Good evening. I'm new here, but as odd event this evening caused me to search the pages here and finding nothing I thought I'd post a question. I have a 66 plate Octavia 1.4 TSI SE-L Hatch; it's been no trouble since purchase in September, but this evening as I started the engine and then reversed to turn around in the lay by I was parked in, I heard an alarm bleep (the one that seems to bleep when ever the temp drops below 4deg or the front sensor detects a car in proximity etc... I looked down quickly, but there was nothing shown and then I realised that the entire central display (between the rev and speedo dial) was dark (out). I waited and then tried pushing a few buttons but to no avail. I used the voice system to nav-home and the main display worked as fine, but the dashboard showed no central display (digital speedo, mpg, nav next turn etc etc etc). As I drove home, I checked the cruise control and whilst it worked, there was no visual showing that it was engaged. When I got home. I switched it all off and looked at the manual. I then switched the ignition back on and the display cam up as normal.

It is possible that as I reversed, I pushed one of the steering wheel buttons as the temp alert (if thats what it was) beeped... but I can't think of anything else. 

It was annoying and looked like a form of bug.... but has anyone else experienced this?

 

Thanks for any help that can be provided.

 

Jon

Its called the maxidot display.

Have you tried cycling through the screens using the right button on the steering wheel?

The button brings up the menu, then the scroll wheel lets you select the one you want.

This may reactivate it.

Its called the maxidot display.

Have you tried cycling through the screens using the right button on the steering wheel?

The button brings up the menu, then the scroll wheel lets you select the one you want.

This may reactivate it.

Hi... thanks for the reply. Yup... tried that; tried everything. Nothing activated it... apart from the traditional power down and power up again. In addition to the loss of display, the passenger airbag off light was lit (next to the hazards switch)... all seems ok now, so I presume I just managed to confuse it somehow, but it would be nice to know if a fix is available to resolve this should it happen again as I've no idea how it happened.

J

If it happens again get your dealer to run a diagnostic, sounds like there may be a fault.

This isn't something I've heard of before from the forum.

 

It could just be a software bug which you were unlucky enough to have the right conditions at the time to trigger.

It could also be an indication of the start of a physical problem like the connector not enaged fully (so losing conection due to vibration) or damaged wiring etc.

 

 

As Glosrich suggests, ask your dealer to take a look.

A physical fault may logged a error code for them to investigate although if it is a strange software bug these are often quite difficult for a dealer to diagnose/accept & it seems often they are not given the autorisation to "update to the last SW" without approval from VW.