-coded apparently.

Cheers all.

 

Have managed to get it scanned and its reporting a failure in the immobiliser and cluster management system.

 

There does not appear to be any power getting to it. If I put the side lights on, the various lights in the car light up but not the dash cluster itself.

buy a cluster with matching part number to yours. You need to get the SKC(pin code) from your original cluster. Something like VAG Commander etc will do this. As the cluster is dead the SKC would have to be read from the ECU instead as it's normally read from the cluster.

Then you need to fit the new cluster & read the SKC from them also. Once that's done it's very straight forward to code the new cluster in with VCDS. Once the cluster is coded you then have to turn the ignition off for 1 min. Then you have to program the keys back in using the SKC from original clusters as you will have changed the SKC of the new cluster to the SKC of old cluster during coding. You can correct the mileage with VAG Commander

It could be immob 3 or 4 in your car

http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/Immobilizer_III_Immobilizer_Swapping_%28Instrument_Cluster%29

http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/Immobilizer_IV_Immobilizer_Swapping_%28Instrument_Cluster%29

the above is immob 3, below is immob 4. Very similar procedure other than waiting for "immob adaption active" being on the dash

http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/Immobilizer_IV_Immobilizer_Swapping_%28Instrument_Cluster%29

Well, an update. It works! What did I do? Nothing!

 

Left it a few days till I got some trim removal tools ready to take the cluster out, and thought I would just try turning the car over just in case. Well, the cluster all lit up but the battery was almost flat and the engine would not fire up. After jumping off my other car it started and has been fine since.

 

I have read that water can get in behind the dash and that may have caused the issue, but I see no obvious signs of water. Maybe having the trim out for a few days allowed it to dry out?

 

But thanks to all that posted to help me out :-)

Edited 9 November, 201312 yr by GuardianAngel