[TommyGunz]

2004 ATQ w/ 99k miles.

The display on the cluster will be nice and bright sometimes. Then it will be dim on the upper half. Then it will be dim all around. Today, for the first time since purchase not to long ago, it would not light up AT ALL. This is my g/f's car and she drives our daughter around constantly so I maintain it as best I can. Is this common? Is there a fix beyond replacing the whole cluster?

Also, so I don't post another thread. What spark plugs off the ECS tuning site are recommended? Bosch or NGK platinum.

Lastly, I purchased the timing belt kit off the ECS tuning site. Most of the parts are perfect but some are from Japan/CHINA! This job is above my level and my mechanic will not warranty his work if I do not replace them. Anyone have experience with this kit over long periods? The parts were seals and one other thing I cannot remember.

Thanks in advance for any and all help!

 

[RosevilleWgn]

If you are referring to the MFD fading, that's a common issue with our cars.

 

[TommyGunz]

It is not just fading. It was just completely out. Then came back on the next time the car was started. Sometimes its dim, sometimes its not. Its very odd. Expensive fix? Difficult?

 

[atsffan]

I believe it's heat-related. Mine fades when the temps are near 100 and the car's been outside. Once I get in and drive 10-15 min with the A/C, the display comes up to full illumination.

 

[TommyGunz]

Hmmm thinking back that theory does make sense. Winter is coming here in New England so I will see what happens.

Thanks again for the input!

 

[soundguybob]

If you have the "half height" LCD screen, the replacement is hard to find. In addition, unless you are EXTREMELY skilled at soldering, it is not a task that you can do yourself.

 

[TommyGunz]

You mean replacing the cluster is not just remove and replace? Or is it just the screen you are talking about?

 

[simonclay]

Today mine did the same thing for the first time. It sat in the parking lot in the sun all day, and when I left work it was dim around the edges. I ran for a while with the AC on, but it didn't help. Turning the car off and on didn't help either. Is this likely permanent?

 

[atsffan]

Shouldn't be, Simon. After a cool evening, see how it looks in the morning. Like, I mentioned above, it appears that heat affects the display.

 

[vbora01]

This is normal for this to happen on this car. It happens to early MKV platforms too, and they just recently adopted the black and white displays probably for this reason. You won't find any used cluster that doesn't have this problem. Usually it's just a faded display, the flashing on and off is probably just a more severe case of it. You can searching a site called pixel-fix or something like that where you send your instrument cluster off to get fixed with a new display and everything, but it probably wouldn't be worth it. You might have to live with it.

The instrument cluster is removable. The complication comes into coding, resetting the mileage, and finding a cluster that matches your immobilizer type (either 2 or 3 dependent upon model year.) New at the dealer, you're probably looking at spending an arm and a leg, sending it off to get fixed will leave your car immobilized, buying one that has the fix done will still cost you over $100.

 

[simonclay]

Thanks for the info guys. By the way, I just went out and checked and everything is back to normal.

 

[firehawk618]

LOL these types of threads get started at least twice a month.

 

[TommyGunz]

Funny to say that when you bump it up 5 days later. I know how you feel though. Im a member of another forum site where the same topic comes up over and over. Hope I did not frustrate anyone to much!