Well I got the new battery today, but it looks to be screwed.
I ran VCDS and picked up the usual ton of faults, then did a reset DTC and it auto reran the scan. I still have the same error in the instrument cluster as before:

Address 09: Cent. Elect. Labels: 8E0-907-279-8E2.lbl
Part No: 8E0 907 279 F
Component: int. Lastmodul RDW 0517
Coding: 00001
Shop #: WSC 00672
VCID: 356194D30F417FE744-4B32

4 Faults Found:
01518 - Bulb for Back-Up Lights; Left (M16)
57-00 - Electric Circuit Failure
01317 - Control Module in Instrument Cluster (J285)
49-00 - No Communications
01317 - Control Module in Instrument Cluster (J285)
79-00 - Please Check Fault Codes
00474 - Control Module for Immobilizer
49-00 - No Communications


I've checked the fuses and earths are all intact, so maybe the cluster is fried.
I've now taken it off road and considering cancelling the insurance whilst i think about what to do next. I have the capability (i think) to swap out the cluster, which is £100 or so to buy used, but then i need to get the PIN for old and new cluster before it will work. Since the car is a non-starter I'd need someone to come to me, which of course will narrow down available car locksmiths.

I may just cut my losses and sell for parts, which would be a massive shame but what can i do ?

cheers,
Tony

 

Hi Tony,

Sorry to hear this Sir. They do say not to throw good money after bad.... but before you take a drastic step I would try posting your issue along with your scan results on another site, in the past I frequented this existing site quite a lot however, I think people got tired of vendors posting sales pitches instead of posting issues....

I use this site now :- https://www.audiworld.com/forums/a4-...discussion-34/

Maybe you will get a better response....

 

Thanks a lot - I registered there and immediately found someone with the exact same issue who replaced the instrument cluster to fix it.
I'm now waiting to hear how they got the PINs swapped to marry it to their car.
cheers,
Tony

 

Hi Tony,

How goes the fight?.... update for us? I couldn't find your post on the other site - it's disappeared.

 

Hi again, I got nothing back from the thread, so I'm going to try to replace the cluster with a used one. I have vcds now so I think its a question of getting PINs for both old and new cluster then marrying the new to the car, then restore mileage.
I'm pretty sure a used one won't supply me with a PIN but I found a walkthrough online.
If it fails I'll sell it as a non-runner and lose £1000 :-(

 

That's a shame Tony, it's so annoying when people don't reply.

I did a bit of searching with your codes and I guess this is the stage you are at:

https://forums.ross-tech.com/showthr...rument-Cluster

By the way, the Ross Tech site is very good for helping diagnose faults - for future reference if you keep the car...

 

Yeah, it's a shame, but there's a lot out there so i might find what i need.
At the moment I am going off this https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...th-Immobilizer
It seems to imply that i can read both PINs (old and new) with VCDS, but at the moment i'm not sure if its worth throwing good money after bad. Mind you, i can get a decent cluster for £50, plus some of my time. if it works i save £1000 on the sale, if not i spent £50..

Might as well do it !!

thanks for your continued interest and support !
Tony

 

Go for it - like you say, what have you to lose.... - I would do it.

 

any update for us all?

 

I seem to remember it can occur when you disconnect the battery and don't use the ignition key in that correct sequence. Something along the lines of, handbrake must be on, shift in N and turn the key on (but not in starter position) and hit the brake pedal a few times.