Hi, I have a 2001 audi a6 quattro 2.7t I tried to fix the lcd on the instrument cluster and ruined it, I tore 2 of the leeds off of the board when I removed the lcd.

Not to long after my battery died, its a fairly new battery so I charged it and it died again at the end of a 3 hour trip I went on, the voltage guage went to 0. I put a new battery in it and it got me home, the voltage meter dropped again and the battery died. I charged it and put it in the car and started the car and removed the positive cable and the engine died. I assume it is the altenator but ive seen a few people on here say if the exciter on the instrument cluster doesnt have 12 volts to it the altenator wont charge.

I dont want to pull the whole front end off the car and change the altenator if the cluster is the problem.

So my question is, can a bad instrument cluster stop the altenator from working ?

Any info at all would be very much Appreciated, thanks so much. Del

 

I'm not sure if your A6 has a voltimeter but if it does it should be reading around 14.2-14.4 if the alternator is working correctly. If it is not, it will read 12-13 volts. Years ago I hit a pothole and blew my alternator and it was immediately evident via the voltimeter. That is why I prefer gauges over idiot lights.

 

Thanks ppgoal, it does have a volt meter and it works and the altenator is not charging, but my question is, if I destroyed the instrument cluster will that stop the altenator from charging, some people on here say it will.