Sticking speedo

[dan_b]

I first got this at the Baschurch Garage Meet this year - my speedo started sticking after about 2.5 hours of driving, all of which was with the lights on. It went away and I assumed it was "just one of those things", but it surfaced again at the last 2 weekends when I spent an awful long time stuck in lots of hot traffic.

My speedo now seems to get stuck after about 1hour's worth of driving. Giving the dash a firm tap will free it up again, and if you stop and let the car cool down for a while it'll work fine again. There are no visable signs of peeling or anything on the dial paint. Does anybody else have this problem? Any solutions? I'm wondering if it's heat related still though? I always have the dash back-lights up on full intensity, but it's been very hot and humid in the UK and I've been sitting in a LOT of traffic (and my air-con doesn't work) so the car's been getting HOT inside...

[Martynf]

Dan, its normally always some paint lifting off the face of the clocks or something inside causing the shaft to stick, hence only when hot things expand. Personally, I'd take the speedo out and gently find where the clearance issu is and fix it. Time to rip the dash out....

[s2driveruk]

Yep, Martyns right, it'll be the paint lifting probably just underneath the mileometer - i was sure mine wasn't lifting and something else was causing it but then on removing the instrument cluster and looking carefully I spotted where it started to curl upwards and interfering with the needle above about 50mph. Used a craft knife to cut it away and voila - no more probs.

Cheers,

David

[pastures16]

martyn is totally right try this link for stripping the cluster http://www.mnsi.net/~natwhite/Audi/I...entcluster.htm

[dan_b]

The whole concept of taking out the instrument cluster fills me with fear to be honest! Yikes... Who else has done this?

[Ian Simmonds]

I've had the instruments out several times to replace bulbs and even replace the 'grain of wheat' bulb for the external temperature guage. If you've got the maintenance manual for the Series 3 Coupe, follow the instructions and you won't go far wrong. It really isn't that bad a job, but start earlier in the day rather than later. (I did a 'quick bulb fix' on mine one winters afternoon and ran out of light, which isn't helpful).

Remember to park with the front wheels straight so the steering wheel goes back on 'true' and generally make sure all the connections are pressed home firmly when you put it all back together.

Take your time, you'll be fine - and don't 'force' anything.

Good luck

Ian

[dan_b]

I guess it's the fear of the unknown isn't it!

[pastures16]

i did a white dial conversion takes time to get rid of the hot spots http://www.audifans.net/modules.php?...view_photo.php

[s2driveruk]

its a doddle job Dan - even i managed to do it with my mit-like fingers If you fancy a hand then happy to help....

[Skull]

One advice. Pay atention to the lever of the fuel gauge. Dont turn it or else...

[rotoryboy]

Yes, Ask Jas's bro about that

[s2driveruk]

aint that the truth lol

[dan_b]

Drat, it's doing it again only more regularly now. On a 2-hour drive at the weekend it was firmly stuck at 60mph pretty much most of the way. Even when turning the ignition off it still stayed where it was. I really can't see any signs of paint peel though, but I guess it's the first thing to try. I don't have a copy of a manual, are there any photo BTDT guides for removing, and replacing back again, the dash console?

[Jas11n]

I don't have a copy of a manual, are there any photo BTDT guides for removing, and replacing back again, the dash console?

Taken from Paul's S2 central site, and MikeS2's site

Removing cluster, same again but with pics here.

and

Dismantling the cluster

It's not as bad as it looks really
The clocks will come out without removing steering wheel (I've got an airbag wheel so it has to) but it's not hard to remove the wheel, 24mm socket needed to remove it.

[dan_b]

Cheers