Instrument Lights and Full Beam

[ABZMike]

Now here's a funny thing...

I have discovered that when driving in the dark, I can turn the headlights control from 'Auto' (where I always leave it) to 'O', and the headlights stay on, but the speedo and tacho dial lights go off, along with the heater control lights etc. The instrument needles are still lit. Rather like my old Saab did, and on a very dark night I quite like it. Now, if I want a splash of main beam, I pull the left stalk back, and there it is. However, pushing the left stalk forward should put the main beam on permanently, but it does nothing at all. If I turn the dial lights back on by putting the light switch back to normal (Auto) and push the left stalk forward, I get main beam on permanently as I would expect.

So, why doesn't it work if I have the dial lights off?? Anyone else get this?

Wierd - Anyone got any ideas?

[MarkoRocco]

It's because you have DRL's activated therefore headlamps stay on regardless of the switch position. The auto function just serves to switch the instrument lights on and off when it senses its dark enough. Stupid arrangement by VW, which is why I (and many others) got our DRL's deactivated. Then the switch functions as you would expect it to ie - when its set to '0' everything is off, and when on auto everything comes on in the dark. Lots of talk on this subject elsewhere on the site.

[ABZMike]

Ah OK, now I get it... silly me...
To be honest I don't mind the DRLs, so I've not deactivated them - It's so bloomin dark up here I need them most of the time anyway, and I really havn't noticed folks waving at me to turn them off.

Thanks!

[mordred1973]

I have xenon's and confuses me even more...the DRL's are the "inner headlamps" which come on at about same brightness as side lights, then when the auto-lights think it's dark they go out and the xenons and side lights come on......what with the extra "turning the corner lights" sounds like lots of lights, bulbs and complexity to me, fingers crossed they all carry on working correctly....

[maddogdave]

Off position on the switch will leave the DRL's on, but the rear lights will be off. So please don't go driving in the dark with your lights off and only the DRL's and the red needles lit up or soon you will see a flashing blue light switch on behind you!

[ABZMike]

Shoot... Thanks for that!
Not the safest arrangment is it?

[maddogdave]

My post above may not be correct as there are differences as to whether you have standard halogen lights or the xenon's. I've posted in another thread on here asking whether the rear lights on cars with halogens come on with the DRL's or not. Mine are definately off when the light switch is set to 0, I only get the 21W inner DRL operating. But with the halogen lights you do get the dipped beam headlight as a DRL (so you could see at night), but I'm still not sure whether the rear lights would be on or off. Maybe someone with halogens and DRL's activated can start up, switch off the lights and take a peek around the back to see (making sure there's no-one around to steal your car whilst you're checking of course, or get a friend to check for you!)

Seen a few more Roc's on the road since I posted this and looks like those who have the standard halogen lights also have the rear lights permanently on.