LCD screen on our B6

[B72011]

Picking up our new Avant tomorrow............
Problem I noticed on test drive
LCD screen has some areas that are not functioning correctly.........hazy, out.etc.
I know the B5's had issues with this and they have fixes but for the life of me----I cant find anything here or on Google about B6's and their fixes.

Can anyone send me some info/sites on LCD repair for the B6 !?!
Please tell me there's a fix here besides a new screen/cluster

[ingolstadta4]

when its 95 degrees or hotter outside, my display almost completely fades out.

[boy412]

when its 95 degrees or hotter outside, my display almost completely fades out.

Seriously? Wow. So happy that I have that to look forward to (possibly).

OP, I think the only recourse is a cluster swap. If I'm wrong I'm sure others will point this out shortly...

[westie180]

my LCD fades as well in high heat. a lower temperatures (and after the car has cooled down for a bit from running A/C) it functions perfectly.

[kwimberly]

ditto for me - high heat = missing pixels. There have been other threads in the B6 section about it. Search for "missing pixels."

[rollerton]

The B6 screen just pops out if you want to replace it-- just buy another cluster and swap the screens. It's not like the old style where you have to solder it on.
And sorry, the Color screen won't swap over.....

[iHaveBoost?]

Yup, definitely a normal VW/Audi thing. The display in my B5 Passat and B6 A4 both fade in high heat.

[nski03]

same thing here, mine started doing this about two months ago, anyone know if it will just keep fading with heat or does it loose pixels completely soon after?

[kwimberly]

I've never lost a pixel completely. In fact, the last two years have been better than previous years. It's weird. It doesn't fade out as much as it used to, and the pixels that used to fade completely out are now back in full brightness.

[B72011]

So on ebay there's tons of screens --but it looks like only for the B5. If this is such a common issue with these cars--Id think someone would be selling just the screens so those of us with the issue dont have to try and find full clusters to buy just for the screen. Anyone?

[rollerton]

Contact Tom - " Mpower ' here on the forums. If anyone has a source he would.

[victimdumper]

there is a fix for the b5 display. but i dont know of anyone trying on the b6 yet. ive heard they are similar though.
mine has been fading since i got it, and did alot of searching a while ago and all i could find was this:
http://www.audi-forums.com/general-a...nstrument.html

there is a quote at the top, and if yous scroll down a bit, someone posted some pics. the problem is that ive not heard of anyone try this on a b6, nor do i even know if it is the same setup inside the dash. but maybe someone can chime in here

[audi_nightrider]

Contact Tom - " Mpower ' here on the forums. If anyone has a source he would.

This! Really helpful!

I just wish I have $400 to get a colored DIS for my 02 =/

[boy412]

Contact Tom - " Mpower ' here on the forums. If anyone has a source he would.

Tom is the man when it comes to this sort of thing...I couldn't remember his AZ name. Thanks for posting!

[nski03]

does anyone make an aftermarket cluster? Is the color screen only on s4's? Can you get that style cluster w/o the s4 logo on it?
Don't get me wrong Audi did a nice job with the styling but I was just curious if anyone found something a bit different to wake up the interior.
If I had it my way I think I would like to go with a race car style setup and retro fit something like autometer guages in place of the stock ones and do something like an alluminum backround while still retaining all the dummy lights and mid display.......thoughts?

[PDX04a4]

does anyone make an aftermarket cluster? Is the color screen only on s4's? Can you get that style cluster w/o the s4 logo on it?
Don't get me wrong Audi did a nice job with the styling but I was just curious if anyone found something a bit different to wake up the interior.
If I had it my way I think I would like to go with a race car style setup and retro fit something like autometer guages in place of the stock ones and do something like an alluminum backround while still retaining all the dummy lights and mid display.......thoughts?

