Dashboard Lights Flickering

[andrew_ww]

Hi,

Recently I’ve noticed some strange behaviour on the dashboard of my 2002 Leon. The lights behind the temperate and fuel gauge started to flicker; now a few days later they are off for the most of the time. They do occasionally flash back on, but when they do not stay on long.

No other lights are affected. Using the dashboard dimmer switch makes no difference.

I’m not very mechanically minded but I have incline it could be earth related. No idea how to prove this or fix it though. I’m reluctant to take it to the dealer and ask them to investigate as I might as well tell them my pin number…

Any suggestions / thoughts appreciated.

Cheers.

 

[JamJay]

I have a Leon Cupra R which has an LED backlit instrument cluster. When I bought the car, the rev counter would flicker between bright and dull while the rest stayed the same. I took it to SEAT and it needed a new instrument cluster at the princely sum of £600 + VAT. Luckily it was still under warranty.

I hope that this isn't the same problem for you but if it is, perhaps look at a second hand cluster and make enquiries about how to code it to your ECU.

 

[G1NG3R]

Same problem here my speedo pin light is out and also the rev counter pin light.?

 

[andrew_ww]

Sometimes if I smack the top of the dash it’ll flicker back on. Not ideal though.

Probably end up being one of those situations where it’ll be a 30p component that has failed but you can only replace the entire £600 complete assembly. Shudder to think what the labour charges would be.

I’ll put up with it for now and hope it doesn’t get any worse.

 

[andycupra]

so when you say the dimmer makes no difference, do you mean to the flickering, or it makes no difference to how bright the dash is?

 

[andrew_ww]

The dimmer will work on the other dials (speedo, rev counter)

 

[JamJay]

The labour shouldn't bee too much, well to remove and inspect anyway but trust the mechanic you get to do it, my SEAT monkey centre (genuine dealership) bent and snapped parts of the trim so they had to replace those for me for free too. Since this incident I have only be taking it to my dad's garage and we work on it together, not so simple sometimes though.