LR3 instrument cluster goes out intermittently

Tugela

Well-known member
May 21, 2007
4,754
562
Seattle
Starting a little over a year ago, the gauges and screen on my 2008 LR3 instrument cluster would sporadically go out. Just driving along the information center goes blank, all the gauges drop like the vehicle is off, dash illumination goes dark, and there's no sound for the turn indicator. Then a few seconds (or a few minutes) later everything comes back on. Initially it was infrequent and brief enough that I didn't care, but in the last few weeks the cluster has become nonfunctional more than it works. No driveability issues, no CEL, nothing amiss I see on the Gap iiD tool. I did replace the battery recently, but this problem has been present long before that.

Presumably the issue is with the cluster itself. I found the Cluster Fix Land Rover service page and my symptoms correspond with what they claim to repair.
  • What else should I explore to diagnose the cause and identify the correct solution?
  • Is there a way to remedy the issue just using my Gap iiD? I suspect not, that would be too easy.
  • Can I buy a used cluster, swap it in, and sync it with my Gap iiD? This sounds appealing because I could do the whole job in one sitting (in theory), but the replacement unit may go on the fritz next week, next year, or never.
  • Is the best solution to send my cluster to Cluster Fix? I'm willing to pay the money to have it done right, but I don't have a driveway so I'm concerned about leaving my vehicle immobilized on the street for the ten days (assuming the vehicle won't start without the cluster).
I found a video on YouTube for a 2007 RRS instrument cluster removal. Doesn't look too complicated. Is this a common, or at least similar part/procedure for the LR3?
 

discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
7,706
1,015
Northern Illinois
Instrument clusters are common failures but not for what you’re describing. A complete vehicle scan for codes could help a lot. Mostly looking for modules saying they lost coms to the cluster. Or if none of them have a problem with loosing coms to the cluster then I would think the cluster is still doing it’s job but your display is blank at times.
If you do decide you want to do something with your cluster I would use a company called clusterfix.com. For $400 I have them fix the normal coms meltdown that clusters usually cause.
Do your door locks ever cycle by themselves? That would be an indication of you’re med speed can network going down. That’s a pretty good indicator the cluster is failing.
 

discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
7,706
1,015
Northern Illinois
Instrument clusters are common failures but not for what you’re describing. A complete vehicle scan for codes could help a lot. Mostly looking for modules saying they lost coms to the cluster. Or if none of them have a problem with loosing coms to the cluster then I would think the cluster is still doing it’s job but your display is blank at times.
If you do decide you want to do something with your cluster I would use a company called clusterfix.com. For $400 I have them fix the normal coms meltdown that clusters usually cause. Replacement would cost $1000 or more.
Do your door locks ever cycle by themselves? That would be an indication of you’re med speed can network going down. That’s a pretty good indicator the cluster is failing.
 

Tugela

Well-known member
May 21, 2007
4,754
562
Seattle
If you do decide you want to do something with your cluster I would use a company called clusterfix.com. For $400 I have them fix the normal coms meltdown that clusters usually cause.
Do your door locks ever cycle by themselves? That would be an indication of you’re med speed can network going down. That’s a pretty good indicator the cluster is failing.

I mentioned Cluster Fix in my original post. Seems like the option that will result in the most reliable outcome, but not the most convenient for my situation. I'll go that route if there's no quicker option with decent results - i.e. cluster swap.

No door lock issues.

I'll plug in the Gap again and see what it says. I suppose a dealership computer would be able to identify comms issues that my Gap won't?
 

discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
7,706
1,015
Northern Illinois
if your gap tool reads codes from all the systems it will help you. Your looking for codes that start with the letter U. Those are coms faults and you should think of it as a it’s not me code. It will be stored in other modules but it’s saying I’m online and awake enough to know the other module is not.
I’ve never sent those guys anything but the standard issue coms meltdown failure they are known to do. I don’t recall ever hearing of one blanking out and the car not doing all kinds of other crazy shit.
 

pinkytoe69

Well-known member
Jan 14, 2012
1,689
182
minnesota
I don’t recall ever hearing of one blanking out and the car not doing all kinds of other crazy shit.

My 09 RRS also has pretty much the exact same symptoms as @Tugela. No crazy shit (other than I can't lower to loading height and once in a blue moon get the obstacle warning, but I think that's 100% air suspension system?).

It started getting bad last winter (freezing or blanking) so I took it out and checked the wiring etc. Put it back in and it's pretty much the same.

Same being, car works perfectly fine. It's just on startup or at some point in the drive it will usually freeze or blank out*

*Freeze or blank refers to the LCD. If the LCD is frozen, the speedo & tach work...50/50 if fuel gauge works. If it is blank, the whole cluster is dead.
 

discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
7,706
1,015
Northern Illinois
My 09 RRS also has pretty much the exact same symptoms as @Tugela. No crazy shit (other than I can't lower to loading height and once in a blue moon get the obstacle warning, but I think that's 100% air suspension system?).

It started getting bad last winter (freezing or blanking) so I took it out and checked the wiring etc. Put it back in and it's pretty much the same.

