SEAT Ibiza Auto Lights During The Day

[NiallxD]

Hello all,

I do apologise if this has been answered on here already, after a few searches I can't find anything.

So I have a Mk5 Ibiza with auto headlights.

During the day there are no lights on at all, this includes any back lights for the dash(Speed, rev, needles etc). It's highly annoying so end up switching to the side lights during the day, essentially removing the use of the auto lights feature.

I noticed in the manual there is a statement that mentions a 'Daytime driving automatic lights function' which sounds like the function I'm looking for, just can't find how to activate it(I might be wrong about it).

Does anyone know if this is an option that can be switched on/off or is it just how the car works.

Thanks in Advance!

Niall

 

[SwinDan]

What year car do you have? Are you sure you have auto headlights in later models it's part of the convenience package which is an extra

 

[SwinDan]

Hint it should say auto on the the light control switch

 

[NiallxD]

What year car do you have? Are you sure you have auto headlights in later models it's part of the convenience package which is an extra

I do indeed have convenience, along with the auto wipers, auto dim rear view mirror and heated wing mirrors

It's driving me nuts.

It's a 61 plate 1.4 petrol sport rider.

Thanks for your help!

Niall

 

[RUM4MO]

Hint it should say auto on the the light control switch

I think that you need to answer the above posting - ie, does your lighting switch have an "auto" position?

If not then game over unless you retro fit a form of "auto" light switching, which could take a bit of doing!

 

[NiallxD]

I think that you need to answer the above posting - ie, does your lighting switch have an "auto" position?

If not then game over unless you retro fit a form of "auto" light switching, which could take a bit of doing!

I have answered the question in saying I do indeed have the convenience pack. Additionally I stated "essentially removing the need for the auto lights feature" in the OP.

However, in black and white; I do have The convenience pack and I do have an Auto switch.

In Auto during the day there are no lights on the front of the car and no lights on the dashboard i.e speed dials.

If you can provide any ideas I'd be more than grateful!

Niall

 

[RUM4MO]

Okay, so you have a light switch with an "auto" position marked on it, if you use the car at night time with that light switch in that position do the headlights etc switch on?

The issue with back lighting missing under certain conditions when in auto mode, is well documented and is annoying, most people just snipe back and say that if you can't see the instruments due to no backlighting you should have the headlights switched on maybe manually.

There is always another possibility, and that is that someone fitted an auto lighting switch to an early car to update it and hopefully gain auto lighting, if that has been done once again it is game over I'd think as a lot would need to be done to get an early car to gain full auto lighting in the way that current cars have.

 

[NiallxD]

Okay, so you have a light switch with an "auto" position marked on it, if you use the car at night time with that light switch in that position do the headlights etc switch on?



The issue with bad lighting missing under certain conditions when in auto mode, is well documented and is annoying, most people just snipe back and say that if you can't see the instruments due to no backlighting you should have the headlights switched on maybe manually.



There is always another possibility, and that is that someone fitted an auto lighting switch to an early car to update it and hopefully gain auto lighting, if that has been done once again it is game over I'd think as a lot would need to be done to get an early car to gain full auto lighting in the way that current cars have.

So, this is the current behaviour.

Note: everything on this car is OEM fitted at production. A family member bought it new and sold it to me 2 years ago. Only now have I decided to do something about it.

Switch in auto position:

- Daylight: Side lights, Head lights, dash lights = off.

- Darkness: Side lights, dipped lights, dash lights = on.

Then in each switch position the correct lights come on. I.e. Side, dipped and high beam on the stalk.

I feel light I should be able to have my side lights(and in turn the dash lights) on during the day light and then it turns the dipped lights on when it gets dark.

Currently when I get in the car I turn it to side lights during the day and leave it on auto at night.

Might as well not have the feature as it is




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[RUM4MO]

Right, so it really is down to what I said about "missing" backlighting being an issue under certain conditions. I used to have a VW Cav GSI, the backlights came on with the ignition which was good, but when coming from a car which only switched on the backlights when the lights were switched on it could become a problem!

I don't know about these early cars, but my 2011 Audi S4 and my wife's Aug 2015 Polo both have auto lights and the backlighting does come on under daylight conditions and its level of brightness varies with ambient lighting conditions - and even that evolution from basic "auto" lighting does cause me issues at times.

Unless someone else knows otherwise, I'm guessing that SEAT's first "bash" at auto lighting on the Ibiza leaves quite a bit to be desired.

If you have access to VCDS you might be able to see if that car's BCM can be recoded to alter the behaviour of the backlighting enough to improve things, in other words always have the backlighting on regardless of the main lighting switch - that would work as long as you don't slip into the way of thinking that I outlined with a previous car where you see backlighting on so you think you have headlights on.

