Hello to the big Skoda community! Im new here and proud owner of an Octavia 1u5 4x4 Diesel. Love the car much more everyday, but i have a problem with my FIS display. Its very faded and i cant see nothing when its warm. Sometimes when its cold in the morning i can read it clearly, but once i drive few minutes or the cars is getting warmer, its gone again. I will be greatful to hear any sugesstions or advices. Much love, Mihail

Could you expand "FIS" @Masha ? Even in German, that will make it clearer what you mean.

FIS is probably be the multi function display in the instrument cluster.

It's not a problem unheard of, I would say:

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=284384

https://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?4798493-MFA-(Multi-Function-Indicator-Display)-fade-Is-there-any-solution

http://www.pixelfix.net/eng/audi-vw-seat.html

 

Basically, it seems that the LCD itself starts to fail. You can get a new one and solder it in, but I understand it's expensive and fiddly.

These guys might be able to help with repairs, but at about €200: https://www.tachopix.de/index.php

 

It might be cheaper to just swap the whole FIS cluster... or get a funky upgrade like this:  https://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?8474369-Awesomel-cluster-upgrade

Both probably require reprogramming when fitted, but I'm sure we can help with that...

 

 

On 26/09/2018 at 15:09, KenONeill said:

Could you expand "FIS" @Masha ? Even in German, that will make it clearer what you mean.

 

From Nihilator at VWVortex:

FAQ: Instrument Cluster / Immobilizer / MFA / FIS
What’s the difference between FIS, MFA, MFD, etc?

MFA stands for Multifunction Anzeige, or Multi-Function Indicator. The MFA cluster has an LCD screen backlit by red LEDs. It takes up the bottom half of the box in the middle of the cluster, and the top half has the usual assortment of idiot lights. MFA clusters came in a variety of MKIV models, including most VR6s, most GLI models, and VWs with GLX trim or technology packages. The MFA is a glorified trip computer. In the top third of the screen it shows fuel economy (instantaneous and average), average speed, distance traveled, elapsed time, and (when enabled) distance remaining until the tank is empty. In addition, there are two separate sets of data. The first set of data resets after your car has been turned off for about two hours. The second set will continue to accumulate miles, time, etc., until you reset it manually or you reach 9999 miles or 99 hours. You toggle between the two sets with a button on the wiper stalk.
In the middle third of the screen, it shows the outside temperature, as read by the outside temperature sensor behind the driver’s side front bumper grille. If the cluster is installed in an automatic or tiptronic, the bottom third of the screen will show the gear the car is in.

FIS stands for Fahrerinformationsystem, or Driver Information System. The FIS cluster has an LCD screen backlit by red LEDs in the middle of the cluster, which takes up the whole rectangular area where most VWs have idiot lights. The FIS cluster shows the same information that the MFA cluster does, but you can also toggle from the trip computer to a main menu, where you can choose to see “car status” (the equivalent of idiot lights and warnings), “navigation” (if you have a Navi installed), or you can turn the LCD screen off.

MFD stands for “Multi-Function Display”, and is just another word for the factory Navigation system. I mention it here because the acronym is frequently confused with MFA.
All cars with FIS or MFA clusters also came equipped two items: a windshield wiper stalk with switches to control the functions, and an outside temperature sensor.

 

 

Edited 28 September, 20187 yr by Ttaskmaster

Cheers @Ttaskmaster - At that rate  @Masha it's either the LEDs that are failing or the LCD matrix that's leaking. It may be possible to replace the LEDs, but if the LCD goes you need a whole new display.