Back a year or two ago someone here tried to swap clusters to get the color DIS (s4 cluster), sounded like a total PITA since the cluster has to be mated to the ECU (and mucho $$$$). Can't remember if he ever got it to work, took the cluster to the local stealership and tried to get it coded and swapped in but I know he had problems. Try searching to see if you can find the thread, it was awhile ago.

[rollerton]

does anyone make an aftermarket cluster? Is the color screen only on s4's? ?

Yes. There is a color DIS cluster that isn't the S4 cluster. Or you can just swap the gauge faces/ needles to an S4 cluster if you want a stock cluster with color DIS. As for aftermarket? I can't imagine a way to integrate gauges and get close to stock functionality or aesthetics.
IF your LCD is fading just buy a used cluster and swap the screen. Pretty damn simple, no skills/ soldering required.
Swapping *ANY* cluster physically in the B6 takes a special interface, or Matrix level programming/ chip swapping skills.
In reality it's not difficult, you just need the proper tool~ which will run you roughly $1k. The dealer should be able to adapt any proper cluster to your car- but they don't do it often with used clusters so even if it is possible they may not understand how to do it- there's just a couple steps they have to ignore in the process. So unless you know someone there they tend to decline the installation of used parts.
OR? Get ahold of Tom, he can usually set you up. The S4 cluster is at the top of my favorite upgrades I've done- everytime I drive a car with a RED DIS I'm reminded about how primitive it is.

[B72011]

Swap the screen? Hmmmmmm, something tells me this aint gonna cut it. If it were that easy I think youd see screens all over eBay and other spots (ECS?) as a fix--liek you do with the B5. I think I read that on the B6 its all integrated and in the cluster and not easily removed.
This points to getting another cluster from a car part out.
Question then is--what is the dealer going to charge $$$ to program it into your car? And WILL they do this?
Or will they say, sure--easy solution is $900 to us for a new cluster?
No REAL answers to this question yet.

[rollerton]

I'm sort of surprised, I didn't think the failure rate was that high for the B6 LCD screen...that's why you don't see them advertised, there's really no market for them since the clusters are (supposedly) more durable...
I have 2 spare clusters (A B5 and a B6) sitting in my garage- I'll show you later tonight~ Pretty sure The screen comes right off. Just connects by a ribbon cable-- and it's in perfect working condition if anyone needs it.

[victimdumper]

^ id like to see pictures if you dont mind. i would love to fix mine if i could find a used cluster and its a simple swap

[chad99]

It is just a ribbon connector that has a brown push lock that keeps it pushed down and screen housing is clipped into the board just to keep it in position.
I know this because i just took one apart this afternoon.
its simple remove T10 screws
unclip from back of cluster
more unclipping of other crap, remove connectors for fuel and temp
pull needles hard they will come out, then swap the faces if you want, its all one piece.

Mine also fades but like others mentioned it also comes back, never fully lost any pixels

[chad99]

see this for pictures
http://audiforum.us/threads/lets-mov...dis.187/page-5

[Stig's_Cousin]

Mine even seems related to time as well as heat. The longer it sits in the heat, the more some get faded. When I bought the car a couple months ago, it had entire columns that were out, because it was sitting for a couple weeks. As everything cooled down, everything was bright and even. The only time I've had pixels go out again was when I left it locked up for 3-4 days.

[rollerton]

Get your cluster to this point:


Remove the gauge faces. The square Aluminum frame around the LCD screen un-clips from the rear. There's a tiny clip that hold the ribbon cable to the board.
Ta Da!


This is a perfectly good LCD screen, works like new -$25 shipped if anyone needs it.

[nski03]

I'm sort of surprised, I didn't think the failure rate was that high for the B6 LCD screen...that's why you don't see them advertised, there's really no market for them since the clusters are (supposedly) more durable...
I have 2 spare clusters (A B5 and a B6) sitting in my garage- I'll show you later tonight~ Pretty sure The screen comes right off. Just connects by a ribbon cable-- and it's in perfect working condition if anyone needs it.

Pm'd