I have a 1998 a4 quattro 1.8t and its one of the base models i think. I dont have the nice cluster with the information system in it. I just have a thing in the middle that shows what gear im in and the temperature outside and then above that are 6 square icons that light up depending on things failing like check engine etc. I just noticed on my way to work that 3 or 4 of the lights just flashed out of nowhere on then off. They seem to do it consistantly now and its probably every 10-15 seconds they do it. They turn on and off so fast that i dont even know what lights they are. It seems to me somethin maybe is shorting out or something. I have no clue what could cause it, i just recently installed an HID kit for my car but i dont see how that could cause a gauge cluster issue. Since audi wants $700+ to order a new one, install it and program it, i was curious if maybe i can do somethin first. any ideas on this would be much appreciated. Or if someone has had a similar issue and knew what caused it or what had to be done.

thanks alot for any help
-Justin

 

Does it beep at you when the lights come on also? If yes, its most likely a bad ABS control module. Locate the large connector to the ABS unit and un-plug it, take it for a drive and see if it stops. If the lights just come on solid and don't flash or beep at you then thats you're problem. You would need a vag com to confirm this though, the tech most likely won't be able to communicate with the ABS module, which is the final nail in the coffin.

 

best way i can describe what the lights are doing is almost like they are glitching on and off. like maybe theres a short. they dont stay on for even 0.5 seconds. and there is no beep. they just blink for no reason and its super fast. i know it doesnt sound likely that putting an HID kit in would do anything, but im gonna unplug it from the headlight harness and drive it just for the heck of it later. any other ideas?