Ive been having this issue with my instument cluster when I start it the gauges dont work for 10 to 15 seconds and the airbag light doesnt turn on which I have tested the intrument lights with a scanner as I cant get into the dash test mode and it lights up but doesnt on startup, I have resoldered the 24 pin connector as I had the issue where it wouldnt start and the gauges would just stop working when driving and I have checked the fuses F107 F108 and F114 and none of them have blow, Im just wondering do I have to replace the GEM Module as I cant find anything else online about this bar the Gem module being replaced and also where abouts is it located and how would I cide it to the car? Help would be appreciated thanks

Get the instrument cluster refurbished. Check out eBay or message @rd457

If I get it refurbished will it not just give me the same fault anyways as Ive already resoldered the 24 pin connector on the clusted or do they actually replace bits in it that I wouldnt be able to do?

5 hours ago, ghostkoi said:

I have resoldered the 24 pin connector

I presume you mean 32. Almost all cluster types, of this era at least, use a 32 pin connector. A couple types do use a 26 pin one (which happens to be unaffected by the common cracked joint problem), but none use a 24-pin connector and yours being from a Mk2.5 it should be 32.

5 hours ago, ghostkoi said:

I cant find anything else online about this bar the Gem module being replaced and also where abouts is it located

The GEM module is located within the secondary fusebox which is (normally) located in the front passenger footwell area, i.e. up behind the glovebox.

5 hours ago, ghostkoi said:

how would I cide it to the car?

I presume you meant to write 'code'? As in program? Forscan is your friend (plus a suitable OBD cable), or a "cloning" service as can be found on ebay. (I repair clusters but I don't provide a module cloning service myself since I lack a Windows based computer with which to run forscan).

5 hours ago, ghostkoi said:

Ive been having this issue with my instument cluster when I start it the gauges dont work for 10 to 15 seconds and the airbag light doesnt turn on ... and it lights up but doesnt on startup, I have resoldered the 24 pin connector as I had the issue where it wouldnt start and the gauges would just stop working when driving and I have checked the fuses F107 F108 and F114 and none of them have blow

[I hope this makes sense, one of my eyes is bothering me a lot today, and I'm frustratingly having to rewrite this whole thing a second time after a computer crash]

When I repair clusters I hook them up to a power supply for testing purposes. There are multiple connector pins which take power under different circumstances. I've observed with older models (Mk2) when power is supplied on certain pins they sort of partially "come alive", display some errors on the LCD, then a few moments later finish "coming alive" (e.g. illuminating the LCD backlighting). I suspect that this delay is due to waiting for communication with other modules. With the Mk2.5 clusters, with a certain combination of power connections (that of cranking) it does something similar, with an approximately 14 second delay (counting in my head). Again, probably related to module communication.  Of course this is with the unit on my desk, behaviour will differ somewhat when plugged into the car.

So, it's possible that you've done a bad job of soldering and one or more pins have broken connections to traces. It's possible that there's an issue with the male-to-female contacts within plugs, or broken/damaged wiring. You've checked the IC's power supply fuses, so that can be ruled out. It's possible that there's a fault with the ignition. It's also possible that one or more modules that it's trying to communicate with are faulty, or that there's something wrong with the CAN bus such that it's struggling to communicate. Note that the instrument cluster, the ECU and the GEM all have a particular component for suppressing signal reflections on the CAN bus, and if these get knocked out of action due to bad joints this can result in communication issues.

Warning lights are temporarily illuminated during start to prove that they work. The fact that your airbag light does not illuminate at all could indicate that the LED is dead or that it's not getting power. However with the on-the-desk behaviour just mentioned, this light does not illuminate until after the delay, so perhaps it could just be related to that.

6 hours ago, ghostkoi said:

I have tested the intrument lights with a scanner

Did you check for codes? Codes could be very helpful. Though note that most scanners will not pick up all codes. Forscan with certain cables/adapters is best.

2 hours ago, rd457 said:

I presume you mean 32. Almost all cluster types, of this era at least, use a 32 pin connector. A couple types do use a 26 pin one (which happens to be unaffected by the common cracked joint problem), but none use a 24-pin connector and yours being from a Mk2.5 it should be 32.

Yeah Id say it would be the 32 pin connector just couldnt remember how many pins 

 

2 hours ago, rd457 said:

So, it's possible that you've done a bad job of soldering and one or more pins have broken connections to traces.

There was 1 pin that the solder wasnt attaching to so im not to sure if I ended up damaging it or the trace.

 

2 hours ago, rd457 said:

I presume you meant to write 'code'? As in program? Forscan is your friend (plus a suitable OBD cable), or a "cloning" service as can be found on ebay.

Yeah I did, Im on my phone typing all this 

 

2 hours ago, rd457 said:

 It's possible that there's a fault with the ignition. 

Ive ordered a new ignition switch as I went digging in other forums and people say that they have the same issues and replacing the ignition switch solved there issues. Its also a cheap part at €20 so I might aswell try it.

 

2 hours ago, rd457 said:

Did you check for codes? Codes could be very helpful. Though note that most scanners will not pick up all codes. Forscan with certain cables/adapters is best.

I didnt check for codes while i had it plugged in, dont know why I didnt, Ill plug it in, in the morning and checked to see if any faults are coming up.

Thanks for the reply I appreciate it 

It wont let me upload images on here from my phone but the only code showing up is Trip Computer Mode Switch Circuit Failure in Instrument Panel and Immobilizer (PATS)

13 hours ago, ghostkoi said:

There was 1 pin that the solder wasnt attaching to so im not to sure if I ended up damaging it or the trace.

Okay, well you can send it to me to look at if you like. I don't typically mind looking at / fixing other peoples work unlike most similar services. I've had to fix horribly bad soldering and broken connections to traces a good few times before. You can find my service here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/314393033915

13 hours ago, ghostkoi said:

Ive ordered a new ignition switch as I went digging in other forums and people say that they have the same issues and replacing the ignition switch solved there issues. Its also a cheap part at €20 so I might aswell try it

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