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Immobilizer 3 Instrument Cluster Swapping
Immobilizer 3 Instrument Cluster Swapping
Updated 19 Oct. 2009
Ross-Tech is not responsible for any damage or problems that may result from following these instructions.
They are to be used at your own risk.
This procedure details how to install a NEW Instrument Cluster in Immobilizer-equipped
VW/Audi vehicles with Immobilizer III (2002+ Golf. Jetta, New Beetle, Passat). As of 11 Mar.
2002, VW and Audi are providing 7-digit Secret Key Codes in place of the earlier 4-digit SKC's.
Keys must be coded using the new 7-digit SKC (secret key code) method unless the owner still
has the correct 4-digit code. VW stopped giving out PIN/SKC information at all in 2005.
Immo-3 knows your car's VIN. Access 17-Instruments (or separate 25-Immobilizer on vehicles
that are set up that way) and look at the first "Extra" field.
If you see something like: "Immo-ID VWZ7Z0W0648696" You've got Immo-2 (or maybe even
Immo-1 in earlier non-US models).
If you see something like "WVZKB58001H231169 VWZ7Z0W0648696" You've got
Immo-3. The first 17-digit string is the VIN. The second 14-digit string in the Immo-ID.
Important Note: Unless you ALREADY have the SKC information for your vehicle and
components then you will NOT be able to do any of the Immobilizer functions.
Click this link for more information.

Procedure for installing a NEW Instrument Cluster in vehicles with Immobilizer III:

1. With the OLD Instrument Cluster in the vehicle, write down the current mileage.
2. (Volkswagens only, if you are working on an Audi, skip to step 3)
[Select]
[Display] (Less Common Modules)
[19 - CAN Gateway]
Write down the 5 digit number from the "Soft. Coding" field, make note that is the CAN number.
[Close Controller, Go Back - 06]

3. [Select]
[17 - Instruments]
Write down the 14 digit Immobilizer ID number from the "Extra" field and the 5 digit number from the
"Soft. Coding" field, make note that is the OLD Instrument Cluster Coding.
[Close Controller, Go Back - 06]
(If you have a 2002+ Audi, write down the current Adaptation values for Channels 60 through 70, if
available)

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4. VW/Audi used to give out the 7 digit SKC to vehicle owners but as of 2005 they no longer do.
Unless you already have that information, then you will not be able to use these instructions you will likely need to have your dealer perform this procedure.

5. Install the new Instrument Cluster.

6. Measure the car's battery voltage, it must be 12.5 V or higher.
7. (Volkswagens only, if you are working on an Audi, skip to step 8)
[Select]
[Display] (Less Common Modules)
[19 - CAN Gateway]
[Recode - 07]
Enter the 5 digit number that you wrote down as the CAN number.
[Do It!]
[Close Controller, Go Back - 06]

8. [Select]
[17 - Instruments]
[Recode - 07]
Enter the 5 digit number that you wrote down as the Instrument Cluster Coding.
[Do It!]

9. [Adaptation - 10]
Enter 50 in Channel Number
[Read]
[Use 7-digit PIN/SKC]
Enter the 7-digit PIN from the OLD Instrument Cluster, Date on which the PIN was GENERATED BY
THE DEALER, along with the dealer's Workshop Code (WSC) and the Importer number
[OK]

10. VAG-COM will validate the data you have entered and return you to the Adaptation screen, where the
New Value will show as "XXXXX".
[Test]
[Save]
[Done, Go Back]
[Close Controller, Go Back - 06]

11. Switch ignition off and then back on within one minute but do not start vehicle.
12. [Select]
[17 - Instruments]
Verify that the VIN now displayed in the "Extra" field is the same as the VIN of the vehicle.
[Close Controller, Go Back - 06]

13. You can check to make sure a key has the correct electronics in it so that it can be matched to the
Immobilizer by:
[Select]
[17 - Instruments]
[Meas. Blocks - 08]
Group 022
[Go!]
The value in field 3 must be 1. If value is not 1, the key is not capable of being adapted to
Immobilizer. You can check each key in this manner.

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14. [Select]
[17 - Instruments]
[Meas. Blocks - 08]
Group 024
[Go!]
Any numbers displayed in fields 1-4 represent the time in minutes that must be counted down before
the Immobilizer is unlocked. If the fields are all zero, skip to step 16. If the Immobilizer is locked:
[Done, Go Back]
[Close Controller, Go Back - 06]
Do not switch off the ignition! Allow the car to sit for AT LEAST the number of minutes that were
indicated by the display in Group 024

15. [Select]
[17 - Instruments]
[Meas. Blocks - 08]
Group 024
[Go!]
Make sure all fields are zero.
[Done, Go Back]

16. [Login - 11]

[Use 7-digit PIN/SKC]
Enter the 7-digit PIN from the OLD Instrument Cluster, Date on which the PIN was generated by the
dealer, along with the Workshop Code (WSC) and the Importer number of the dealer that generated
the code.
[OK]

17. VAG-COM will validate the data you have entered and return you to the Login screen, where the
Login Code will show as "XXXXX".
[Do It!]

18. [Adaptation - 10]

Enter 21 in "Channel Number"
[Read]
The "Stored Value" is the number of keys currently matched.
Enter "new value" of 0
[Save]
This clears out the old key-matchings.
Enter a "new value" corresponding to the total number of keys to be matched, including any existing
keys
[Save]

19. [Done, Go Back]

[Close Controller, Go Back - 06]
Switch ignition off and remove key

20. Insert next key to ignition and switch ignition on again

The warning light for the Immobilizer will light up for ~2 seconds, then go out
Switch ignition off and remove key

21. Repeat step 20 with each key until all keys have been matched.
--- Entering the Mileage in the New Cluster ---

22. If you are live in a market where the odometer reading is in miles, you should change to km before
entering the mileage. To do this, consult the Factory Repair Manual for your vehicle. Here is an
example:

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[Select]
[17 - Instruments]
[Recode - 07]
Change the 3rd digit from a "2" (US) to a "3" (Canada)
[Do It!]
Confirm that the odometer in the car now shows kilometers, not miles.

23. [Select]
[17 - Instruments]
[Adaptation - 10]
Enter "channel number" 09 to select channel
Put in the number of km divided by 10. Example: If old cluster had 50,357 km, put in 5036.
Note: Some clusters may require a Login of 13861 before you can set the mileage.
[Test]
Observe the Instrument Cluster and make sure the mileage displayed is correct. Once you save this
value, you will be unable to change the mileage EVER!
[Save]

24. If you are live in a market where the odometer reading is in miles, you should now change back to
miles. To do this, consult the Factory Repair Manual for your vehicle. Here is an example:
[Select]
[17 - Instruments]
[Recode - 07]
Change the 3rd digit from a "3" (Canada) to a "2" (US)
[Do It!]
Confirm that the odometer in the car now shows miles, not kilometers. Make sure that the mileage
reading is correct.
Note: If you are installing an instrument cluster that has ever been installed in another car, you must
insert the following step. Also, bear in mind that you will not be able to change the mileage of a cluster that
has more than 100 km on the odometer):
8.5 [Login - 11]
[Use 7-digit PIN/SKC]
Enter the 7-digit PIN for the USED Instrument Cluster, Date on which the PIN was generated by the
dealer, along with the Workshop Code (WSC) and the Importer number of the dealer that generated
the code.
[OK]
This should effectively "wipe out" the previous matching.

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Immobilizer 3 Instrument Cluster Swapping

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