Dashboard not initialising / blank

[hodgy0_2]

Hi there

My Audi A4 2.0T (2007 Avant) is experiencing the blank dashboard issue (it had been left for 10 days) - never done this before

the only lights are ESC, ABS and Airbag

It starts but stops - which I believe is the immobilizer kicking in

I have recharged the battery (it is newish and was deffo not flat), put new batteries in both key fobs

I have checked all the fuses (especially fuse 15 - the dashboard one)

apart from completely removing the dashboard any ideas

a scan brings up

Engine
49493: Problem of no communication with instrument cluster
01299 : Issue in Diagnostic Interface for Data Bus (J533
01796 : Issue in Telematics SIM Card

Airbag
01317 : Issue in Instrument Cluster (J285)
00474 : Issue in Control Module for Immobilizer (J334)

there seem to be a few threads on it but few "this is what the fix was"

any assistance would be great

 

[hodgy0_2]

OK I have fixed this - after half dismantling the car and replacing various components like the body control module & body comfort module (two entirely different modules btw) cleaning all the earth points, taking both set of front carpets up - the driver's side was full of water, so not wasted - i suspect a poorly (garage) refitted ECU was the root cause as they broke the Lower Windscreen Scuttle Trim which was letting water in, so that whole side behind the dash & drivers footwell was very wet / damp - this was a few years ago - i had repaired it, but I think my repair eventually failed

​

the TLDR version was that the cluster was faulty - i sent it away to https://www.clusterrepairsuk.co.uk/

they diagnosed a power issue - re fitted it and all sorted

they were pretty good tbh

 

[B7Tourer]

Check your drain holes in the scuttle area, under the battery - they get clogged and water sloshes around and then drips in under the glovebox - this is the usual cause of this. Especially if the other was 'a few years ago' and it was still very wet/damp only recently. Best to remove the drain bungs entirely - I did on mine, and it's never happened again.

 

[PDLH]

Funny that my B6 I've never had issues with the scuttle area getting topped up with water in 23 years of ownership as it came with a plenium cover as standard. What can only be assumed as a 5 euros cost saving during production back in 2007 on the B7, with the remove of the plenium chamber cover except on the high end models and I now have to declog the drain holes at least once every 12- 18 months or risk flooded footwells and wrecked modules. That's progress for you

 

[B7Tourer]

Funny that my B6 I've never had issues with the scuttle area getting topped up with water in 23 years of ownership as it came with a plenium cover as standard. What can only be assumed as a 5 euros cost saving during production back in 2007 on the B7, with the remove of the plenium chamber cover except on the high end models and I now have to declog the drain holes at least once every 12- 18 months or risk flooded footwells and wrecked modules. That's progress for you

You can add them - I added the plenum cover, battery cover and the side cover over the right of the engine including the screenwasher/power steering resevoirs. You're right penny pinching cost savings seemed to have occured around then, including cheapening out on the galvanising apparently; and that plenum cover does deflect water. But you can also just remove the rubber bungs/grommets on the drain holes certainly helps; I've never had to clear mine and had no water in 4/5 years. I believe the S4/RS4 B7s came with the covers intact; including one over the air con pipe area; which I acquired recently but doesn't fit my lowly 2.0TDI. The ecu box is different too on models that came with the covers, and its lid forms a smooth line with the plenum cover; as it stands that's the only area not covered properly on mine.

 

[hodgy0_2]

Check your drain holes in the scuttle area, under the battery - they get clogged and water sloshes around and then drips in under the glovebox - this is the usual cause of this. Especially if the other was 'a few years ago' and it was still very wet/damp only recently. Best to remove the drain bungs entirely - I did on mine, and it's never happened again.

thanks for the reply

yeah, my scuttle was always dry (i did experience this water in the scuttle with another A4 B6 i had) - that was the problem in a way the water was finding a way to get past the scuttle into the back of the dash / drivers footwell - which i think was the ultimate cause of the cluster failure

I had changed the battery in the summer & i always check the scuttle for water when I do

but i will check the drain plugs again & good shout re removing the plugs

 

[PDLH]

thanks for the reply

yeah, my scuttle was always dry (i did experience this water in the scuttle with another A4 B6 i had) - that was the problem in a way the water was finding a way to get past the scuttle into the back of the dash / drivers footwell - which i think was the ultimate cause of the cluster failure

I had changed the battery in the summer & i always check the scuttle for water when I do

but i will check the drain plugs again & good shout re removing the plugs

you don't have the rare sunroof option? any chance a drain pipe from the sunroof is blocked causing water in the footwell?