Same being, car works perfectly fine. It's just on startup or at some point in the drive it will usually freeze or blank out*

*Freeze or blank refers to the LCD. If the LCD is frozen, the speedo & tach work...50/50 if fuel gauge works. If it is blank, the whole cluster is dead.
Good to know. As these things get older they start doing weirder shit. It’s gotten to the point that we rarely see LR3’s in the dealership. When we do they’re usually shitboxes
 

Tugela

Well-known member
May 21, 2007
4,754
562
Seattle
if your gap tool reads codes from all the systems it will help you. Your looking for codes that start with the letter U. Those are coms faults and you should think of it as a it’s not me code. It will be stored in other modules but it’s saying I’m online and awake enough to know the other module is not.
I’ve never sent those guys anything but the standard issue coms meltdown failure they are known to do. I don’t recall ever hearing of one blanking out and the car not doing all kinds of other crazy shit.

I finally got around to plugging in my GAP tool. There are several faults stored, none of which are triggering the CEL. I found 3 of the U codes you mentioned in the instrumentation category. Plus a parking brake fault, audio system fault, TC, and a few others that referenced voltage. I'll guess that the voltage-related codes were related to my old battery dying. Truck is going to my local indie shop tomorrow since time is scarce for me to dig into these myself.
 

Tugela

Well-known member
May 21, 2007
4,754
562
Seattle
@discostew is it possible to replace the instrument cluster with a used, working one and sync it to the vehicle? Or are they VIN locked? It would be more convenient for me to buy a used one and drop it off at the shop for a swap (or do it myself, assuming that's within the capabilities of GAP) rather than wait 2-3 weeks for Cluster Fix to work their magic.
 

discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
7,706
1,015
Northern Illinois
@discostew is it possible to replace the instrument cluster with a used, working one and sync it to the vehicle? Or are they VIN locked? It would be more convenient for me to buy a used one and drop it off at the shop for a swap (or do it myself, assuming that's within the capabilities of GAP) rather than wait 2-3 weeks for Cluster Fix to work their magic.
I know that some of the aftermarket scan tools will program some used modules to vehicles. JLR’s equipment will not. Because the security handshake on these cars is now a three way deal it could get kind of sporty. Once a used module gets programmed to the vehicle a mobilization procedure needs to get performed. But that being said, if the tech can get your vin burned into the used cluster, mobilization shouldn’t be a problem.
In my experience the clusterfix route has been very easy. But your car will be down for a while. It’s not going to start and run without a cluster.
 
Last edited:

shopereira

New member
Jan 23, 2023
2
0
Canada
Hey guys, I'm pretty new around this Land Rover world. I got my 2008 LR3 a year ago and it's been fun. :)
any resolution on this one? I've been experiencing pretty much the same thing with my LR3. Last week my LR3 started to get this freaking/scary behavior where suddenly my instrument cluster (along with the radio, HVAC, etc) goes off. Everything goes dark, courtesy lights come on, doors unlock, and hazard lights flash.. it stays that way for seconds/minutes and comes back on. I've read pretty much everything I've found on the internet around it and done a few things already:
1) I took off the instrument cluster, reconnecting the socket behind it
2) check if the sunroof drain was clogged (everything is working fine)
3) monitored the battery voltage (I can send pictures of it)
4) scanned before/after the crash using the GAP tool (can also send all the codes)

any help will be much appreciated.
 

discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
7,706
1,015
Northern Illinois
It needs the instrument cluster fixed. The best place is posted in this thread. Your going to out your truck while you wait for it to be repaired and returned. A new cluster would be faster but cost about $1200. The repair is in the $300 range.
 

discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
7,706
1,015
Northern Illinois
Starting a little over a year ago, the gauges and screen on my 2008 LR3 instrument cluster would sporadically go out. Just driving along the information center goes blank, all the gauges drop like the vehicle is off, dash illumination goes dark, and there's no sound for the turn indicator. Then a few seconds (or a few minutes) later everything comes back on. Initially it was infrequent and brief enough that I didn't care, but in the last few weeks the cluster has become nonfunctional more than it works. No driveability issues, no CEL, nothing amiss I see on the Gap iiD tool. I did replace the battery recently, but this problem has been present long before that.

Presumably the issue is with the cluster itself. I found the Cluster Fix Land Rover service page and my symptoms correspond with what they claim to repair.
  • What else should I explore to diagnose the cause and identify the correct solution?
  • Is there a way to remedy the issue just using my Gap iiD? I suspect not, that would be too easy.
  • Can I buy a used cluster, swap it in, and sync it with my Gap iiD? This sounds appealing because I could do the whole job in one sitting (in theory), but the replacement unit may go on the fritz next week, next year, or never.
  • Is the best solution to send my cluster to Cluster Fix? I'm willing to pay the money to have it done right, but I don't have a driveway so I'm concerned about leaving my vehicle immobilized on the street for the ten days (assuming the vehicle won't start without the cluster).
I found a video on YouTube for a 2007 RRS instrument cluster removal. Doesn't look too complicated. Is this a common, or at least similar part/procedure for the LR3?
Just do what Tugela posted. Follow the link he’s embedded in his post. That is without question the easiest way to fix it.
 
Last edited:
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Tugela

Well-known member
May 21, 2007
4,754
562
Seattle
I remembered I started this post and never updated it. Sent the instrument pack to Cluster Fix, they did their thing, and now all electrical shenanigans have been resolved. Dash works as it should. We'll see how long the repair lasts, but for the price they charged it was worth a shot. If it holds up for a few years it will be a good value.
 

discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
7,706
1,015
Northern Illinois
I remembered I started this post and never updated it. Sent the instrument pack to Cluster Fix, they did their thing, and now all electrical shenanigans have been resolved. Dash works as it should. We'll see how long the repair lasts, but for the price they charged it was worth a shot. If it holds up for a few years it will be a good value.
The best part of doing it that way is you don’t have to program anything