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Model specific boards => Golf mk6 => Topic started by: GTaye on 02 November 2009, 22:03

Title: Auto Lights Warnings
Post by: GTaye on 02 November 2009, 22:03
Warning 1

Well a couple of warnings on autolights...firstly Saturday night was the first use of my foglights switched the front ones on while driving on twisty hill road in the dark from Auto main beam through sides to front fogs...a bit clumsy but okay though main beam switches automatically to dipped...mist cleared so switched back to get main beam and went through sides to Auto and an oh f**ck moment of complete darkness before headlights came on again :shocked:

Warning 2...not Golf specific
Friends wife driving to junction on autolights enough tree cover at junction to switch lights on, waiting driver thought they'd been flashed out sp proceeded into their path...queue pant filler  but avoided collision due to quick reaction and ABS.  Now leaving autolights off...

Title: Re: Auto Lights Warnings
Post by: mac7 on 02 November 2009, 22:19
I don't quite understand Warning 1 - don't the fogs come on by pulling the light switch out one click?
Title: Re: Auto Lights Warnings
Post by: flc1962 on 02 November 2009, 22:30
I don't quite understand Warning 1 - don't the fogs come on by pulling the light switch out one click?

Not if you have selected autolights, you need to turn the lights on and then pull out the fogs!!
Title: Re: Auto Lights Warnings
Post by: mac7 on 02 November 2009, 22:35
I don't quite understand Warning 1 - don't the fogs come on by pulling the light switch out one click?

Not if you have selected autolights, you need to turn the lights on and then pull out the fogs!!

I guess going back to auto means the lights go out for a moment until the sensor realises it's dark, then switch them on...
Title: Re: Auto Lights Warnings
Post by: keelaw on 04 November 2009, 08:47

Prob a good thing then that my xenons just stay on all the time...


Title: Re: Auto Lights Warnings
Post by: FamilyDub on 04 November 2009, 09:54
I don't use the 'auto' functions because:-

a) I don't like the lights pinging on under darkened tunnels and flyovers and,
b) The irritating 'smart' auto-wiper function drives me mad. It wipes like a maniac when it's spitting and waits for ages when it's actually raining.  :angry:



Title: Re: Auto Lights Warnings
Post by: p3asa on 04 November 2009, 10:08
I don't use the 'auto' functions because:-

a) I don't like the lights pinging on under darkened tunnels and flyovers and,
b) The irritating 'smart' auto-wiper function drives me mad. It wipes like a maniac when it's spitting and waits for ages when it's actually raining.  :angry:


The only reason I leave the auto lights on is so the coming/leaving home feature works.
Have you tried the sensitivity button for the auto-wipers? I've found mine spot on most of the time.

Title: Re: Auto Lights Warnings
Post by: FamilyDub on 04 November 2009, 10:21
I leave the auto lights on is so the coming/leaving home feature works.

I do like this function... and I especially like when I blip the key remote and people near the car jump!  :laugh:

Have you tried the sensitivity button for the auto-wipers?

Yes, but I want an intermittent function that doesn't change speed until I want it to.
Title: Re: Auto Lights Warnings
Post by: gizzywizzy on 04 November 2009, 15:16
I don't have any problems with my lights at all.

I am so glad I opted for the xenons because they are always on and go through a lovely limbering up exercise when ignition goes on.
Title: Re: Auto Lights Warnings
Post by: mac7 on 04 November 2009, 16:03
Have you tried the sensitivity button for the auto-wipers?

Yes, but I want an intermittent function that doesn't change speed until I want it to.

Couldn't agree more. I've got auto wipers on the Passat and they drive me nuts. I find myself adjusting the damned things constantly where a fixed interval intermittent wipe would work perfectly. Worst invention ever, VW.
Title: Re: Auto Lights Warnings
Post by: AdrianM on 05 November 2009, 06:50
Have you tried the sensitivity button for the auto-wipers?

Yes, but I want an intermittent function that doesn't change speed until I want it to.

Couldn't agree more. I've got auto wipers on the Passat and they drive me nuts. I find myself adjusting the damned things constantly where a fixed interval intermittent wipe would work perfectly. Worst invention ever, VW.

Just goes to show that it takes all sorts. ;) I think the rain sensor/auto wipers are cool and seem to work well mostly. In my Volvo I find I spend too much time fiddling with the intermittent speed dial to get the right speed.
Title: Re: Auto Lights Warnings
Post by: p3eps on 05 November 2009, 07:13
Worst invention ever, VW.

Agreed!  The ones on my MK5 were dreadful!  Full speed when spitting, and never on in heavy rain.  Its a shame they don't have an auto slot, THEN an intermittent slot that you can choose your speed.
Title: Re: Auto Lights Warnings
Post by: VWKev on 05 November 2009, 11:23

Prob a good thing then that my xenons just stay on all the time...




