Audi A4 dashlight dimmer fault.

[Bomber Denton]

Hi, I have an early 96 A4 petrol and the dashlights have given up the ghost.
All of the warning lights, i.e. high beam indicators etc are all still fine but anything that runs through the dimmer is off completely.
Am I right in thinking it would be the rheostat switch inside the clocks and if so is the easiest form of repair a second hand set of clocks?

Thanks in advance,

Corin

[M3 Mitch]

Firstly are your parking lights working? I have had issues with light switches on both the Scirocco and the MG-B where my dash lights did not work, and it turns out neither did my tail lights - so check this anyway.

If it's just the dash lights, it's likely the rheostat wire has broken or there is a bad connection. Will the dash lights come on it you turn the control to full bright?

On almost all VAG cars I have any experience with, the dash light rheostat is part of the headlight switch, cleaning it or if necessary replacing it should fix.

Failing that, could be a bad connection to the dash pod, or, almost grasping at straws here, all the bulbs have burnt out?

[Bomber Denton]

Thanks,
I have two Mk1 Golfs and the rheostat was in the light switch itself but on the A4 it is a stalk on the clocks so it looks like the clocks will need to be replaced.

Any light that had dimmer control is not working, such as blower control / foglight / ashtray illumination etc.

Clocks it is!

[M3 Mitch]

Well I am more familiar with the older stuff, in which the instrument pod is pretty easy to get out, and you can take components off one and onto another - you might consider this if you want to keep the odometer correct. Or maybe this one has the digital odometer in which case I have no idea if it can be reset, or how.

I agree your easiest repair is likely to replace the clocks as a block.

When you take it apart you may find that the potentiometer is a separate piece on the back of the clocks or it may even be under them. Any good breaker should know this.