cmg011

2003 Carrera 4 Cabriolet Manual Transmission 62,000 Miles Greetings: For what its worth, I have been dealing with instrument cluster problems for the past few months and hopefully my experiences can save others from the considerable time and expense I have encountered in slaying this demon as follows: - Instrument cluster experienced sudden failure in June 2010. No Speed, Tachometer, Hazard Lights, Fuel Gauge, cluster lighting, etc. Odometer, Voltage, Turn Signals working. Oil Pressure registering incorrectly. - Local independent scanned cluster for fault… found “P1601” can timeout. Unable to repair - Diagnosis charge: $100. - Sent cluster to VDO authorized shop for repair. Unable to repair - Diagnosis charge: $0. - Purchased "new" replacement instrument cluster from dismantler with 16 miles on odometer. - Cost: $800. - Fault diagnosis/clearing and reprogramming new cluster by Rector Porsche/Audi. - Cost $300. - Failure of newly installed cluster occurs within 100 miles after installation and programming. - Purchased second replacement instrument cluster from dismantler with 17,000 miles on odometer. - Cost: $550. - Fault diagnosis/clearing and reprogramming cluster #2 by Rector Porsche/Audi. - Cost $300. - Failure of cluster #2 occurs within 300 miles after installation and programming. - Car taken to electrical specialist to diagnosis underlying cause of failure. - Unable to determine cause: 11 hours labor- Cost $1,000. - Car taken to Rector Porsche/Audi for diagnosis - Two weeks in shop to determine cause of failure. - Cost $1,100. - CAUSE OF FAILURE DETERMINED TO BE FUEL LEVEL SENDING SENSOR. (Fuel dissolved wire insulation, exposing hot wire. Full tank of gas exposes bare wire to fuel resulting in spike to instrument cluster, (bypasses fuse block/fuses), thus destroying cluster. Known issue to PCNA, yet no TSB disseminated and only was identified after intervention by district manager). - PCNA declines request from dealer for customer financial support. - Sent damaged cluster to different repair facility - BBA Remanufacturing for repair. Unable to repair - Diagnosis charge: $30. (PCNA prohibits VDO from providing any schematics or documentation to third-parties). - Purchased replacement instrument cluster #3 from dismantler with 20,000 miles on odometer. - Cost: $550. - Fault diagnosis/clearing and reprogramming cluster #3 by Rector Porsche/Audi. Unable to reset mileage - Cost $300. - Remaining task requires mileage reset. - Cost approximately $200. Total Cost: $5,230 EXPERIENCE: PRICELESS Moral of my sordid story ... If your instrument cluster fails, assume there is an underlying issue, (which may be linked to the fuel level sensor), prior to simply replacing cluster. Christopher Stocker