Many thanks for posting this - in the UK (as far as I can tell) the instrument cluster is illuminated in the daytime regardless of the headlight setting. As external light levels fall then so do the instrument light levels - this seems odd at first, the wrong way round as it becomes harder to see the instruments as it gets darker - but it has been suggested that this was introduced as a way of reminding folk to switch on their lights. Of course if you leave the lighting on Auto then you will not experience this - but I generally leave mine on off until I judge that lights are required.
Mark: OK I wasn't aware that UK mk7s already has these facilities. Down here the dimming curves for the internal photo-transistor are such that only the very brightest daylight (and it needs to be very bright) will illuminate the cluster panel.
In darkness, the lights in our cars are also off (like your UK cars). That's what the "Y" values in my table will change
If you ever make an adaptation map of
17-Instruments control model, I would very much like to get a copy - to see how the dimming curves are set-up in your UK cars. Odd that VW would change this aspect of the car down here!
Cheers
Don
EDT: Mark, now I'm real confused -not an unusual state for me on this forum..hahaha!!
Serendipitously, a forum colleague here kindly just sent me a full set of admaps on his UK mk7 (thanks phope). According to his profile, he hails from Aberdeenshire (not sure where that is in the UK). Any way given your advice, I eagerly downloaded the file and had a quick look at the dimming curve for the internal photo transistor (and I also compared the dimming curves for the gauge, clock, indicator lights and middle display). They all had the same settings as my car
Here's the comparison for the photo-transistor dimming curves (X values align with daylight levels and Y values for night time levels.
I don't mean to be impertinent, but are you sure that the instrument cluster in you UK cars illuminate during daylight with the light switch in the off position?
