Lude Generation

Hi folks,

Whilst my car was laid up I noticed that the light up fuel & temp gauges on my BB4 were getting dimmer and dimmer every time I started it up to run it every few weeks or so. Eventually they just didn't come on anymore, and that was how it was when I handed it over to the garage.

They had it a while and the gauges remained off... However on the day I collected it they came back on again! Although the gauges lighting up was quickly followed by a burning smell, some smoke, and the gauges turning off again fwiw the garage had done no work on the interior gauges, they weren't needed for MOT so I told them to leave them.

Has anyone else come across this failure? The warning lights below the gauges still function properly, it's just the fuel and temp gauge that don't come on anymore. I'm hesitant to replace the unit in case there is a fault in the wiring somewhere, although I'm at a bit of a loss where to start.

Any thoughts appreciated

Cheers,
Josh

Been thinking about this... My guess is just electronics in the gauges breaking down with age (e.g. electrolytic caps), especially if having been left not powered up for a good long time.
Taking them out should confirm pretty quickly if it's the gauges or the wiring that's failed.

Yours got a dimmer switch? When I tried fitting the dimmer relay into mine (had an el dash conversion) when the dimmer relay is plugged in it kills the fuel/temp to the point you can barely see them, take the dimmer relay back out the equation and all is fine except in full brightness at all times. Maybe try removing the relay and see if that sorts the problem out.

Relay is behind the dash near the clock.

It's probably rust as it's a 4th gen