I've searched this forum, and audizine, and I've googled - but found nothing like my speedometer! Rather than a smooth sweeping motion, it ticks incrementally as it goes up (and down) like the second hands on some clocks. The increments are about 2-3 mph.

Additionally, it's sometimes not even close to accurate. I bought the car this past Tuesday. On the 6 hour drive home, it appeared accurate for the first couple hours, then it was registering 10-20 mph slower than actual speed for a couple hours, and then it was accurate again for the last couple hours.

Has anyone had these issues? Suggestions?

 

Do you have any codes? Do you have a VAG to scan it? If you have the VAG you can do a gauge test to check the gauges in the cluster. Go into module 17 in your VAG ago through the output diagnostics until you find the test for it. ALL the gauges will sweep all the way to the right then back to the left during the check. If the speedometer jumps or weird things when doing the sweep the cluster is more than likely bad. If all is okay, then it could be a speed sensor problem. Another possibility is a broken (Vehicle Speed Sensor) magnetic sensor ring.....

 

Yes, a VAG tool (VCDS recommended) and a repair manual (Bentley is what have) are two of the biggest must haves. You could check the plugs in the back to make sure they're plugged in nice and snug.

 

Yeah I can see I'm gonna need a Vag com. When one of my acquaintances heard I got an Audi, he said his vag com would be available for me - but when I messaged him about the speedo issue, he said his won't read cluster communications - said he would need vagtacho.

 

I believe the Vag Com lite even reads the cluster...so I don't know why he said his wouldn't, but I could be wrong......you can download it and get a cheap ebay cable (at your own risk), or just get one from Ross-Tech: VCDS directly.

the full version is nice though.

 

I use VCDS Release 10.6. Not sure if it's a lite version or normal version. The person I ordered my cable off of sent me this software with the cable. It works for reading and testing the cluster.

 

Just used my old VCDs lite FREE version and it did the cluster test....

 

I had this once, turns out the moronic previous owner was trying to cover up an SRS light and ruined the speedo motor when he pried the needle off. It was doing exactly what yours is but much worse, moving in increments of like 10 km/h and making noises as it moved. You can do an output test via vagcom that will sweep the needles through their whole travel, if it doesn't move smoothly you'll need a new cluster unless you can find someone who can replace just the motor.