Audi A3 8L Dash Display Dead Pixel Repair

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just tried this on mine, and sadly, it's no different. I was fairly cautious with the heat though, so perhaps I need to try it again....

Either way, it's not killed it or made it any worse, so I'm not too fussed.

Only took 30 mins too. So simple, just daunting.
 
OK... a complete failure for me this weekend. And it's not because the fix didn't work...it's because the layout of the back of the gauges is completely different from the manual posted here!!! So I panicked, put everything together and left it as it was...
I couldn't even take the needles out!!

Here's how mine looks:
07062009229.jpg


07062009230.jpg


Yeah, I know I suck....but instructions for this one would be nice!!
 
mine was slightly different too, but the process IS just the same, even if it doesn't appear so at first.

You have to really pull very hard on the needles at first, it's very daunting, and feel wrong.

trust me though, they are just put fit.

my temp now reads 88 degrees after refitting, which is SO annoying, but I can't be bothered to pull it all apart again!
 
wow that does looks completely different.
i'm sure that it must still have the same bit there somewhere.
what does the other side looks like ?
 
Cant be worse than what i did, before i fully read the instructions i turned the rev needle anti-clockwise haha, the needle rested past the time display, bricked it haha
 
The front looks pretty much the same... (I forgot to take a picture of it)
I'm not sure if some of the plastic clips need to be removed. Some of these are holding the needle "coils" (see red squares on pic below). But honestly what really stopped me were the needles themselves!!!
display2.jpg
 
The front looks pretty much the same... (I forgot to take a picture of it)
I'm not sure if some of the plastic clips need to be removed. Some of these are holding the needle "coils" (see red squares on pic below). But honestly what really stopped me were the needles themselves!!!
Click to expand...

Sorry i can't comment at all on it. I'm not an expert just simply an owner that was truely annoyed how unsightly a bad DIS looks so i fixed it. I'm a technician and by nature i like to fix such things.
I hope you get it sorted out but I can't see the metal brackets which surround the screen from the back there so I have no idea what might need to be done.
Keep us updated if you try again though :)
 
Thanks Nynex!
Now that I know that the needles are supposed to come out straight up I would try it again next weekend (I have to fix a coolant leak that I found yesterday first).
I'll let you guys know how it goes...
 
i have seen that a lot of people have been downloading the tutorial, just wondering what kind of results people are getting or if they have tried.
anyone?
 
Hey, I have now fixed this problem 3 times, 1 under warrenty, 1 at 600.USD and 1 at a 30 min. repair thanks to Nynex !!! 99 A6, went totally dark display after sitting in 106 f.heat for 20 mins. with air on. Did removal, and back of cluster. Removed only the metal frame, gently smoothed the blue tape back down a few times and reassembled. Works perfect! If it does it again will do same except add the step of 'shimming' the frame tighter to push the blue tape down and keep it down. Many Many Thanks!!
 
Hi all

I recently bought a 51 reg A3 1.8 Turbo Sport. and obviously the screen doesnt work, i can just about make out what its suposed to say but other than that - not a clue.

i thought that when I bought it i would get used to the fact that it was dead and i didnt know what i was missing anyway so i would live without it.

now its just p££sing me off. i tried to watch the picture instruction but it wont let me download it.

im wondering if you could send me the link in a diferent form or even post it onto youtube with a link.

hope to hear from you (fingers crossed all the way):think:
 
Hi all

I recently bought a 51 reg A3 1.8 Turbo Sport. and obviously the screen doesnt work, i can just about make out what its suposed to say but other than that - not a clue.

i thought that when I bought it i would get used to the fact that it was dead and i didnt know what i was missing anyway so i would live without it.

now its just p££sing me off. i tried to watch the picture instruction but it wont let me download it.

im wondering if you could send me the link in a diferent form or even post it onto youtube with a link.

hope to hear from you (fingers crossed all the way):think:
Click to expand...

The instructions are in pdf format and can be downloaded from that link. it's not a video so it's not on youtube.
what exactly is not working with the download link, maybe i can help.
 
whats the trick to putting the needles back in the correct place. Thats the only thing putting me off.

