Help - many warning lights!

[rileyck]

Was driving today and suddenly many warning lights came on, one right after another.
Battery, Brake, ABS, oil, warning bells. All gauges (speedometer, gas, tachometer) went to zero.
WTF!? Checked oil it is fine.

A few yrs ago, when the battery went bad, first that happened was gauges went to zero. But, not all the others.

What could be happening?

[hestersu]

Please provide year, transmission (auto, manual), engine, miles on car, any modifications done to your car - especially something involving the electrical such as aftermarket radio or other audio and where you are located.

It will help those that can help you better.

Also list any maintenance done to your car, especially recently.

[rileyck]

Its a 2.0 liter 1999, automatic, no modifications,about 30K miles.
Few mths ago had timing belt, water pump changed. Oil change. New battery in 11/07.

[vdubbugman53]

your gauge cluster might have $hit the bed. where are you located....a vag com could tell you if the cluster is bad

[rileyck]

I'm in Maryland. If this is the problem, is it ok to keep driving the car for a while?
Is autozone still in business?

[vdubbugman53]

well they could tell you if there is any check engine lights and what it was for....if it is just the cluster then yes you can drive it like that.
get on the vortex regional forums and find somebody with a vag com near you

[rileyck]

what is the vortex regional forums?

[vdubbugman53]

http://www.vwvortex.com/index.html <--vortex
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zeroforum?id=351 <<------YOUR Vortex Regional forum

[dcpdx]

This same symptom happened to me and it turned out to be a bad cell in the battery and leading to a bad alternator. The first light that lit was the red battery light and shortly all the lights, tach and speedometer would go berserk. Changed out the battery and alternator and all is well now.