New Beetle Instrument Panel Problem

A guy I work with has an '01 New Beetle. The entire instrument cluster
went dead. Local indpendent VW shop says it's the cluster, and not
something simple like a fuse or connector. Says he sees a lot of dead
instrument panels in New Beetles.

Replacement will cost in the neighborhood of $600. VW guy also says
that slightly older NBs use instrument panels that are much less expensive.

So, two questions for my fine VW brethren:

1. Is instrument failure common in '01 Beetles? If so, is it one of
those "We'll warrant it if you ask" things like the MAF sensors are? In
other words, VW doesn't publicize it, but will extend warranty coverage
if you raise the issue?

2. Is it possible to use the older, less-expensive instruments in a
newer Beetle, or is the difference between them too significant? Local
VW guy though that the difference may be merely cosmetic.

Any input based on actual experience is welcome. Thanks.

Brian Running wrote:
>A guy I work with has an '01 New Beetle. The entire instrument cluster
> went dead. Local indpendent VW shop says it's the cluster, and not
> something simple like a fuse or connector. Says he sees a lot of dead
> instrument panels in New Beetles.
>
> Replacement will cost in the neighborhood of $600. VW guy also says
> that slightly older NBs use instrument panels that are much less
> expensive.
> So, two questions for my fine VW brethren:
>
> 1. Is instrument failure common in '01 Beetles? If so, is it one of
> those "We'll warrant it if you ask" things like the MAF sensors are? In
> other words, VW doesn't publicize it, but will extend warranty
> coverage if you raise the issue?
>
> 2. Is it possible to use the older, less-expensive instruments in a
> newer Beetle, or is the difference between them too significant? Local VW
> guy though that the difference may be merely cosmetic.
>
> Any input based on actual experience is welcome. Thanks.

I don't know about any common problems related to VW, but I do know it
is not uncommon for a bad ground wire to kill an instrument panel and all
that is needed to correct it is to clean and reconnect the grounding
device-wire. I wonder if that could be your problem.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia duit