2000 Passat instrument cluster electrical short + smoke!

Hi, all,

I've got a 2000 Passat 4-motion with just 31k miles. On a recent road
trip, while going about 70MPH on the highway, something in the dashboard
shorted, and I was greeted with a nice puff of smoke in the face!
Needless to say, this scared the crap out of me. I pulled over, and
noticed that the fuel and temperature gauges were both off. Everything
else seemed to work fine.

I brought the car in to a local mechanic, who said he could see where
there were some burnt wires in the dash. He also had a spare instrument
cluster unit from another Passat, which when plugged in, worked fine.
His solution was to replace the cluster unit, costing around $600. I
didn't like this solution because I wanted to know what actually caused
the short, and was it just going to happen again? Swapping out the
instrument cluster also would change the odometer reading, and would
require one of those odomoter change stickers. I'm guessing that's not
great for resale value.

So I decided to wheel it on in to the dealer and have them trace the
short. They've spent 3 hours investigating so far, and they say they'll
probably need another 2 at least. This Chicago dealer's labor rates are
$108/hr, so this is going to add up to a nice bundle.

Since this model/year has a lousy 2-year/24kmi warranty, I'm going to
end up paying for this out of pocket. My question is:
1. Is there a good argument I can use with VW America to try to get them
to help pay for this? A serious electrical short and smoke from the
dash should not be happening at 31k miles. This particular issue
doesn't seem to be common among this model.
2. How would you have handled this?

Thanks,

Martin

1- nope, your car is 4years old.
2-Never seen that issue before for any of the newer Passats.
3-your auto insurance may cover the repair.

"Martin Mainfeld" > wrote in message
...
> Hi, all,
>
> I've got a 2000 Passat 4-motion with just 31k miles. On a recent road
> trip, while going about 70MPH on the highway, something in the dashboard
> shorted, and I was greeted with a nice puff of smoke in the face!
> Needless to say, this scared the crap out of me. I pulled over, and
> noticed that the fuel and temperature gauges were both off. Everything
> else seemed to work fine.
>
> I brought the car in to a local mechanic, who said he could see where
> there were some burnt wires in the dash. He also had a spare instrument
> cluster unit from another Passat, which when plugged in, worked fine.
> His solution was to replace the cluster unit, costing around $600. I
> didn't like this solution because I wanted to know what actually caused
> the short, and was it just going to happen again? Swapping out the
> instrument cluster also would change the odometer reading, and would
> require one of those odomoter change stickers. I'm guessing that's not
> great for resale value.
>
> So I decided to wheel it on in to the dealer and have them trace the
> short. They've spent 3 hours investigating so far, and they say they'll
> probably need another 2 at least. This Chicago dealer's labor rates are
> $108/hr, so this is going to add up to a nice bundle.
>
> Since this model/year has a lousy 2-year/24kmi warranty, I'm going to
> end up paying for this out of pocket. My question is:
> 1. Is there a good argument I can use with VW America to try to get them
> to help pay for this? A serious electrical short and smoke from the
> dash should not be happening at 31k miles. This particular issue
> doesn't seem to be common among this model.
> 2. How would you have handled this?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Martin

For one an electrical short should not happen AT ALL!! not just at 31K
Miles... Electrical systems are suppose to be lifetime installations - you
aren't suppose to have to maintain them, as it takes qualitfied people to do
it.

If it was common you can bet on a recall... Never heard of one

Your odometer is probably stored in the on board computer - digital readout
isn't it?

VWoA should pay for it IMO... This definately should NOT happen.
"Martin Mainfeld" > wrote in message
...
> Hi, all,
>
> I've got a 2000 Passat 4-motion with just 31k miles. On a recent road
> trip, while going about 70MPH on the highway, something in the dashboard
> shorted, and I was greeted with a nice puff of smoke in the face!
> Needless to say, this scared the crap out of me. I pulled over, and
> noticed that the fuel and temperature gauges were both off. Everything
> else seemed to work fine.
>
> I brought the car in to a local mechanic, who said he could see where
> there were some burnt wires in the dash. He also had a spare instrument
> cluster unit from another Passat, which when plugged in, worked fine.
> His solution was to replace the cluster unit, costing around $600. I
> didn't like this solution because I wanted to know what actually caused
> the short, and was it just going to happen again? Swapping out the
> instrument cluster also would change the odometer reading, and would
> require one of those odomoter change stickers. I'm guessing that's not
> great for resale value.
>
> So I decided to wheel it on in to the dealer and have them trace the
> short. They've spent 3 hours investigating so far, and they say they'll
> probably need another 2 at least. This Chicago dealer's labor rates are
> $108/hr, so this is going to add up to a nice bundle.
>
> Since this model/year has a lousy 2-year/24kmi warranty, I'm going to
> end up paying for this out of pocket. My question is:
> 1. Is there a good argument I can use with VW America to try to get them
> to help pay for this? A serious electrical short and smoke from the
> dash should not be happening at 31k miles. This particular issue
> doesn't seem to be common among this model.
> 2. How would you have handled this?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Martin

