First let me set the stage:

Timing belt and water pump done about 2000 miles ago purchased the ECS Tuning Pack. I havent done the Thermostat yet.

The Cluster on my 2000 TT 180Q is going. The pixels on the Info panel are all screwed up. With the Fuel Guage, when on 1/4 its on empty. The Temp guage is all over the place lately.

So my question is: Me temp guage usually when I drive (around 3000 to 3500 RPM's) is the line just below middle. Lately when I stop and sit for a while sometimes goes line above middle. (If I rev the motor a bit it usually goes back down) Today while driving to work it was line below then middle then back to line below it was driving me crazy. It is all over the place.

Do you think its a coolant temp sensor? New Cluster? I was hoping some of you have run into this thing before and could lead me down the right path.

Thanks guys,

Jeff

 

If your gas guage is going crazy it would seem to me that your temp guage is also broken. The temp will rise and fall depending on if you are driving or idle. While driving my temp line goes below the middle and when i stop and idle it goes up to the middle. If you have a vag com you can check if your cluster is broken ( i think you can) and also check if your temp is accurate. Good luck

 

You can check to see if it is the gauge or the sensor by using the Climate Control On-Board Diagnostic
Block 49 should read 90-95 degrees C when the engine is warm. If it fluctuates it is likely the sender, which is a quick 15 minute job to swap out.

 

Thanks can I do it with out bringing it to The Audi Store?

Jeff

 

Yes to both...the climate control diagnostic is simple. Just hold down the Recirc button (middle one on the left) and the up arrow. The display will change to 1C, just use the left **** (temp control) to change the display until it reads 49C and then hit the recirc button again. You will now see on your display the engine coolant temp.

If it turns out that the coolant sensor is bad.. .the instructions are here

 

Thanks a lot buddy. What should the temp read?

Jeff

 

Regardless you also need a cluster. The dead pixels and funny gas and temp gauges are all dead giveaways. In time your tach will start acting goofy on start-up as well. Its an expensive job and not really necessary if your digital display is the only thing acting up, but when everything starts getting haywire, its time.

It's still a good idea to go to the greentop 4 pin ECT sensor though.

 

I've been experiencing all those exact symptoms on my '02 180Q. I know my tank is empty when my gauge says half a tank. I usually go by my 'Miles to empty' digital display and my gas light.

My temp gauge does what yours does, except mine never goes over the middle line. It'll be half way up and then all of a sudden drop to nothing as if the car was off, and then back to 1/4 but never over the middle.

What ever happened with that petition to get the US Audi Owners new clusters under warranty? lol

 

ok Thanks for the info. I did what you said 49c his recirc. and it say 86 celcious? Does that seem normal? I also had just gotten home from driving and the temp outside was approx. 40 degrees. again thanks for the help.

Jeff

 

bump