When I start the car the Instrument Cluster stops working?

JASONLR06

MEMBER
2007 VOLKSWAGEN RABBIT
2.5L
5 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
165,000 MILES

The instrument cluster works with key on without engine running. As soon as you start the car the cluster stops. The voltage regulator went bad after hitting a water puddle. Changed the alternator to fix.

Sunday, July 9th, 2023 AT 5:15 PM

3 Replies

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
48,363 POSTS

It sounds like this problem occurred right after the alternator change, if so, the alternator is defective because of a bad diode. It will still charge but it also is charging with AC voltage which will cause the cluster to shut down.

This guide can help check for AC voltage when the engine is running to help confirm the issue:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-alternator

Please go over this guide and get back to us.

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Monday, July 10th, 2023 AT 12:12 PM

JASONLR06

MEMBER
5 POSTS

So, I went through the guide and checked the DC voltage which checked good. There was no AC voltage present. I should have mentioned that after the water puddle incident the car was driven about 15 miles home with the alternator putting out 17 volts at driving rpm. During that time the dash would go out and so did the power steering. When the car would slow down and rpm down the dash came back and so did the power steering and windows. That's when I changed the alternator. Just today my son started it about three times and drove it with the dash working. I put a couple extra grounds on with 4 gauge cable last night to see if it had bad grounds. Last night the dash stopped working with engine running but today it worked like I mentioned.

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Monday, July 10th, 2023 AT 6:30 PM

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
48,363 POSTS

Yes, the high voltage could have overpowered some of the electronics including the dash cluster. We should run a CAN scan to see what comes up, you can get a CAN scanner (Controller Area Network) which will work on most cars from Amazon.

here is a video to show you how:

https://youtu.be/u-4syLc-ifQ

Please go over these guides and get back to us. Here is how to replace the cluster in case a code comes up for it. Check out the images (below). Let us know what happens and please upload pictures or videos of the problem so we can see what's going on.

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