Replacing Cluster

[Speedy]

Hi Folks

I have a 2000 A4 1.8TQS. I have the common computer display failure and have bought a brand new "cheap" replacement cluster off EBay to use. It is the correct white dial cluster but in KMH but I'm not really bothered about not having MPH. Should I:

1. Get someone to code the new cluster to the car - if so who other than a main dealer could do this? Is VAG-Com capable of this?

2. Attempt to desolder and swap the displays over so I retain my cluster/coding etc?

3. None of the above - not worth the bother?

Cheers

 

[Beerzo]

I would get it VAG-COM'd as and get the millage matched as if you ever sell the car and that doesnt match up will be hard to shift.
I would also try and keep the MPH faces as again if you sell it or trade it in it would set alarm bells off in the buyer. I know i wouldnt touch a UK car with KPH dials. Just makes it look as if it was been clocked.

 

[Broken Byzan]

My understanding is unless you have the SKC code for the new cluster its a dealer only swap @ £90 ish.Thats why i havnt changed mine over yet. I dismantled it to see how difficult it would be to swap just the display,and found that is well beyond my skills

 

[Speedy]

The car's done 135000 miles so it's worth very little now anyway - I'm not really bothered about the resale issues. Of course it's worth plenty to me but I'll keep it a while longer yet...

Whats an SKC code?

 

[Beerzo]

Think the SKC code is what allows you to pair it to the car and correct the millage. I might be worng though.

 

[shineydave]

nope, more or less right. it's the Security Key Code and allows you to match the immobilisor chips to the cluster and the cluster to the car. AFAIK neither Vag-com nor Audi can change the mileage if the new cluster has more than 100 miles on it although i believe some specialists can do this.

 

[Speedy]

OK, cool. I've found the SKC on the plastic tag on the master key. The garage has VAGCom but say my KM/H replacement cluster is illegal so I have some MPH stickers which I can put on the dial without it looking *****. What a pain in the @rse. The garage only recently got VAGCom so they say they'll have a go but it may or may not work.... I'm thinking it may be easier to swap the display (desoldering/resoldering) but I haven't looked inside the cluster yet....

 

[Broken Byzan]

I will take a pic of inside the cluster later,is is going to be no mean feat to solder/swap the dispaly over IMO

 

[AndyMac]

I seem to remember the display is a surface mount component with about 100legs (could be wrong there but it was alot)

 

[Speedy]

I am going to use the mph face off my old cluster - I have opened the new one but how do the needles come off - I don't want to break them but they either don't come off or they need a lot of force.... Cheers

 

[Broken Byzan]

The needles will pull off,they need quite a lot of force/pursuassion to remove

 

[Speedy]

Nice 1, used a fork. Need to get old cluster out of car next to swap mph face over... Cheers

 

[Lowlife]

Be very careful when you pull the needles off not to bend the spindles as this can cause you all sorts of problems and could put you back to square one. Also in my experience (although not from Audi's) it is worth putting a very small amount of super glue on the needle before you put it back as in the past I've had them fall off after a week or so. Also I would mount the needles with the pod in the dash, plugged in and the ignition on as electronic speedo's have a nasty habbit of the spindle being off 0 MPH when you remount the needles. If this is the case the first time you switch your ignition on and the speedo resets itself you can end up with a positive read (e.g. speedo will read 20 MPH at stand still), or worse a negative read which could result in you getting a speeding ticket. It can be tricky to get it bang on 0 but just take your time and if possible have a couple of practices before doing the final mount.