Cluster lights??

[AdinaFloyd]

Have any of you replaced any bulbs in the cluster? My cluster has some backlight but the needles for speed and tach are out. Gas and temp needles are fine. I can't see my speed at night unless I look for the silhouette of the needle as it passes over the mileage numbers. Any help appreciated.

This is the 2002 jetta.

 

[AdinaFloyd]

I read that there was no way to and a new cluster would be needed?? What is involved in that. Will it update my millage to current? I don't know much about replacing these.

 

[dweisel]

They are all led on a circuit board.

 

[AdinaFloyd]

Crap, thanks. Ima just get used to not having them. Looks like changing the whole cluster can't be done without reprogramming stuff

 

[Rob Mayercik]

If you're good with a soldering iron (and the LEDs aren't microscopic surface-mount ones), you might be able to replace the LEDs yourself.

First I've heard of the needle light going out.

 

[turbocharged798]

They are surface mount and quite small. Also possible the current limiting resistor went bad as well.

 

[Seatman]

There just surface mounted, pretty easy to swap out if you can use a soldering iron. I'd check connections etc first though just in case. Only even seen like one out.

 

[AdinaFloyd]

Turbocharged798, limiting resistor?? I am not good with a soldering iron so that's out for a diy. How would I ck this limiting resistor? Thanks for the input guys, it's weird how it's only those two needles that aren't illuminating.

 

[AdinaFloyd]

Also, seatman which connections should I check? I'm learning alot about this car as I go along but I am trying to do as much as I can myself. Thanks

 

[drucifer]

How do you feel about needle paint?

 

[aja8888]

I agree, get some of that paint that lows in the dark and paint them.

 

[AdinaFloyd]

Oh, I didn't think about that, I am definitely not against it, excellent idea!!!

 

[Seatman]

Also, seatman which connections should I check? I'm learning alot about this car as I go along but I am trying to do as much as I can myself. Thanks

The green and blue plug in the back of the cluster, I'd tap things to see if it made any odds. With one of my previous Mk4's I used to come out and find the dash and number plate lights lit up, that was caused by a dodgy light switch lol.

 

[AdinaFloyd]

Seatman, I just had my dodgy experience with a bad light switch. Strangest thing I have ever seen, the car would not run. No matter what I did it would start then immediately die. Could not figure it out, did all the ground checks, the basics. Nothing. Turned on the lights when I tried to start for the 3000 time and she fired right up. Ordered a new light switch and she has been running like a top since. No clue what in that switch would cause the car not to run. The needles were not being illuminated before this incident tho.

 

[dweisel]

Not sure how either of those cluster plugs could come loose since the both have a bail latching I guess ANYTHING is possible.

 

[Seatman]

Not sure how either of those cluster plugs could come loose since the both have a bail latching I guess ANYTHING is possible.

Not so much come loose, just the connections sometimes lose the ability to do their job as well as they used to. I had a problem of not being able to connect with vagcom, just used a little knife to squeeze the k-line connection in the plug and boom! Worked perfect.

Age, vibration, heat etc over a number of years can have it's effect

 

[AdinaFloyd]

OK, I got some super glo paint and painted the needles. It actually wors perfect and this paint stays "charged" for hours. Ill consider this a win. Thanks for the input guys

 

[cuban11182]

I know this is an old thread, but mine are doing the same thing. Every one of them work, except the speedo and tach needle.



Kinda weird.

 

[jetta 97]

I know this is an old thread, but mine are doing the same thing. Every one of them work, except the speedo and tach needle.



Kinda weird.

Possible that you have LED or something related to that circuit bad.
If you want you can send me cluster and I can test it and see what is going on. Pm me for more info.