Trip computer in VW

AJS33

HiThe trip computer in my VW has gone and VW want over £500 to fix this small thing, the speedo and everything else is ok. Any suggestions on how to fix this problem without spending a fortune

harveybobbles

Age and model and more info when you say its "gone..."

does it glow red or has it gone off totally? Do you actually use it, as the features on it are available else where on the car...

delambo

Give some more details.

The chances are VW have quoted to replace the dash and it can probably be repaired.

AJS33

The car is a VW Golf GT TDI 1.9 W2000, and the trip computer glows red

hewhoisnotintheknow

might be simple but if its anything like my golf i had recently it will lead to a whole load of problem and pain

As long as people keep lapping up the marketing and getting excited that they own a quality car though!

I suggest joining a VW golf forum, it could be a common problem with an easy fix

itsclair

cheapest way is to get on ebay or to your local breakers and buy a new set of clocks and swap over, you can buy mk4 clocks for around £45

delambo

Don't even consider second hand clocks, they are coded to the immobiliser and if you replace the dash the car will not start until coded to the car, also the mileage will not be correct. Those dashes do suffer with 2 common faults one is processors and the other is ribbon cables - yours sounds like neither of these faults!!

I should however be able to fix the dash for around £75 - £150 but I keep getting in to trouble for advertising on the forums so I cant give you any contact details.

harveybobbles

£150 could buy you gold plated ones...!

Common fault when they glow red! just ignore it perhaps? You don't actually need the trip computer.

delambo

harveybobbles wrote: »

£150 could buy you gold plated ones...!

Common fault when they glow red! just ignore it perhaps? You don't actually need the trip computer.

Go on then find me a gold plated set for £150. Or find me any set for £150 that will just plug in and the car run!!

Like I said the clocks form part of the immobiliser system if you fit a used dash the car will be immobilised. Then factor in the cost of coding it to the car - if you can find someone to do this. VW will generally not code any secondhand part to the car. Anybody with VAG-COM will claim they can do it - until they find they need a PIN code which they will not be able to obtain. Then at the end of it all you have a dash with an incorrect mileage displayed - try explaining that when you come to sell the car.

AJS33 came on reckoning on £500 being the VW price - one that seems about correct in my experience with these kind of faults.

And quite right you don't need the trip computer - until you come to sell it, then prospective buyers will wonder 1- how many miles it has done and 2- what else might be wrong with it!! They will then go to VW for a price to fix it and want to knock at least £500 off the price. Besides AJS33 might WANT the trip computer hence his post here.

Do you have any experience in the motor trade, and in particular with the complex electronics of the modern motor car? If not I suggest you keep your advise to yourself before you end up costing the money savers here more money than they need spend.

harveybobbles

The trip computer is seperate to the mileage reading. So when it comes to selling it, the mileage will be the mileage. Nothing more. Nothing less.

I've recently swapped two A3 clocks over from one car to another to try to narrow dow na fault. both cars kept their own mileage and both cars started up and ran fine.

I've never had to have a clock set. Be it new or 2nd hand coded to the car...

delambo

harveybobbles wrote: »

The trip computer is seperate to the mileage reading. So when it comes to selling it, the mileage will be the mileage. Nothing more. Nothing less.

I've recently swapped two A3 clocks over from one car to another to try to narrow dow na fault. both cars kept their own mileage and both cars started up and ran fine.

I've never had to have a clock set. Be it new or 2nd hand coded to the car...

Then explain the need for these instructions for VAG-COM - the best non dealer tool for Volkswagen / Audi group vehicles.

http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/cars/Immo2-cluster-swapping.html

And seeing as how the mileage is stored in the eeprom in the dash (a shadow mileage in the ECU for EDC15) on this year how do you propose the mileage would stay the same as the car?

But OK point taken about the mileage being separate. For a moment I was thinking about the MK5 golf which is all in one.