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Model specific boards => Golf mk6 => Topic started by: dubber36 on 04 December 2011, 11:09

Title: Auto lights
Post by: dubber36 on 04 December 2011, 11:09
This will probably sound stupid to most people, but if you have one of the touch screen radios, how do you know if your headlights have turned on during the day?

I always leave the light switch in the Auto position and trust that the lights will come on when I would have turned them on manually. I have an RCD310, which lights up blue when the headlights are turned on, so I feel reasured that they are on, and don't feel the urge to override the Auto setting just in case. I'm thinking about changing the 310 for a 510, and as far as I'm aware, the illumination of the new unit will not change when the headlights are turned on.

I had a new Polo a couple of weeks ago. The DRL's on these cars are dip beam, tail and number plate lights, so basically you have full headlights on all of the time. Driving it on a dull day, I knew that the headlights were on, but as I had no dashboard lights, it felt all wrong, so I turned them on manually anyway. To me this kind of defeated the object of the lights being on automatically in the first place.

Is it just me?
Title: Re: Auto lights
Post by: Jimmymature on 04 December 2011, 11:37
This will probably sound stupid to most people, but if you have one of the touch screen radios, how do you know if your headlights have turned on during the day?

I always leave the light switch in the Auto position and trust that the lights will come on when I would have turned them on manually. I have an RCD310, which lights up blue when the headlights are turned on, so I feel reasured that they are on, and don't feel the urge to override the Auto setting just in case. I'm thinking about changing the 310 for a 510, and as far as I'm aware, the illumination of the new unit will not change when the headlights are turned on.

I had a new Polo a couple of weeks ago. The DRL's on these cars are dip beam, tail and number plate lights, so basically you have full headlights on all of the time. Driving it on a dull day, I knew that the headlights were on, but as I had no dashboard lights, it felt all wrong, so I turned them on manually anyway. To me this kind of defeated the object of the lights being on automatically in the first place.

Is it just me?

The only way I know they are on is by having the Sat Nav view and it changes to night time view when the lights come on.

It's annoying that we have to do this, a light should come on IMO.


Jim
Title: Re: Auto lights
Post by: mkviken on 04 December 2011, 11:39
on mine in normal DRL the clocks aren't lit up but when the main headlights come on the clocks light up and my footwell lights come on
Title: Re: Auto lights
Post by: Jimble on 04 December 2011, 11:40
The only way i can tell is by looking at the buttons, if they are red then the lights are on, bit daft really.  :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Auto lights
Post by: p3asa on 04 December 2011, 12:03
Yeah its a crazy system. My clock lights can light up without putting my lights on when its on auto setting. This happens to me all the time at the same place where trees overhang the road!!

As for knowing when the lights are on, why couldn't VW just have put a light on the dash??  If you put your Nav on to the map it changes to the night time setting (Black) but only if you have it set up that way. I don't particularly like it that way and prefer the daylight colours but had to change it as its the only reliable way (for me) to know if the headlights are on.
Title: Re: Auto lights
Post by: mike. on 04 December 2011, 12:03
The side lights symbol (to the right of the auto) on the headlights switch turns green when the lights switch on.
Title: Re: Auto lights
Post by: Snoopy on 04 December 2011, 12:05
I was just about to say that
Title: Re: Auto lights
Post by: dubber36 on 04 December 2011, 12:05
on mine in normal DRL the clocks aren't lit up but when the main headlights come on the clocks light up and my footwell lights come on

But you can't always see the dash or footweel lights during the day. If it's raining for example, but the light levels are still quite high, the lights would have come on with the wipers, but how can you tell for sure?
Title: Re: Auto lights
Post by: dubber36 on 04 December 2011, 12:07
The side lights symbol (to the right of the auto) on the headlights switch turns green when the lights switch on.

I never knew that. It's not especially obvious tho'.
Title: Re: Auto lights
Post by: p3asa on 04 December 2011, 12:08
I have to cup my hand over that symbol to see if its changed colour.  Its a poor system.
Title: Re: Auto lights
Post by: Snoopy on 04 December 2011, 12:15
Very true poor system. took me ages to find the symbol after reading the manual. I expected it to be on the dash then realised it was on the light switch.
Title: Re: Auto lights
Post by: mike. on 04 December 2011, 12:20
I prefer it that way, keeps the dash lights for warning lights usually meaning that something is wrong.
Title: Re: Auto lights
Post by: AlanH on 04 December 2011, 13:07
The red LED "ambient" lights near the roof sunglasses stowage compartment also switch on with the headlights.
Title: Re: Auto lights
Post by: dubber36 on 04 December 2011, 13:28
The red LED "ambient" lights near the roof sunglasses stowage compartment also switch on with the headlights.

Again, you wouldn't see that in the daytime without putting your hand under it. I like having something I can see at a glance. The RCD 310 gives me that and I'm not sure I would be happy losing it if I change for either of the 510's.
Title: Re: Auto lights
Post by: ajmoir36 on 04 December 2011, 20:28
I swear there is a brightness difference in the RCD510 with lights on and off. i,e, I think it gets dimmer at night with the lights on.
Title: Re: Auto lights
Post by: AlanH on 04 December 2011, 20:54
I think so too. Dimmer with lights on, then with lights off screen brightness is determined by ambient light sensor.
Title: Re: Auto lights
Post by: The Doc on 05 December 2011, 07:54
I'll check for you today, I leave my headlamps on all of the time btw but I'll turn them off and on to see if anything changes.
Title: Re: Auto lights
Post by: Mr_F on 05 December 2011, 10:57
the whole of the instrument display cluster lights up when the xenons's spark up, talk about in your face!!!!!

just how blind are you boys?!?!

Title: Re: Auto lights
Post by: Jimble on 05 December 2011, 17:16
^ ok but sometimes the dials are lit when the lights are off due to the ambient light sensor.. :rolleyes: