Just a quick question... I already searched for it, and didnt really turn anything related up...

I have a '96 A4, without the trip computer. Apparently, the odometer doesnt light up at all, and the dealer is saying a few things... if its a bulb, its $250, if its the actual odometer part, then $550... Well, as everyone on here feels, I dont think that I wasnt to spend that much at a dealer.

I have found them on eBay, and was wondering if I can get one from there, and just do a swap... The one that I did find for cheap has the screen for the trip computer that my car does not have. In mine, it shows what gear I am in, as well as exterior temp... Can I even install the cluster with the trip computer where mine is, or will it not function? If it works, will I lose the gear and temp display?

Also, is it possible to purchase the brain box for the trip computer somehow, and get that working? Or could I just swap the odometer itself... Would that be the best thing??

I would really like to be able to keep an eye on my mpg performance, and its hard to tell how many mpg's i am getting right now... Thanks!!

 

First of all... Welcome to the forum gabee!
If you're not familiar with this forum, please click the START HERE! link. There you will find a forum vocab list, an Audi forum terminology list and an Audi lexicon list. They should be very helpful to you if you're not familiar with the jargon.

From the sound of your description,your car is an automatic, right?
Which unit did you find on ebay? Link it here. (You need to get the same unit for your model and tranny.)
Secondly... why didn't the dealer do a DX of the electronics to sort out the problem?

 

Automatic... YEAH!!

The instrument cluster ...
Instrument Cluster

So, I failed to find "DX" in the list of vocabulary words....

I took it in for an oil change last week, and looked at a few common things that need to be fixed on it, but it was never hooked up to anything... I didnt really have the money to spend besides the oil change at the time...

Thanks!

 

Oooops! I'll fix that. It means diagnose or diagnosis.

As far as the cluster: I'm not sure it will work for a couple of reasons.
1. It's for the '97 model - I think there were some changes made between '96 and '97 that would make this cluster obsolete for you.
2. I don't know if it is set-up for an automatic. You can email the guy for that answer - just ask if it came off a manual or an automatic. Don't ask if it will fit your automatic because he'll most likely say yes just to get a sale.

If you can get it for cheap (it's at $20 right now), then it may be worth the trouble, but I still think it's a risk without the above information sorted out.

I'm surprised the dealer said the problem might be a bulb or it might be the cluster without doing a simple DX; I would want them to do the DX if I didn't have a VAG of my own.