Dash Warning Lights Fault - Intermittent Dim

[Leo52]

Hi All.

I know there have been several threads already on this topic, but none are concluded, so thought I'd start again....

 

I have an issue with the Warning Lights in the Instrument cluster.

 

When some warning lights are (legitimately) illuminated, it makes others come on at half (unquantified!) brightness, i.e. When indicating right, the Cruise light flashes, when the low fuel light is on, the Amber oil level light comes on.

When no warning lights are on, no half lit ones are on.

 

To me, it sounds like a bad earth. did some digging and found that some of the sensors are all earthed at point 374, Earth Connector 9 - Wiring Harness. Does anyone know where on the car this is?

 

I have had an issue with the car steaming up recently, so thought like the Passat the car would have some electronics/connectors under the carpet that may have corroded. Had a peek under the carpets at the weekend and no connectors. Cleaned all of the earths on the A-pillars while I was there, but did not help.

 

Battery and Charging system is ok.

 

Any suggestions?

[pikpilot]

See my post in the thread "Green clock with arrow and left indicator light on dash when lights on"

[Leo52]

Hi Picpilot. Thanks for the reply.

I looked at your post in the link. So you had results from leaving your car to 'dry out'? It's great that you figured out a way of reacting to the problem, but did you find a permanent fix to stop the problem in the first place?

Maybe removing the instrument cluster and cleaning the connector, or cleaning a specific connector/Earth/pcb?

I want to get rid if this permanently as it's driving me nuts!

 

Thanks in advance! 

[pikpilot]

I do not intend going any further as this is a one off event due to long term little use during current restrictions. The contacts etc. were probably bridged by moisture/water and for only a few days and so unlikely to have produced any corrosion. In your case I would dry out the interior of the car as I did and then do more unless there is a permanent problem.

 

My car has climate control and I make full use of that to keep the humidity around 80% (factory setting and not adjustable.) This works well even on rainy days to remove any misting very quickly.

 

It does that by using the very cold air from the air con to condense water vapour out from the incoming air before passing the air to the heater and then into the cabin at your set temperature.

 

Some people who have never had climate control can think it is wrong to run the air con even in winter, but even in cars with manual control, the driver's handbook can still recommend the use of air con to demist the windows.

 

If you have climate control in your car I suggest you set it to AUTO, or push the AC button, then set the temperature control to your liking. Only one small disadvantage is that the outlet air is cool (but dry) until the engine warms up.

 

The Mk 2 Octavia does not have a clutch for air con engagement but instead the compressor is engaged all the time. However, the stroke of the pistons is varied by a swash plate that can control piston displacement from zero to max. This makes a huge difference in efficiency compared with the older bang bang method of modulation.

 

I cannot detect any increase in fuel consumption with it on, except during the hottest summer days.

 

[Leo52]

Issue now resolved.

After checking all of the earths and reading all contributions on this forum, I concluded that the fault was in the cluster itself.

Rather than get it repaired, I took the opportunity to get a Maxidot cluster as an upgrade.

Fortunately one was available and a very kind, patient and competent forum member reprogrammed it for me.

All re-fitted and working well.