Volkswagen Repair: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, digital odometer, ecu computer

Question
'99 CABRIO 83k MILES.
I WAS DRIVING THE OTHER DAY AND BOTH TACH AND SPEEDOMETER STAYED ON ZERO.  THE TACH HAS VIBRATION, BUT DOESN'T SHOW ANY REVS; ALL OTHER GAUGES ARE IN PROPER WORKING ORDER ALONG WITH THE LIGHTS. I TOOK OUT THE CLUSTER AND MADE SURE THE CONNECTION WAS TIGHT, AND CHECKED THE INSTRUMENT FUSE AND IT WAS NOT BLOWN.  DOES DISCONNECTING THE CLUSTER ELIMINATE THE DIGITAL ODOMETER AND IS THERE ANOTHER CONNECTION OR FUSE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THAT COULD CAUSE THIS. POSSIBLE REMEDIES?

THANKS,
KETIH  

Answer
Keith, thank you for your question.  As long as your tach and speedometer are both digital, there is a sending unit that may have failed. On some models the tach and speedometer can be hooked into the ECU (computer) and it is getting a wrong signal from a sensor.  You might want to take it to a shop and have them put it on the diagnostic computer to find out if any sensors have bit the dust.  Sometimes these sensors do not show up in a diag from the on board computer.  
Hope that Helps