2 weeks ago my car suddenly failed whilst driving home. The symptoms: all dashboard displays (LEDs and needles) not working/blank, power steering not working.  When I got home I turned it off and tried to restart.  Upshot is that Dash-Instr-Clus fuse was blown and prevents engine starting.  When I replace the fuse I can start the engine but display panel goes blank and power steering fails, engine keeps running but once it's turned off you have to replace the fuse to restart car.  Green Flag breakdown chap's diagnostic box gave this error: 'Throttle Acuator Control Module Performance'.  Local Skoda dealer checked it out and advised that dash panel insert was faulty, new one required (quoting £1,220 to replace it).  I instead decided to send the Dash-Instr-Clus to ECU Testing who advised 'no fault found but indicates intermittent fault present'.  I was given option of them rebuilding/repairing the Dash-Instr-Clus, which I agreed to.  Got the Dash-Instr-Clus back from ECU Testing today and reinstalled it, but it does exactly as described above: blows new fuse (10 amp in though only 5 amp needed) when starting car, knocking out all displays on the dash panel.  Any suggestions gratefully received!

Paul, if at all possible get a VCDS scan done with new fuse in but dont start the engine. This should indicate any faults. I take it that the "dash panel insert" is the instrument cluster?

Thanks, will suggest that to whichever garage I can next get it into. Yes, 'dash panel insert' seems to be same as 'dashboard instrument cluster'

Depending on where you are, it maybe possible for one of the members on here with VCDS to scan it for you.

3 miles north of Gloucester