 

[PDLH]

You can add them - I added the plenum cover, battery cover and the side cover over the right of the engine including the screenwasher/power steering resevoirs. You're right penny pinching cost savings seemed to have occured around then, including cheapening out on the galvanising apparently; and that plenum cover does deflect water. But you can also just remove the rubber bungs/grommets on the drain holes certainly helps; I've never had to clear mine and had no water in 4/5 years. I believe the S4/RS4 B7s came with the covers intact; including one over the air con pipe area; which I acquired recently but doesn't fit my lowly 2.0TDI. The ecu box is different too on models that came with the covers, and its lid forms a smooth line with the plenum cover; as it stands that's the only area not covered properly on mine.

I've been looking, those parts which cost a few pounds from the dealership back in the day seem to fetch a real premium now. also loads of LHD parts showing on ebay which you need to watch out for. Regarding that A/C cover, I've seen 2 different versions on ebay in the past, one had a hump in the design and one was smooth.

 

[B7Tourer]

Regarding that A/C cover, I've seen 2 different versions on ebay in the past, one had a hump in the design and one was smooth.

That I didn't know- you don't have photos or even parts numbers for the two types, maybe I should have looked for the B6 ones? Yes I paid a bit more than you used to be able to get the other covers for, but they weren't too much on eBay new, a couple of years ago. I've had to replace the battery cover since - the lugs seem to melt and it warps - I'm not sure if that's down to heat or acid battery fumes. For the ABS/steering reservoir cover there's ideally a fitting kit, I could never find that but it sits fine in place without moving anyway. They all add a bit to engine quietness too, I swear lol. Makes the engine bay look tidier at least and I still got my rings on the cover (replaced; just about every TDI I've seen have had them nicked I reckon) and a chrome pen on the letters worked wonders too lol.

 

[B7Tourer]

Found em I think - 8E0103928G (with pipe) 8E0103928B (without)

 

[PDLH]

That is the hump one. Not sure which is needed for the tdi? I assume it’s the valves on the a/c pipes which need the humps? I know about the fitting kit for the washer bottle cover, there is a riveted bracket which is impossible to get. Is there any fittings for the ac cover?

I also think I recall reading there was a smooth plastic version of the covers and the textured version, but I might be making this up now! Mind you you have quoted “B” versions so the “A” version might have been smooth

You are right about the rings on the tdi cover, I think the only person who still has his original rings I’ve seen Iis Matt’s car, which is barely broken in I did not want to spend £45 on some new engine cover rings so I bought a cover from a petrol engine cheap last year and drilled out the rings from the back. This year they will be epoxy glued onto the tdi engine cover never to come off again. I reckon what happens is the mechanics when servicing the cars pull off the covers and throw them on the floor, and the rings are the weak point.

 

[hodgy0_2]

you don't have the rare sunroof option? any chance a drain pipe from the sunroof is blocked causing water in the footwell?

no, no sunroof


I have created a panel from some rubber (i have had a garage built that used a rubber roof) that covers the battery / scuttle panel and have replaced the Lower Windscreen Scuttle Trim

I will get some pics up

 

[norad97]

Found em I think - 8E0103928G (with pipe) 8E0103928B (without)View attachment 283153View attachment 283154

There difficult to find used.

 

[PDLH]

Found em I think - 8E0103928G (with pipe) 8E0103928B (without)

But which version did you say you already had which was not suitable for a 2.0 tdi ?

 

[Matt275]

That is the hump one. Not sure which is needed for the tdi? I assume it’s the valves on the a/c pipes which need the humps? I know about the fitting kit for the washer bottle cover, there is a riveted bracket which is impossible to get. Is there any fittings for the ac cover?

