Dash lights

[adamant]

Hi. I have a 16 plate leon. When it gets dark the speedo lights dim (all standard stuff) so when I put my side lights on - I'd expect the speedo lights to come on (as this was the case in my 14 plate leon) but nope - I have to turn the headlights on fully to get the speedo lights to come on!!! Is this just my car as it seems pretty daft. I don't have auto lights etc


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[Brady93]

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=421041, join the club! Another leon quirk.

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[slamka33]

It is not an issue, it's an feature!
You have three options with lights.
1. OFF
2. Parking lights only
3. Main lights ON

For case 1 and 3 is speedo enlightened, because you can drive with switched off lights or switched on lights.

For case 2, speedo is in dark, because is not allowed to drive a car with parking lights only. Purpose of parking lights is to keep car enlightened when parked on a road in the night, nothing more! And during parking on the dark road, there is really no need to have enlightened speedo.

During case 1, speedo has a light sensor and when it gets dark, speedo gets dark as well, just to motivate you to turn main lights on. It is for your and others security reasons. Not just to see, but to be visible!!
By the way, if you set switch to parking position (you called it side lights, but they are not side lights!), your front daylights will dim! This is not a good setup how to drive a car when is dark enough that your speedo is not enlightened!

AUTO function switch automatically between 1 and 3.
Case 2 is anytime manual, as in 99% of lights use there is no reason to use this setup.
I think setup of this switching is based on OFF/partly/ON reason.

 

[G17RY]

It is not an issue, it's an feature!

You have three options with lights.

1. OFF

2. Parking lights only

3. Main lights ON



For case 1 and 3 is speedo enlightened, because you can drive with switched off lights or switched on lights.



For case 2, speedo is in dark, because is not allowed to drive a car with parking lights only. Purpose of parking lights is to keep car enlightened when parked on a road in the night, nothing more! And during parking on the dark road, there is really no need to have enlightened speedo.



During case 1, speedo has a light sensor and when it gets dark, speedo gets dark as well, just to motivate you to turn main lights on. It is for your and others security reasons. Not just to see, but to be visible!!

By the way, if you set switch to parking position (you called it side lights, but they are not side lights!), your front daylights will dim! This is not a good setup how to drive a car when is dark enough that your speedo is not enlightened!



AUTO function switch automatically between 1 and 3.

Case 2 is anytime manual, as in 99% of lights use there is no reason to use this setup.

I think setup of this switching is based on OFF/partly/ON reason.

Slamka33, you're spot on. Never understood why folk drive around at night with just sidelights on, pointless. I asked someone about it and they said they "thought it was okay in built up areas with street lighting". If more manufacturers did this it may help cut it out. Or you could put your sidelights on and pretend you've got a Saab with night panel.

 

[andrewpain]

I've GOT a Saab with night panel. In fact I had 4 as company cars, and bought one as my wife loved driving it.
And night panel has to be one of the most pointless features ever fitted to a car.
Maybe if it HAD been a jet fighter I might appreciate it more, but as it is?
Nah....gimmick.

 

[Curtly]

I've GOT a Saab with night panel. In fact I had 4 as company cars, and bought one as my wife loved driving it.
And night panel has to be one of the most pointless features ever fitted to a car.
Maybe if it HAD been a jet fighter I might appreciate it more, but as it is?
Nah....gimmick.

My dad's saab had that night mode.....what the actual is that about?

 

[G17RY]

My dad's saab had that night mode.....what the actual is that about?

It's Scandinavian minimalism in practice. Only giving the bare minimum information you need.

 

[slamka33]

In my country, it is forbiden to drive a car with parking lights only (side lights).

You have to drive during good visibility conditions (day) with daylights or main lights and during worst visibility (rain, snow, fog, night) just with headlights (fog lights just in fog and strong snow).

If police catch you driving with parking lights, it will be penalty.
Parking lights are for parking, nothing more.


Problem is, that a lot of young people dont think and understand what is behind, history of cars etc.
In the past, you have two on/off buttons, one for parking lights, second for main headlights. Main lights did not work standalone for security reasons - to save batery life in case you forgot that button on. So you had to use firstly parking lights (with lower consumption), then switch on main lights. It was also better for alternator.
Nowadays there is no reason to switch main lights via parking lights. Alternators are strong enough, consumers like lights are automaticaly disconected if forgoten on and motor is shutted down, etc..
Just the button was merged into one. Off-Parking-On.

 

[andrewpain]

My dad's saab had that night mode.....what the actual is that about?

everything on the dash goes off except the speedo, which only illuminates to 70.
Go over that and everything lights up again.
Leaving you stabbing for the Night Panel switch again...
novelty soon wears off....

 

[dw911]

everything on the dash goes off except the speedo, which only illuminates to 70.
Go over that and everything lights up again.
Leaving you stabbing for the Night Panel switch again...
novelty soon wears off....

Lol I remember the saab adverts as a kid,they always used to make out their cars were like fighter jets
Can't belive probably the only thing their cars remotely had in common with a fighter jet was a night panel switch and saab went and made it so it deactivated at 70
That's not even half way to V1

 

[2Stevo2]

Ive heard it mentioned before and again on this thread....the LED running lights do NOT dim when u put just the side/parking lights on. I have a 65 plate MY16 and I have tested it.

 

[Boj27]

Look on the VCDS forum, there's an option to change it. On my car now, when the light is on the (0) position, my LED DRL are at full power on the front, my LED rear tail lights are on at the back, and every light on the dashboard and DIS is turned on. This includes all the lights on the air con uni, button lights etc etc. I wish coming home and leaving home lights would be on if on the off position but auto is the only setting to activate the light sensor so I don't think that's possible!

 

[slamka33]

My setup is as following:

Switch at 0:
front DLR LED full power
rear LED lights off
speedo illuminated, but dash off

Switch at Parking light:
front DLR LED dimmed
rear LED lights on
speedo off (just red indicator is enlightened), dash on

Swith at Lights:
front LED lights on
rear LED lights on
speedo on, dash on

This is basic setup from factory how it cames.
And this makes sense.
But I know you can change/adjust this setup via VCDS.