Vw Passat 2002 dash display blank

Mackas_view

Hi has anyone ever heard of a dash display on a 02 Passat going blank? For a while it has been coming and going but just recently it's gone completely blank with no sign of coming back. I asked my local garage man he said I'd have to take it to a VW dealer. It's very annoying as it shows warnings and average speed/mpg etc. Anyone any experience with this??

_Puma_

Happens intermittently on mine. Usually turning on and off the ignition resolves it, but from what you are saying id say I can expect it to go completely in the future. Had to replace the Indicator relay during my last service. Would lose them intermittently. Wouldn't be beyond the realms of possibility that it is something similar happening with this fault, Electrical gremlins due to corrosion or water ingress?

Mackas_view

I had a problem in the past with water in the passenger footwell but I fixed that and have had no trouble since I'm talking 4 months time gap between fixing that and this happening

_Puma_

Do ya get a lot of condensation build up on the inside of the windscreen? May help to get some of those water absorbing sachets.

Its a common fault with the B5/B5.5 model of the Passat to get water ingress through the rear footwell, and it leads to all sorts of electrical and control module faults that may manifest themselves over time. Not sure what the layout of the circuit for the Dash Display is but chances are some contact has some corrosion on it since it was going intermittently and is now gone completely. Might need a new control unit or might just be as simple as replacing/cleaning up an electrical contact somewhere.

Funnily enough there is another fault with the Display unit where the top part of the display is faded in really warm weather. Something to do with the Solder on the circuit board.

Might be worth getting quote off an Independent garage that deal with VW's, I'm sure they will have come across it before. Not sure if its a DIY but might be worth trawling through some VW forums or youtube. Last resort would be the Dealer.

*Btw do you change the Pollen filter regularly. Could be another source of water ingress into the cabin.

Mackas_view

That's where the water was coming from
In the first instance but I fixed it. I just removed the carpet again there and the underside is still damp although it wasn't soaking through so I didn know until I had taken it off just now. Both rear footwells are dry

Chimaera

If it's the display screen in the centre of the instrument panel, they're known for failing over time due to sunlight exposure. There are plenty of places online offering refurbished units though you will need specialist diagnostics to swap over the instruments in your car.

It's extremely unlikely to be a water/condensation issue.

Mackas_view

Chimaera wrote: »

If it's the display screen in the centre of the instrument panel, they're known for failing over time due to sunlight exposure. There are plenty of places online offering refurbished units though you will need specialist diagnostics to swap over the instruments in your car.

It's extremely unlikely to be a water/condensation issue.

Yes that's what it is? Are they expensive to repair?

Chimaera

No idea.

George Dalton

Donal in KC Systems will be able to sort it out. He has done lots of them for us:

www.kcsystems.ie