Flicker on MFD/instrument cluster lighting?

[zardoz]

Hi all,

Ever since I drove my Golf Wagon out of the dealership, I've been irritated by the MFD and instrument cluster lighting (my RNS510 has this, too but but I'd expect it from a LED-backlit satnav system). I haven't noticed this on a Golf VI hatch (90TSI if I recall), Mark VI GTI and a Polo GTI...

The flicker appears to be a function of a dimmer brightness setting but I can't for the life of me work out how to make it brighter. The interior lights are up full on the dash yet I still see a flicker.

Have I got a faulty system or is this a particular feature of the wagons? Or is there a setting I've somehow overlooked?

Cheers

[mythik]

This will be caused by a faulty illumination dimmer switch. It's a fairly common issue.

[zardoz]

Awesome. Just a matter of taking it back to the dealer and getting them to fix it I presume? Sigh!

[RW1]

Is your light switch in the OFF or AUTO position? If so, turn it to ON and see if it still does it.

If it stops, then the OFF/AUTO position flicker is known about and considered to be normal, no fix. (Thats the official line)


But I know of one case where they changed the light sensor and it been OK since.

[zardoz]

Hi,

Took my car in for the one year service today. They couldn't see the fault and nothing on their computer-based diagnostics would reveal anything wrong with the dimmer switch.

Went through other cars in the lot - the two Golf Wagons there had the same issue! But the few Golfs, the Tiguan, the Passat nor the Scirocco had the issue. Also of note, the instrument cluster lighting was brighter on the others. One wagon was the MY11.5, the other was the MY12.

Got the dealer chasing it up with technical but not sure if they'll come back with any reasonable answer.

Edit: yes, checked the on/off/auto position and no change. Also, the person in service I spoke to wasn't really able to see the flicker but I guess some people don't see it.

[zardoz]

An update. Took it to the dealer. They ran a bunch of computer diagnostics and now claim they cannot find anything wrong. VW Technical has sighted the youtube clip and claims this is "within specification". Both the flicker and the fact that my instrument cluster is uncharacteristically dim.

Video clip: VW Golf Wagon instrument cluster flicker. - YouTube

Absolutely pathetic service. Not sure where to go to from here.

[mythik]

Absolutely pathetic service. Not sure where to go to from here.

Buy this: Golf MK6 Instrument Cluster - Premium MFA - 280km/h - GASOLINE

Take it to the dealer and have it coded into the car. Enjoy the pretty colours.

[magellan]

Try going to another dealer

An update. Took it to the dealer. They ran a bunch of computer diagnostics and now claim they cannot find anything wrong. VW Technical has sighted the youtube clip and claims this is "within specification". Both the flicker and the fact that my instrument cluster is uncharacteristically dim.

Video clip: VW Golf Wagon instrument cluster flicker. - YouTube

Absolutely pathetic service. Not sure where to go to from here.

[zardoz]

Believe me - I've been tempted by the premium cluster for the colour MFD but I believe these are a challenge to get installed due to the odometer etc?

I suspect that there's something very basic feeding my cluster with power but I don't know (so the premium cluster may not solve it). The cluster seems unusually dim comapred to other Golfs/Polos/Sciroccos etc and in some cases, the backlight on the dials cuts out completely (usually during dusk; there is no setting I can change on my lights that seems to bring it back although I am told this behavior is "normal").

If VW technical in Australia say that this is "normal" then I'm not entirely sure what another dealer could do. My IT troubleshooting background suggests to take something in a working state and compare the two until you arrive at the difference(s).

[mythik]

If VW technical in Australia say that this is "normal" then I'm not entirely sure what another dealer could do. My IT troubleshooting background suggests to take something in a working state and compare the two until you arrive at the difference(s).

Use VCDS to download the instrument module coding/version/model information and let's see what firmware version it's running.

[Tux]

My GTI now has this happening. It was obvious as soon as I started to drive it in daylight. Mine is very dim and has a slight flicker so looks slightly different than in the video. If I switch to 'on' the dash lights up as it should.