Instrument Cluster and Transmission

[tjbroussard]

2006 NB w/ 2.0 gas, auto trans, about 86K miles being driven by my daughter at college 8 hours away....and thats just the beginning.

She tells me the transmission is "acting funny", lurching, slipping, crazy as she describes it. Curious about the extended warranty issue, I sent it to the dealership. (I know...)

They were not able to reproduce the problem today, but wanted to cool it overnight. They did say the instrument cluster was malfunctioning, needles jumping all over, and perhaps sending erroneous data to the transmission, affecting shifting.

Seriously, I thought the cluster just read from other sensors, and transponders located in the drivetrain and engine.

Thoughts?

Thanks,

Terry

[geniushanbiao]

If I were you I would start with cleaning battery terminals and give the battery a fill since they always cause some wierd problems not easy to locate. Also inspect the battery cables from the battery all the way to the engine.

I'm wondering how the instrument cluster is acting? If all the 3 needles are jumping then it's probably sure problem related to battery and charging system. If only odometer jumping and transmission acting bad then it's possible to be the vehicle speed sensors. Note that there are 3 speed sensors on the trans and the most crappy one is the G68.

Originally Posted by tjbroussard

2006 NB w/ 2.0 gas, auto trans, about 86K miles being driven by my daughter at college 8 hours away....and thats just the beginning.

She tells me the transmission is "acting funny", lurching, slipping, crazy as she describes it. Curious about the extended warranty issue, I sent it to the dealership. (I know...)

They were not able to reproduce the problem today, but wanted to cool it overnight. They did say the instrument cluster was malfunctioning, needles jumping all over, and perhaps sending erroneous data to the transmission, affecting shifting.

Seriously, I thought the cluster just read from other sensors, and transponders located in the drivetrain and engine.

Thoughts?

Thanks,

Terry

[tjbroussard]

Will pass that on.

Thanks!

[tjbroussard]

Dealer service manager calls today and says they are unable to re-create the issue. Says they checked speed sensors, test drove hot and cold engine, computer check all good. Instrument cluster still acting "funny". Battery checked OK.

I told them to do the 80K scheduled maintenance with transmission service and we will continue to watch.

Time will tell as I will see the car in March....

Thanks again.

Terry

[cep]

Originally Posted by tjbroussard

Dealer service manager calls today and says they are unable to re-create the issue. Says they checked speed sensors, test drove hot and cold engine, computer check all good. Instrument cluster still acting "funny". Battery checked OK.

I told them to do the 80K scheduled maintenance with transmission service and we will continue to watch.

Time will tell as I will see the car in March....

Thanks again.

Terry

If you have to replace that cluster, get ready. They are about a $700, dealer-only (for all practical purposes) item. They are made of some of the crummiest plastic I've ever seen.

[tjbroussard]

CEP

Yes, he quoted me about $800. I am visiting my daughter in March and want to take a better look at the battery and connections for myself before I replace the cluster. Hard to keep this car up for her when all they think a car needs is gas...

Thanks,

Terry

[IndyTom]

Are they sure it's not just the VSS? The Vehicle Speed Sensor can make the clustor go haywire especially the Speedometer and the gas gauge. It's a lot cheaper to replace than the cluster.

[geniushanbiao]

You didn't answer my question. How is the instrument cluster acting? Are all the 3 needles acting funny or only the speedometer?

Originally Posted by tjbroussard

Dealer service manager calls today and says they are unable to re-create the issue. Says they checked speed sensors, test drove hot and cold engine, computer check all good. Instrument cluster still acting "funny". Battery checked OK.

I told them to do the 80K scheduled maintenance with transmission service and we will continue to watch.

Time will tell as I will see the car in March....

Thanks again.

Terry

[tjbroussard]

Shop tells me they checked all of the speed sensors. All good.

As for the gauges, I'll try to find out.

I'll have the invoice tomorrow for more details.

Thanks again...

[IndyTom]

Originally Posted by tjbroussard

Shop tells me they checked all of the speed sensors. All good.

As for the gauges, I'll try to find out.

I'll have the invoice tomorrow for more details.

Thanks again...

I am curious how they actually checked the VSS since on an Automatic you almost have to lower the tranmission to even get to it. They probably just hooked it up to their diagnostic machine and I don't think it really can tell if the VSS is bad unless the car is actually moving and I doubt they hooked up a Vag Com and did some Data logging. But anything is possible.
The two gauges that are affected by the VSS is the Speedometer and the Gas Gauge that jumps.