Martin Mainfeld > wrote in message >. ..

> Needless to say, this scared the crap out of me. I pulled over, and
> noticed that the fuel and temperature gauges were both off. Everything
> else seemed to work fine.

This is a bit odd, all four gauges are moved by stepper motors which
in turn are controlled by a single microcontroller (specialized chip
made by Micronas).
So, if this chip is toast, then _nothing_ would work, immobilizer
inclusive
On the other hand, as far as temperature and fuel gauges are
concerned, they both are just inputs with fairly high input
resistance, so I have trouble to imagine how something like this would
damage them.
O course, if you short right tracks at the the right places, then i
guess it could be accomplished, but the whole electronic board is
coated and covered with plastic cover...

> I brought the car in to a local mechanic, who said he could see where
> there were some burnt wires in the dash. He also had a spare instrument

You mean, traces on the instrument cluster electronic board or just
wires outside the instrument clusted?

> cluster unit from another Passat, which when plugged in, worked fine.

And car immobilizer just said "ok, no problem"? )) Or immobilizer
was not a part of standard equipment in the USA?

> His solution was to replace the cluster unit, costing around $600. I
> didn't like this solution because I wanted to know what actually caused
> the short, and was it just going to happen again? Swapping out the
> instrument cluster also would change the odometer reading, and would
> require one of those odomoter change stickers. I'm guessing that's not
> great for resale value.

A NEW cluster unit can be set ONCE to the desired odometer reading.

> So I decided to wheel it on in to the dealer and have them trace the
> short. They've spent 3 hours investigating so far, and they say they'll
> probably need another 2 at least. This Chicago dealer's labor rates are
> $108/hr, so this is going to add up to a nice bundle.

Uh, oh....

> 2. How would you have handled this?

It depends on available resources (money vs. time)

Cheap way - get a "new old" cluster from breaker if local laws allow
this. This means trouble with mentioned sticker, trouble explaining to
potential buyer, trouble finding the right cluster for the right
price.

Expensive way - get a new cluster as an exchange part and let the
dealer set the mileage accordingly. Dont know how it is in USA, but in
europe you get one year warranty on replaced parts (in case it happens
again).

> 1. Is there a good argument I can use with VW America to try to get them
> to help pay for this? A serious electrical short and smoke from the
> dash should not be happening at 31k miles. This particular issue
> doesn't seem to be common among this model.
> 2. How would you have handled this?

You're jumping to the conclusion that it was a "short." Unless something
physically damaged and moved wires so that the bare conductors touched, it's
mighty unlikely that it was a short circuit, I'd guess. If something did
damage and move the wires, then as Woodchuck pointed out, you may get some
help from your insurance company.

Maybe more likely is that some electronic component just burned out, and in
the process possibly created a current draw that melted wire insulation
before a fuse or fusible link blew. In that case, if you're beyond
warranty, that's just the way it goes.

> 2. How would you have handled this?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Martin

I forgot to add -- just as when visiting the doctor, when you take your car
in for repair, you should never state your own diagnosis, you should just
state the symptoms. If you walk in and say, "It's a short circuit," the
mechanic will immediately jump to that conclusion with you, and maybe take
off on a wild goose chase. Better just to say, "I got smoke and then some
instruments went dead." Just like you should only say to your doctor, "I've
been having bad headaches," instead of saying, "I've got a sinus infection."
Tell him you've got a sinus infection, and thirty seconds later you're out
the door with an antibiotic prescription and instructions to come back if
it's not better in a week -- whether it really is a sinus infection or not.