 

[NiallxD]

Right, so it really is down to what I said about "missing" backlighting being an issue under certain conditions. I used to have a VW Cav GSI, the backlights came on with the ignition which was good, but when coming from a car which only switched on the backlights when the lights were switched on it could become a problem!



I don't know about these early cars, but my 2011 Audi S4 and my wife's Aug 2015 Polo both have auto lights and the backlighting does come on under daylight conditions and its level of brightness varies with ambient lighting conditions - and even that evolution from basic "auto" lighting does cause me issues at times.



Unless someone else knows otherwise, I'm guessing that SEAT's first "bash" at auto lighting on the Ibiza leaves quite a bit to be desired.



If you have access to VCDS you might be able to see if that car's BCM can be recoded to alter the behaviour of the backlighting enough to improve things, in other words always have the backlighting on regardless of the main lighting switch - that would work as long as you don't slip into the way of thinking that I outlined with a previous car where you see backlighting on so you think you have headlights on.

Okay, so what your saying is this could just be down to the system they installed?

When you said "I don't know about these early cars" are you referring to my 2011 Ibiza?

Would I be naive to think that the 2011 Audi's use the same system as a 2011 SEAT? Both been VW n'all?

I really appreciate your help on this!

Niall



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[RUM4MO]

No, the different marques will pick what they need that model to have to survive in the open market.

As far as I know, the current Ibizas have a completely newer/improved/extended "electrics" back bone so are more flexible when it comes to how and what they can do - Polo is just the same and Polo and Ibiza almost work hand in hand over developments with Fabia maybe lagging behind a bit.

So, like your early Ibiza, the early Polo which was known as 6R is a lot less clever in what it's electrics can be expected to do when compared with the later 6C Polo, which like the Ibiza looks from the outside to be exactly the same car!

 

[NiallxD]

No, the different marques will pick what they need that model to have to survive in the open market.



As far as I know, the current Ibizas have a completely newer/improved/extended "electrics" back bone so are more flexible when it comes to how and what they can do - Polo is just the same and Polo and Ibiza almost work hand in hand over developments with Fabia maybe lagging behind a bit.



So, like your early Ibiza, the early Polo which was known as 6R is a lot less clever in what it's electrics can be expected to do when compared with the later 6C Polo, which like the Ibiza looks from the outside to be exactly the same car!

Alrighty, thanks for your help sir!

I'll contact SEAT and see what they say. I'll also try find someone with access to VCDS and go from there.

Cheers
Niall



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[Sonofzelda]

I think you are referring to daytime running lights (DRL) which are not included in your convenience pack. Google will give you plenty of info about them and their legal status.

 

[NiallxD]

I think you are referring to daytime running lights (DRL) which are not included in your convenience pack. Google will give you plenty of info about them and their legal status.

I'm not talking about DRLs which I know my car doesn't haveZ they have their own section in the user manual.

There is a line in the manual that says, under a 'note:' If the daylight driving automatic light function is on, then...'

Thanks


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[SwinDan]

You should be able to use vcds or obdeleven to code the car to always run with backlight on

 

[KXL]

Got a question for people who have the 'newer' facelifted (with intergrated LED DRLs or those who have Bi-xenon)

On position 0 on light switch, DRLs are on full, and instrument backlight may be on, or not, depending on sensor, but dash lights (AC controls, Sat Nav buttons) are off..

On auto on light switch, depending on lighting, it can be all or on all off. On mine if very dark, when I unlock the car, the headlights come on for 30 secs.

On sidelights on light switch, DRLs are on (do they dim a bit?) dash lights are on, tail lights are on BUT at least for mine instrument backlights are off (is this normal?)

On dipped beam, everything is on, and DRLs dim a bit.

Is this what everybody gets? On all other cars I've driven when on sidelights/parking lights switch, the instrument backlight (speedo, rpm meters) all lights up, and at least on Leon, DRLs dim.

 

[steveemacz FR]

Got a question for people who have the 'newer' facelifted (with intergrated LED DRLs or those who have Bi-xenon)

On position 0 on light switch, DRLs are on full, and instrument backlight may be on, or not, depending on sensor, but dash lights (AC controls, Sat Nav buttons) are off..

On auto on light switch, depending on lighting, it can be all or on all off. On mine if very dark, when I unlock the car, the headlights come on for 30 secs.

On sidelights on light switch, DRLs are on (do they dim a bit?) dash lights are on, tail lights are on BUT at least for mine instrument backlights are off (is this normal?)

On dipped beam, everything is on, and DRLs dim a bit.

Is this what everybody gets? On all other cars I've driven when on sidelights/parking lights switch, the instrument backlight (speedo, rpm meters) all lights up, and at least on Leon, DRLs dim.

I get the exact same set up on mine. So it seems to make sense. As mines a similar car to yours.