I also think I recall reading there was a smooth plastic version of the covers and the textured version, but I might be making this up now! Mind you you have quoted “B” versions so the “A” version might have been smooth

You are right about the rings on the tdi cover, I think the only person who still has his original rings I’ve seen Iis Matt’s car, which is barely broken in I did not want to spend £45 on some new engine cover rings so I bought a cover from a petrol engine cheap last year and drilled out the rings from the back. This year they will be epoxy glued onto the tdi engine cover never to come off again. I reckon what happens is the mechanics when servicing the cars pull off the covers and throw them on the floor, and the rings are the weak point.

Yep the rings are still there...but...getting looser! It's a case of when not if lol.

 

[B7Tourer]

But which version did you say you already had which was not suitable for a 2.0 tdi ?

Right just to be clear here: I bought the first one and first code, that doesn't fit the 2.0TDi; it's for the B6 1.9 TDI (and I think the V6s), that has an intake pipe there for the round bit, that the later B7 2.0 doesn't. Only the S4 and RS4 B7s came with covers. There is at least a third different one too, for which I have no code. The flat one with the hump (the second one) should fit the 2.0TDi, but since this B7 never came with standard covers and there was no 2.0TDi B6, there is no guarantee - the only one I found was £95 second hand, and I'm not prepared to give it a punt for that; it's such a minor cosmetic addition.

Yep the rings are still there...but...getting looser! It's a case of when not if lol.

Glue them down Matt. I think I used superglue when I bought the new ones, hasn't budged since; they were cheap then a few years back, now they seem very pricey. I glued the long inserts that fit into the cover holes, not the rings themselves. I also put heat resistant sound deadening material under the cover, which they should have come with and has either been lost or never fitted. It really does aid deadening a little the noisy PD top end. The B6 covers came with this as well, perhaps another cost-cutting. Unfortunately it touches the rocker cover and over time with heat and squashing down gets flattened, losing that effectiveness.

 

[Matt275]

Right just to be clear here: I bought the first one and first code, that doesn't fit the 2.0TDi; it's for the B6 1.9 TDI (and I think the V6s), that has an intake pipe there for the round bit, that the later B7 2.0 doesn't. Only the S4 and RS4 B7s came with covers. There is at least a third different one too, for which I have no code. The flat one with the hump (the second one) should fit the 2.0TDi, but since this B7 never came with standard covers and there was no 2.0TDi B6, there is no guarantee - the only one I found was £95 second hand, and I'm not prepared to give it a punt for that; it's such a minor cosmetic addition.


Glue them down Matt. I think I used superglue when I bought the new ones, hasn't budged since; they were cheap then a few years back, now they seem very pricey. I glued the long inserts that fit into the cover holes, not the rings themselves. I also put heat resistant sound deadening material under the cover, which they should have come with and has either been lost or never fitted. It really does aid deadening a little the noisy PD top end. The B6 covers came with this as well, perhaps another cost-cutting. Unfortunately it touches the rocker cover and over time with heat and squashing down gets flattened, losing that effectiveness.

Thanks Steve that's a good idea, It would end up messy using superglue on the rings themselves, which was my initial fear, thank you

I seem to remember pulling off some sound deadening, like every other VAG car I've ever owned, it ends up like a sticky / tacky foam that creates a sticky black dust lol.

 

[hodgy0_2]

so final update (hopefully) - after putting it all back together, & running the car I noticed the fan kicking in with the engine off but ignition off or on (& to be clear this was not a result of the engine running hot when switched off)

quick google & it has been seen before


View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/22Ln8n_3dxg

so i took the ECU out (again) and sure enough it was wet around the two relays - and the relays were corroded so ordered two new ones, dried out the box fitted the new ones and put it all back together complete with new lower windscreen scuttle trim & it seems to have sorted the fan issue - what a fvcking palaver

i think i am simply going to have to keep an eye on it

also QQ is it part of the (official Audi) battery removal process to remove that scuttle trim as it is really had to remove/replace the battery with that in place