Hello folks - new member here hoping for some instrument cluster help.
I've searched the forum and there seem to be lots of discussions about the cluster so I guess this might be a NB weak spot.
But so far I haven't come across anything that is exactly like my situation, so here goes...
I just bought my Beetle last week. The car has been off the road for a few months as it failed its MOT (UK inspection).
The Tachometer "sort of" works. With the engine off the needle points way below zero - in fact it seems to be resting on the curved base of the cluster binnacle. When I start the engine, the needle moves, but points to approx minus 300rpm at idle. I connected my OBD2 dongle (I was clearing some emissions codes at the time) and could see from the live readout that the car was idling about 700 rpm. As I increase the revs the needle also moves upwards, but continues to read about 1000rpm lower than the true engine speed from the OBD2.
The fuel gauge does not respond at all. Ignition off, the needle is parked at about the 6 o'clock position (actually more like 5:50) - again, seems to be resting on the base of the binnacle. Ignition on, the gauge does not move.
I've looked back at the pictures the seller put in his advert, and the tachometer was showing about minus 300rpm, so I assume that the tach problem has been there for a while. But the fuel gauge was pointing about 2/3rd full, and the car has not covered any distance since (other than being driven on and off a trailer) so I have no reason to believe the fuel level has gone down in reality. Also, there is no low fuel light illuminated in the cluster.
The speedometer points to zero at rest, engine on or off (I can't test its accuracy on the road until I get the car roadworthy again), and the odometer, backlights and warning lights all seem to be working.
When I got the car last week the battery didn't seem to be fully charged, but it was charged enough to start the car, if turning over a bit slow. I've since got it hooked up to a NOCO charger/conditioner which is showing a green status light and it's reading 12.6V with the engine off so I assume it's good. The battery was replaced early 2019, so it's not too old. I haven't yet figured out how to remove the battery fusebox to check the exact battery age or specification. I could imagine with the car sitting for some months the battery has been flat at some point this year, and possibly been jump started.
So - given that the OBD2 is reporting what looks like the correct RPM, I guess the rpm sensor is good. I don't have access to a more sophisticated VW scan tool, so I can't do any more diagnosis.
Could the weird tachometer/fuel gauge behaviour be related to having had a flat battery in the past (and if so is there a way to reset them), or does this look like the cluster is bad?
I've put some pictures (one engine off, on engine on from today, one from the seller when the fuel gauge was working) to illustrate the issue
Thanks in advance for any guidance!
I've searched the forum and there seem to be lots of discussions about the cluster so I guess this might be a NB weak spot.
But so far I haven't come across anything that is exactly like my situation, so here goes...
I just bought my Beetle last week. The car has been off the road for a few months as it failed its MOT (UK inspection).
The Tachometer "sort of" works. With the engine off the needle points way below zero - in fact it seems to be resting on the curved base of the cluster binnacle. When I start the engine, the needle moves, but points to approx minus 300rpm at idle. I connected my OBD2 dongle (I was clearing some emissions codes at the time) and could see from the live readout that the car was idling about 700 rpm. As I increase the revs the needle also moves upwards, but continues to read about 1000rpm lower than the true engine speed from the OBD2.
The fuel gauge does not respond at all. Ignition off, the needle is parked at about the 6 o'clock position (actually more like 5:50) - again, seems to be resting on the base of the binnacle. Ignition on, the gauge does not move.
I've looked back at the pictures the seller put in his advert, and the tachometer was showing about minus 300rpm, so I assume that the tach problem has been there for a while. But the fuel gauge was pointing about 2/3rd full, and the car has not covered any distance since (other than being driven on and off a trailer) so I have no reason to believe the fuel level has gone down in reality. Also, there is no low fuel light illuminated in the cluster.
The speedometer points to zero at rest, engine on or off (I can't test its accuracy on the road until I get the car roadworthy again), and the odometer, backlights and warning lights all seem to be working.
When I got the car last week the battery didn't seem to be fully charged, but it was charged enough to start the car, if turning over a bit slow. I've since got it hooked up to a NOCO charger/conditioner which is showing a green status light and it's reading 12.6V with the engine off so I assume it's good. The battery was replaced early 2019, so it's not too old. I haven't yet figured out how to remove the battery fusebox to check the exact battery age or specification. I could imagine with the car sitting for some months the battery has been flat at some point this year, and possibly been jump started.
So - given that the OBD2 is reporting what looks like the correct RPM, I guess the rpm sensor is good. I don't have access to a more sophisticated VW scan tool, so I can't do any more diagnosis.
Could the weird tachometer/fuel gauge behaviour be related to having had a flat battery in the past (and if so is there a way to reset them), or does this look like the cluster is bad?
I've put some pictures (one engine off, on engine on from today, one from the seller when the fuel gauge was working) to illustrate the issue
Thanks in advance for any guidance!
).
