Curious instrument cluster problem 2002 Jetta

I just returned from a 4 week European trip and had parked my car at an airport parking lot.
Got into the car yesterday afternoon, car started fine.
My own inattentiveness, but when I was on the 401 I noticed that I had no RPM counter, no speedometer, no water temp and no fuel gauge. Odometer and trip meters were OK. Used my Scangauge for speedometer which worked fine.

Parked the car overnight and went out today to see if either fuse Nr.11 or Nr.15 could be the culprit. Had to start the car to get it out of the garage and all was well ????
Turned engine off and pulled Nr.11 fuse. Car starts but stops immediately.
Pulled Nr. 15 fuse and car starts but no instruments, ie same I had yesterday.
Could it be a wonky Nr.15 fuse that when cool is OK and car if or when the interior is hot as it was yesterday afternoon and then it acts up???

Nr.11. Instrument cluster, shift lock solenoid (5A).


Nr.15. Instrument cluster, transmission control module (TCM) (5A).



Any thoughts?

Please, I NEED HELP with this !!!

Of course I changed both fuses ! When I get into the car the instrument cluster may/will work for a short time. When it does, I get an airbag warning light as well as a cooling liquid warning light. Then all of a sudden the cluster goes out and the trip meter resets to 000 also. The odometer keeps on working and the trip meter starts recording from 000 again. The clock also resets. The cluster may come on again but just as surely will go off again in no time at all.

Cruise control works but no indicator, turn signals work and indicators work.

Is there a module that controls all this ???

HELP

It could be the cluster itself craping out... In my opinion what you can try is to swap with another cluster and see if anything changes. You would have to get the cluster programed and adapted which I can do but before doing that I would see if anyone else knows what may be the problem, I'm not too versed in clusters

Ever had the cluster out? I'd be pulling it to see if theres any bad connections (re-seat them). Its not too hard to pull the cluster.

Rudi i have a spare cluster if you would like to try it.

steve6 said:

Ever had the cluster out? I'd be pulling it to see if theres any bad connections (re-seat them). Its not too hard to pull the cluster.

Click to expand...

Never ever had the cluster out.

VDUB TECH said:

Rudi i have a spare cluster if you would like to try it.

Click to expand...

I may have to take you up on your offer Aaron, right now this is driving me bonkers. Mind you not far to go, LOL.

I'd do this whether you've had the cluster out or not, just take the plugs off and put them back on. Fixes many things on the mk4

steve6 said:

Ever had the cluster out? I'd be pulling it to see if theres any bad connections (re-seat them). Its not too hard to pull the cluster.

Click to expand...

And I would get this solved soon... before you're cluster completely craps out and you can't start your car anymore due to the immobilizer... i've seen it happen on another mk4

Jetta_Pilot said:

I may have to take you up on your offer Aaron, right now this is driving me bonkers. Mind you not far to go, LOL.

Click to expand...

Aaron is Boraparts , im Brandon DCB )

VDUB TECH said:

Aaron is Boraparts , im Brandon DCB )

Click to expand...

Sorry Brandon. Old age setting in! At least the last two letters are right

Seatman said:

I'd do this whether you've had the cluster out or not, just take the plugs off and put them back on. Fixes many things on the mk4

Click to expand...

I always read comments like this...and yet I've never experienced an issue that has been solved by that. connectors that see the climate, sure. Grime/debris can work it's way in but with a cluster, IIRC they have a tab that locks them into place.

I don't see how a locking tab would come loose, anything is possible but I highly doubt that will solve it.

Doesn't hurt to try, takes about 3 minutes and you don't know what you may find...

Sounds like something got wet while you were away.

LNXGUY said:

Sounds like something got wet while you were away.

Click to expand...

Bill it was I that got wet, wonderful open bar from 9am until 1 am on board the 2 week river-cruise.

Follow-up

Well today Brandon from "DCB Automotive" came up with the solution. It is the instrument cluster which is euchred.

Got another one from the "Source for VW" and that proved out that the cluster is at a fault.

Now all I need to get done is to get my 2 remote keys and the Valet key re-coded and the mileage set up on the replacement cluster and I should be OK.