There seem to be more reports of instrument cluster soldered-in LEDs failing, the LEDs maybe coming to the end of their life?.

 

Does anyone know the correct replacement LED type?. Maybe any 12v item from RS or Maplin?. I also fancy fitting red LEDs to give red tinted instrument needles.

 

I am able to solder them in OK, but would like help with sourcing the parts.

 

New clusters are about £1000, used on Ebay about £100 - which will be incorrect ,mileage and may have other problems.

 

thanks in advance

 

Octavia 2012 1.6 tdi SE Estate

All red leds run on about 2.7 volts,and white leds need about 3.4 volts .A resistor about 560 ohms is needed in series  to work from a 12 volt dc supply. I think you will find the printed circuit has all the resistors needed in place. If you put 12 volts across an led it will blow it out.  So you just need to replace each led for the colour you want. I would google led to find out more.

Edited 25 April, 201610 yr by AndyPandy

It's certainly possible to replace all the LED's, it'll depend how good you are at soldering

 

They are SMD (surface mount) rather than through hole so I'm not sure if Maplin will sell anything that's the right size. RS or eBay would be a better bet.

 

To give you an idea of what you'll need to do, the attached image is a FL maxidot cluster PCB.

 

I've hightlighted the LEDs responsible for:

- needle illumination in red

- dial illumination in blue

- MFD/maxidot illumination (these shine across the board) in yellow

- all others are for various warning lights

 

I'm new to Skodas and just bought a 2011 Octavia VRS. The Rev counter needle LED was intermittent which was really irritating.

I took it to a company called cartronix in Waterlooville (fortunately less than a mile from where I live)... They replaced all the LED's and refitted it for £190, it took about 35 minutes and now has a lifetime guarantee.

It was done whilst I waited with no prior booking, and they were very familiar with the issue.

It was paid for by the garage I bought it from under warrantee, but I would have happily paid £190 if it wasn't covered under a warrante because its such an overt problem when it's dark!.

I don't think that you would have a problem with the mileage if you replaced the panel, as I think that this is held in the ECU.  Maybe someone who knows better can confirm/deny this.

I don't think that you would have a problem with the mileage if you replaced the panel, as I think that this is held in the ECU.  Maybe someone who knows better can confirm/deny this.

 

The odometer is part of the instrument cluster so if you swap for a used cluster, you'll need specialist tools to correct it.

 

For new clusters, dealer tools can set the odometer during the first 100km.

Quite right langers2k.  A bit more Googling shows you will indeed have odometer problems with a new cluster.

 

It seems that the mileage is held in both the ECU and the cluster, with the ECU holding the "true" mileage (if you don't change that unit too). 

 

So you will have problems with a new cluster. More info here:

 

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=267848

The led chips used in the clusters are 3528 smd's. I changed all of mine to white and it was a very fiddly job but it can be down if your very carefull with the solder.