Is it just trial and error???
 
kitpayne said:
whats the trick to putting the needles back in the correct place. Thats the only thing putting me off.

Is it just trial and error???
Click to expand...

Before taking the needles off, lift them so they go past the stopper and then take a pic with your moby/digi camera. Refit them with the pic in hand before moving them back past the stoppers again.
 
there is a rubber strip that the lcd screen sits on, well there is 2 actually one either side of the screen that props it in place. if they fell out by mistake the screen won't work. maybe that's the problem with it.
 
hi, many thanks, also tried fix, nothing changed, I will tray ones more, bit more heat.
how long you heated it?
 
i think that without the rubber strips either side for the screen to sit on that is what will happen, because the backlight will be on but no pixels will come on.
good luck.
 
would like to say im relieved to find a diy fix for this problem, ive just gone a bought myself a nice s3 that has lost alot of pixel lines in the display and was thinking i would have to pay £150 for the fix, il give it a go soon and il post up me before and after pics, anything free has to be worth the go before paying good money for it ;)
 
you did managed to fix your dash ??? someone can film this proces and put on youtube for example !!! that will be so good !
 
Thanks for the tutorial nynex. I have a 99 Tdi A4 Avant and gave your fix a go yesterday. No problems with the removal, just a bit nervous when levering off the needles. I used a hair dryer but was unsure whether it is the top edge (flush with the screen) or the side face under the blue tape where the contacts are? Either way it hasn't worked, if anything I have lost more pixels. having said that it was quite bad to start with so no great loss. One thing also I could find no plastic strips under my screen as described but not exactly the same console as the one described.
 
tried this on mine and it made it worse to be honest, oh well worth a shot
 
No offence but this thread needs removing, its doing more harm than good by the looks of it, didnt work on mine just made it worse.
 
Same here mate. Mine was bas but had its good days, now its just shot.
 
I gave this a go, and it has made it better (not fixed it). I did not use tape though, I used pieces of card.

I am taking it out tomorrow and will re solder the joints onto the PCB as I am sure there are a few dry joints in there?

I will try to make a video and upload to Utube. Hopefully it will work.....

The trick I found with the dials was to first unscrew them anticlockwise and that sets the motor at 0, so when you put them back on, screw them back in anti clockwise until you are on 0 on the dials. worked 100% on mine.

Will report back.

Also if anyone has a spare cluster, I will dismantle it and find out the actual problem. PM me if you do. a broken one preferably!
:faint: Well i have bigger problems with my A3, i will post them later....
 
nate_ said:
I gave this a go, and it has made it better (not fixed it). I did not use tape though, I used pieces of card.

I am taking it out tomorrow and will re solder the joints onto the PCB as I am sure there are a few dry joints in there?

I will try to make a video and upload to Utube. Hopefully it will work.....

The trick I found with the dials was to first unscrew them anticlockwise and that sets the motor at 0, so when you put them back on, screw them back in anti clockwise until you are on 0 on the dials. worked 100% on mine.

Will report back.

Also if anyone has a spare cluster, I will dismantle it and find out the actual problem. PM me if you do. a broken one preferably!
:faint: Well i have bigger problems with my A3, i will post them later....
Click to expand...

Can plastic be removed and the dash reinstalled so that you can physically touch the display with the car turned on so you can test what pushing/compressing the LCD together acutally does?
 
i will be trying this guy after xmas at the moment he has not relisted for some reason, but i will message him in the new year, by what i can see he has 100% feedback and nothing but good reviews.
maybe he would do some sort of deal if more people were intrested, i just cant live with mine as it is and £200 from this guy compared to £500 from audi, take your pick :)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AUDI-TT-INSTR...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item1e594f3655
 
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If people are finding that doing this makes things worse then please do remove it. I only made the tutorial to help with a subject I foubd to be poorly documented. Doing this did fix mine and it's been fixed ever since and still works perfectly. It has been downloaded literally thousands of times and as far as I see the people which have had problems are the people that posted saying things such as I wasn't sure how to take needles off or I wasn't sure how much heat to apply. Just my opinion of course. It was only ever meant to help the community.
 
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