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HELP please! Totally dead instrument cluster and won't start

Posted: Sun Dec 08, 2013 9:41 am
by J3AAY
Hi all,

I have a problem! My caddy has never missed a beat, it's the 104 TDI (Pendle mapped to 150) on a 56-plate. It's fairly low...

Yesterday the wife and I were driving down a country lane, stuff was hitting the bottom of the van but it just sounded like little stones/twigs so carried on slowly.

We continue on, no problems...until I look at my instruments-nothing! The whole lot is black and not moving, all my dials and half screen all dead.

We hit some traffic so I say, well I will just turn it off and back on, see if that fixes it...BAD idea, it wouldn't start again!

The van cranks etc perfect, even starts for a second or two then dies completely.

The AA were called, the guy checked the OBD port and on his gadget it read clear- he was surprised the van 'talked' due to the dead displays. But it did, all fine-obviously not!

He checked all my fuses, two were gone under the steerimg wheel, a 5 and 20. Replaced but still nothing. He towed my van home.

On unloading I saw a wire under the van...turns out a wire has been ripped out of the oil sensor on the sump, infact the whole lot was covered in turf from scraping this lane! He was sure this sensor communicates with the display to tell it all is ok and to start.

We tried to get the wire in (just one out of the three pulled out) and I think we did pretty well...still no joy.

I would note that sometimes the half display box would light up and show mileage etc but nothing else, all black.

My question is what can this be? I'm guessing I will start with replacing the broken wiring clip that holds the wires on the sensor. Although the plastic shrouding on the wiring was damaged/ missing it didn't look like it had been ripped out the other end or anything. Then I guess I will try the sensor, if not then I guess the clocks etc (££ ouch)

It all seems a bit odd, what do you guys think?

Cheers!

Re: HELP please! Totally dead instrument cluster and won't s

Posted: Sun Dec 08, 2013 10:10 am
by Doc
Sounds like you've torn more than just the oil sensor wires. Have a good look around the underneath for other signs of damage.
Also, check the oil sensor wires have not pulled out and shorted pins together.

Re: HELP please! Totally dead instrument cluster and won't s

Posted: Sun Dec 08, 2013 10:19 am
by Banditbarron
Also make sure the bumpy road hasn't jolted the clocks forward and off their pins, just wiggle/push the clocks a bit and see if they light up

Seems strange to have caused that damage by a few stones, or are we talking bigger stones?

Re: HELP please! Totally dead instrument cluster and won't s

Posted: Sun Dec 08, 2013 11:15 am
by J3AAY
Thanks guys I will get in and have a look. The AA bloke was worried the wires off the sensor may have shorted and fried my clocks.

It was a damn rough road (agricultural track) but I didn't fully ground out. There was a lot of turf from the centre grass strip of the lane clumped under my van though!

Thanks

Re: HELP please! Totally dead instrument cluster and won't s

Posted: Sun Dec 08, 2013 7:48 pm
by Russie
I think you're on the right track (no pun intended) with the oil sensor. It obviously communicates with the dash module and your damaged wiring could have shorted out. Are you sure that the fuses which you replaced didn't blow again? Did the AA man confirm that communication with the dash module was possible? If so then a diagnostic check should show something, at least that the engine start was blocked by the immobiliser, the immobiliser is incorperated into the dash module. Hence your non-start. Try just insulating the wiring temporarily, check and replace any blown fuses and then ign. on and see if the dash module works?

Re: HELP please! Totally dead instrument cluster and won't s

Posted: Sun Dec 08, 2013 8:02 pm
by Wild Thing
As banditbarron has said, push clocks towards front of bonnet, Sounds like an imobiliser problem. Van probably would have got you home if you had not switched it off, then the imobiliser kicked in and disabled your caddy.

Re: HELP please! Totally dead instrument cluster and won't s

Posted: Sun Dec 08, 2013 9:13 pm
by J3AAY
Thanks guys. The fuses didn't blow again but nothing changed with them replaced.

The module did communicate with his computer but showed no faults. He said the van was clearly 'not happy' because the fan was on by default.

An immobiliser fault sounds right because it run as normal (for a second or two) then dies.

I have tried shoving the clocks back but no movement/change.

In fact, earlier the DIS display was illuminated (nowt else though!) I tried to start it-no good, then the next time the DIS was blank.

So strange!

OH, and I'm sure it would have got me anywhere till I turned it off, it was running as usual-perfect!

I'm just worried the clocks are fried!

Can anyone point out the fuse locations? AA man checked the big ones under the bonnet (by battery) and the box under the steering wheel. Are there any others? Cheers!

Re: HELP please! Totally dead instrument cluster and won't s

Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 10:46 pm
by J3AAY
Update-

I spoke to VW today who were really helpful. I have ordered the broken clip to hold the wires on the oil sensor, that was under a fiver. The VW tech chap said he was sure that the wiring taking a whack and being ripped out its likely it shorted and popped the fuse for the cluster.

The AA bloke did say he checked them but I will again anyway once I've replaced the clip.

Fingers crossed that will fix it. I'm not convinced due to the half display working every now and again also it all lighting up (just not moving) when the lights are on.

I hate car/van issues!

Re: HELP please! Totally dead instrument cluster and won't s

Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 3:58 pm
by J3AAY
SORTED!!

One wire ripped out the oil sensor blowing the fuse for the clocks etc (incl immobiliser).

Grafted the wire back in the sensor and replaced the fuse, job done!

Cheers all

Re: HELP please! Totally dead instrument cluster and won't s

Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 4:05 pm
by Just Vanz
fuse by battery?

Re: HELP please! Totally dead instrument cluster and won't start

Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2016 9:03 pm
by guy.priest@gmail.com
Jay, I've had what sounds like exact same issue as you today. Heard a click, cluster died apart from lcd then eventually that died. Pulled over to check and then would not run. Lcd comes on when drivers door is opened but not when ignition is turned. No obvious damage to the sensor though. Was your wire ripped out or corroded? Need to get underneath it tomorrow and try and sort ASAP.

Mine died just on a normal Road.

Had a 3 hour wait to be out in a lorry to get home today. Not cool

Re: HELP please! Totally dead instrument cluster and won't s

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2019 9:22 am
by Golf6TDI
J3AAY wrote: Wed Dec 11, 2013 3:58 pm SORTED!!

One wire ripped out the oil sensor blowing the fuse for the clocks etc (incl immobiliser).

Grafted the wire back in the sensor and replaced the fuse, job done!

Cheers all
Old thread i know, but i have the same problem with my gf`s Touran BMN DSG. Seems like the oil sensor wires have been ripped out and shorted the fuse. Cuz i have all black cluster,only the door and hood symbol is showing. Do you remember what no. fuse you changed ? I havent got the small note that indicates the fuses in that car. It has only two fuse boxes ? One in the engine bay and one under the steering column ? This is a LHD car btw.....

Re: HELP please! Totally dead instrument cluster and won't start

Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2021 2:01 pm
by OCDValeting
I’m having this exact same problem with my 2014 Caddy.
Which fuse is the one for Instrument Cluster? Google is a minefield. Thanks

Re: HELP please! Totally dead instrument cluster and won't start

Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2021 9:54 pm
by zu11y
there are 3 fuses listed for instrument panel.

on the interior fusebox you have f14 (10a) and f57 (5a)
then in the engine bay its f6 (5a)