What are the possible reasons for a Volkswagen not displaying gear positions?
2 Answers
Volkswagen vehicles may not display gear positions due to abnormalities in the gear position switch. The following is an introduction to the gear positions of automatic transmission vehicles: Parking gear (P): The P gear is used for long-term parking of the vehicle; Reverse gear (R): The R gear is engaged when the vehicle needs to reverse. Neutral gear (N): The N gear is used when the vehicle is parked for a short time without turning off the engine; Drive gear (D): When the gear lever is in D position, the vehicle will automatically shift gears based on throttle opening and speed data. Sport mode (S): The S gear activates sport mode, making the vehicle more dynamic to drive; Manual mode (M): When the gear lever is in M position, gear shifting is done manually by the driver; Low gear (I): The I gear is for low-speed driving.
Last time I drove a Volkswagen, I encountered the issue of the gear not displaying, which was quite annoying. There could be several reasons: the gear position sensor might have failed—it sends the signal to the instrument panel for position information, and if the sensor is aged or covered in dust, it can't transmit the signal; another possibility is a malfunctioning control module, where the electronic controller responsible for handling the gears gets stuck, resulting in a blank display; wiring issues are also common, such as loose connections or short circuits, preventing current from reaching the instrument panel, causing it to go blank; the instrument panel itself being damaged is another potential cause, like a broken display or poor contact. Driving under these conditions is nerve-wracking, especially in traffic jams where not knowing the gear can easily lead to mistakes. I recommend not forcing it—stop the car immediately to check if the fuse is blown. If simple fixes don’t work, take it to a 4S shop for a computer diagnosis to avoid bigger troubles.