Here are some related links:
1999 VW Beetle - VSS replacing

G68 sensor or something worse?

[geniushanbiao]

Exactly. Dealer's mechanics just sucks and they don't know how to test sensors exactly. For VSS as long as it gives signal output the computer won't say it's bad but sometimes it just misses some signals and drives computer crazy.

Originally Posted by IndyTom

I am curious how they actually checked the VSS since on an Automatic you almost have to lower the tranmission to even get to it. They probably just hooked it up to their diagnostic machine and I don't think it really can tell if the VSS is bad unless the car is actually moving and I doubt they hooked up a Vag Com and did some Data logging. But anything is possible.
The two gauges that are affected by the VSS is the Speedometer and the Gas Gauge that jumps.

Here are some related links:
1999 VW Beetle - VSS replacing

G68 sensor or something worse?

[tjbroussard]

Bottomline: I am in Lafayette, LA and the car is at Florida State in Tallahassee, FL. Can anyone make a recommendation for a great mechanic in Tallahassee, FL? You can post here or simply message me.

Thanks!

[tjbroussard]

Dealership service rates:

80K mile service $472
BG Brake Flush $136
BG Synthetic Transmission Flush $287
Tax and everything out the door $978


Daughter reports everything looks great. Her first comment was, "oh yeh it's great, they changed the washer fluid, and washed it!"

It's my life for as a dad of three daughters and a wife!

Thanks for the tips. I'll give it a once over when I see it in March.

Terry

[geniushanbiao]

Oh my god you just been stolen by the stealers....

What did they do for the 80k mile service? timing belt? I you do the timing belt and water pump yourself it won't cost you more than $200;
brake flush you can do it yourself for $30-50 it only cost you brake fluid!

I don't think any of these 2 items are related to your problem.

Originally Posted by tjbroussard

Dealership service rates:

80K mile service $472
BG Brake Flush $136
BG Synthetic Transmission Flush $287
Tax and everything out the door $978


Daughter reports everything looks great. Her first comment was, "oh yeh it's great, they changed the washer fluid, and washed it!"

It's my life for as a dad of three daughters and a wife!

Thanks for the tips. I'll give it a once over when I see it in March.

Terry

[Smileybug]

There is no way the dealer charged that little for the timing belt. They wanted almost a grand for my car a number of years ago. I paid $450 at my local VW mechanic. No way that was a t-belt job.

[IndyTom]

Originally Posted by Smileybug

There is no way the dealer charged that little for the timing belt. They wanted almost a grand for my car a number of years ago. I paid $450 at my local VW mechanic. No way that was a t-belt job.

I am with you. For $472 they probably barely opened the Hood and looked at the engine compartment and nodded. Then the topped of the washer fluid and called it a day
Most dealers charge between 1100 and 1600 for the timing belt/water pump service. Also that brake flush and fill is a total scam. My High End European shop only charges $75.00 for a brake flush and fill including OEM VW fluid and not some stuff that may not even be good for the Beetle. Spending almost a grand for less then 200 dollar worth of service is crazy.

[geniushanbiao]

I didn't realize...Then this guy must have paid $1000 for almost nothing but a transmission flush.....

[IndyTom]

Originally Posted by geniushanbiao

I didn't realize...Then this guy must have paid $1000 for almost nothing but a transmission flush.....

Well, reading it again it was also a Brake Flush.

[VDubYah]

Yes, but he is in one state and the car is in another. Makes them real hard to work on.

While having to use a dealer is not always the best option as we know, in this case it seemed to work as his daughter reports the car is fine.

The flush seems to have solved the shifting issue with the transmission per the 1st post.

[cep]

Originally Posted by tjbroussard

Dealership service rates:

80K mile service $472
BG Brake Flush $136
BG Synthetic Transmission Flush $287
Tax and everything out the door $978


Daughter reports everything looks great. Her first comment was, "oh yeh it's great, they changed the washer fluid, and washed it!"

It's my life for as a dad of three daughters and a wife!

Thanks for the tips. I'll give it a once over when I see it in March.

Terry

To quote a famous man, "I feel your pain."

I, too, have three daughters. Fortunately, two of them drive Acuras or I could never keep up.

FWIW, I have what I believe to be a usable '02 instrument cluster. I paid $700 to have it replaced but since the problem has recurred, I don't think it was defective in the first place. I doubt that it will interchange with an '06 but if it will, AND yours is bad, you're welcome to it.