+1
Title: Re: Auto Lights Warnings
Post by: Rolfe on 05 November 2009, 19:18
I had the automatic wipers in my last car, since 1998, and I liked them.  The main problem was that occasionally they would go absolutely doolally, top speed for no apparent reason.  I had to switch them off when they did that.  So far as I could make out, it was associated with freezing temperatures, possibly ice on the windscreen.

It will be interesting to see if the Golf does the same thing.

Rolfe.
Title: Re: Auto Lights Warnings
Post by: keelaw on 05 November 2009, 23:11
I don't quite understand Warning 1 - don't the fogs come on by pulling the light switch out one click?

Not if you have selected autolights, you need to turn the lights on and then pull out the fogs!!

I guess going back to auto means the lights go out for a moment until the sensor realises it's dark, then switch them on...


I had a little check just now.  Reason why it goes dark is because the switch goes via the "side lights" before it gets to the "auto" setting hence loss of main headlights.

Noted also that the fogs very weak compared to the xenons... well when reflected in the car in front anyway!   :grin:

Title: Re: Auto Lights Warnings
Post by: p3eps on 06 November 2009, 07:11
The auto wipers on my GF's BMW are good.
There is a button to push on the end of the stalk to turn them on.
When you switch the car off - the button turns off.

It means that you only turn them on when you want, rather than leaving them on all the time by mistake!

So when a random fly get splatted on the sensor on a dry day, the wipers dont go mental!!!
Title: Re: Auto Lights Warnings
Post by: rjwojcik on 06 November 2009, 08:16
Which BM model is that?
Title: Re: Auto Lights Warnings
Post by: keelaw on 06 November 2009, 08:51

E60 530i SE has that feature

Title: Re: Auto Lights Warnings
Post by: ub7rm on 06 November 2009, 08:52
I don't quite understand Warning 1 - don't the fogs come on by pulling the light switch out one click?

Not if you have selected autolights, you need to turn the lights on and then pull out the fogs!!

I guess going back to auto means the lights go out for a moment until the sensor realises it's dark, then switch them on...


I had a little check just now.  Reason why it goes dark is because the switch goes via the "side lights" before it gets to the "auto" setting hence loss of main headlights.

Noted also that the fogs very weak compared to the xenons... well when reflected in the car in front anyway!   :grin:



Seems odd, on my mk5 when you switch from auto to headlights on all the time there is a delay so before it reacts so the lights don't dip at all (i.e. it doesn't 'see' that you were, for a fraction of a second, on the sidelight setting).  A bit silly not to have carried that feature forward to the mk6...
Title: Re: Auto Lights Warnings
Post by: keelaw on 06 November 2009, 09:19

So on the MkV the switch from "auto" to "on all time" doesn't go via the sidelights?

Title: Re: Auto Lights Warnings
Post by: ub7rm on 06 November 2009, 12:24
The switch physically does move through the sidelight position but there seems to be a software tweak that stops the lights changing for a few seconds.

EG

1.on Auto (in the dark with the lights on), switch to sidelights, there is a couple of seconds delay before they change from full beam to sidelights.

2. on Auto (in the dark with the lights on), switch to full beam (so I can have the foglights on say), switch travels through the sidelight setting to the full headlight setting, but because the system waits a couple of seconds before making its mind up, the headlights just stay on full without dipping as they go through the sidelight setting on the switch...


If that makes sense!
Title: Re: Auto Lights Warnings
Post by: keelaw on 07 November 2009, 02:05
ok - its much quicker than a couple of seconds on the MkVI.  but if you move through the sidelights option quickly, the main headlights don't go off.


p.s.  terminology in ascending order of brightness

- sidelights
- dipped headlights
- full beam

you were talking about full beam.... thats the one that blinds everyone (i.e. with the blue symbol) - i presume you meant the dipped headlights which is what you would use 99% of the time in the dark.  sidelights are a completely separate and much smaller bulb.

Title: Re: Auto Lights Warnings
Post by: ub7rm on 07 November 2009, 09:28
ok - its much quicker than a couple of seconds on the MkVI.  but if you move through the sidelights option quickly, the main headlights don't go off.


p.s.  terminology in ascending order of brightness

- sidelights
- dipped headlights
- full beam

you were talking about full beam.... thats the one that blinds everyone (i.e. with the blue symbol) - i presume you meant the dipped headlights which is what you would use 99% of the time in the dark.  sidelights are a completely separate and much smaller bulb.



Yes I meant dipped headlights.  Its probably not as long as a couple of seconds but the delay is certainly long enough to be noticable when you change to side lights and long enough that the lights dont go to sidelights when you change to dipped headlights  :smiley: