Dashboard lights

[Bondie]

Have I a problem with my dashboard lights, or am I being thick? The central information unit is brilliantly lit, but the speed and rev counter dials lighting fluctuates. I think they're supposed to reflect the outside lighting ie day/night, but mine are changing all the time, even if the outside lighting is the same! Sometimes they're so dark I can hardly see the numbers. The car is due for its first service. I mentioned this when booking it in, but was met with blank stares...... and I was asked if my lights were on "Auto" - they are. Your expert views would be appreciated.

[D C]

Mine is the same as yours, also the Golf I had previously.
Dave.

[Cuprabob]

Mine too, they have a mind of their own☺

[moulin12]

Mine - sometimes more apparent than other times. Isn't it simply a (not too precise/calibrated) feature of the Auto function? Seems to happen when the conditions are generally too light for the interior lighting system to come on but when the cockpit is temporarily shaded e.g. by overhanging tree, with the system taking a while for the system to recognise this?

[Bondie]

Thanks for the replies. That's what I thought, but the car has only started doing this within the last couple of weeks. It seems to be a power issue as, if I'm not accelerating, the dials go dark ,but brighten up again when I put the power back on - strange. We'll see what the garage has to say tomorrow.

[Bondie]

Well, the garage says nothing wrong. Apparently there is documentation from VW on this. The guy stutteringly read it out to me, - it didn't make sense, so I asked to read it for myself - this was refused! ( This is the garage that took 3 visits to discover that my A/C had double the amount of gas in it and this was why it wasn't working!) I'm now going to contact the garage where I bought the car from and see if I can get any sense from them. I've only had the problem for the last couple of weeks..........

[moulin12]

Ok, this I my second attempt at this. It appears that it's a interior light sensor 'safety feature' - the dash will dim under overcast conditions as a way to remind people to put their headlights on.

http://www.golfmk6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30070" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

What I don't understand is why the feature wouldn't be disabled or be needed when you have your lights in Auto mode. However, there is a possible hint in another thread that the auto lights tend to lag behind in determining the exterior conditions (which will be brighter of course): http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.p ... ash-lights" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Clearly, if you have a Roc that has been doctored to use the mains as daylights, the delay between the interior and exterior actions won't be apparent.

Of course, should you move out of the overcast conditions the lights will come on again. Very changable conditions mean the dashboard lights dimming and the brightening within seconds of each other.

[D C]

Which ever way VW try to explain it, it's a thoroughly bad, thoughtless and confusing feature to inflict on such an otherwise brilliant car.
Best work around I've found is to use lights on manual.
The light switch along with the door mirror switch are in my opinion an ergonomic disaster and designed by an idiot.
VW should be ashamed.

Dave.

[moulin12]

The light switch along with the door mirror switch are in my opinion an ergonomic disaster and designed by an idiot.
VW should be ashamed.

Dave.

Yes, the door mirror switch! I see that on the Golf Mk7 they have now positioned it on top of the armrest, so that your hand 'drops' on the switch, rather than having to contort your arm into an unnatural position.

[Bondie]

Moulin12 - thank you VERY much, especially the links - your post was REALLY helpful and I now understand the workings of the problem, and gives me a basis of knowledge to discuss matters with the garage. Still doesn't explain why I've had no problems for the past 7 months but have done so for the last 2 weeks! Still, I've fiddled around with the sensor now I know where it is, played with the lighting switches, put it back onto auto, and cross fingers, things seem better. Will give it a better test this weekend. As a side thought, I drove back from Southampton just before all this started, in some of the worst motorway conditions (hailstones and driving rain) I've ever encountered - coincidence ? Thanks again all you out there for taking the time and trouble to reply and explain things.

[salsajoe]

Still doesn't explain why I've had no problems for the past 7 months but have done so for the last 2 weeks! Still, I've fiddled around with the sensor now I know where it is, played with the lighting switches, put it back onto auto, and cross fingers, things seem better. Will give it a better test this weekend. As a side thought, I drove back from Southampton just before all this started, in some of the worst motorway conditions (hailstones and driving rain) I've ever encountered - coincidence ? Thanks again all you out there for taking the time and trouble to reply and explain things.

Could be that over the last two weeks the weather and ambient lighting have changed from summer to autumn so made the problem more apparent?