Hi! Running errands today and after one stop and restart of 98 Golf, I noticed that the speedo and tach had both gone flatline. There is a slight quiver in the speedo needle, the tach needle just rests on the peg at zero. All other dash lights and functions as well as the car electric system seem OK. Has anyone experienced this before and what, please was the fix?? [&o][&o] Thanks in advance if anyone has an answer!

Bob

 

2.0 or vr6??

 

Hi!

It is the 2.0 and here is the really weird part ... now the speedo and tach work now and then. There seems to be no pattern, when the car is started, either the pair of gauges operate or they do not, they never either quit or come to life once the car has started. I had assumed that the gauge cluster had died, but it is odd to see an electro - mechinical system operate - off and on. [&:]

 

Here is how this sad story ended: I took the car to the local VW dealership and they did the troubleshooting - stated that the gage cluster ( speedo - tach unit ) should be replaced. I agreed, left the car and a few days later, was informed that it was ready. I paid about $550 parts and labor, turned over the motor and noticed that the tach and speedo were STILL flat on the pegs. They had installed a defective replacement part and not noticed it. The car remained at the dealership and another cluster was ordered and installed. I picked the car up and, that night, noticed that the illumination bulbs in the cluster were inop!! Returned the car to the dealership and yet another cluster was ordered and installed. After a full week of this, it appears as though a fully operational cluster had been located and installed.
So ... there 'ya go, read into this what you may in terms of quality control at both the spare parts level and at the VW dealership. [&o][&:] While all of this was going on, at least the rental car fee was picked up by the dealership. Got to cruise around in a new Toyota mini van ( very nice ) and a zero miles Chevy Malibu ( also very nice ).