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Model specific boards => Golf mk5 => Topic started by: p3eps on 09 July 2007, 22:58

Title: How'd you tell if your lights are on??!
Post by: p3eps on 09 July 2007, 22:58: I've just come back from a 350 mile trip out and about! My lights are set to auto... so when I was going through tunnels on the motorways, my lights were coming on and going off. It was pretty sunny up here - so its difficult to tell by looking at my speedo dials etc whether they were lit up or not. Sometimes I could notice the reg plates of other cars having a 'blue' xenon tint from my lights.

All previous cars I've owned have had a light symbol in the speedo area - but with auto headlights, how do you know if they're on or not?!

On another note - the 350 miles took me to 1077 - so I can now start putting my foot down a bit harder and seeing what she'll really do! :evil:
Title: Re: How'd you tell if your lights are on??!
Post by: Cass on 10 July 2007, 00:33: Interior instruments/switchgear backlights come on (if you can see them in daylight) )and Sat Nav (if fitted) goes into night display mode :wink:

If you have Xenons - other drivers flash at you coz they think the beam pattern is set to high :grin:

Cass
Title: Re: How'd you tell if your lights are on??!
Post by: p3eps on 10 July 2007, 07:42: Quote from: Cass on 10 July 2007, 00:33
Interior instruments/switchgear backlights come on (if you can see them in daylight) )and Sat Nav (if fitted) goes into night display mode :wink:

If you have Xenons - other drivers flash at you coz they think the beam pattern is set to high :grin:

Cass

So no specific 'lights are on' indicator then?!
How long are the lights supposed to take to go off again after going through a tunnel? I noticed the 1st time they stayed on for a few mins, and the next time they seemed to go off straight away.

Sometimes when I start my car in the garage they come on as its semi dark - and they stay on for my whole journey even though its sunny outside! Other times they go off after a min. Very odd!
Title: Re: How'd you tell if your lights are on??!
Post by: mepal47 on 10 July 2007, 10:05: The auto headlights will switch on if you go over 85mph i think, then wont switch off unless your driving at 40mph or less for a few minutes
Title: Re: How'd you tell if your lights are on??!
Post by: SteveS on 10 July 2007, 13:30: gawd, they sound great :-|
Title: Re: How'd you tell if your lights are on??!
Post by: J.M. on 10 July 2007, 16:57: Quote from: mepal47 on 10 July 2007, 10:05
The auto headlights will switch on if you go over 85mph i think, then wont switch off unless your driving at 40mph or less for a few minutes

Thats why, it makes sense now, i could'nt work out why my lights were coming on in full sunshine, do they change to full beam when you go over a ton :evil:
Title: Re: How'd you tell if your lights are on??!
Post by: wantmygti on 11 July 2007, 10:10: I agree with p3eps - an indicator light would be good. Sometimes in day time it is hard to see if the cluster is lit up.
Title: Re: How'd you tell if your lights are on??!
Post by: Creepy Coupe on 11 July 2007, 10:35: Doesn't the little symbol around the edge of the light switch illuminate ?
Title: Re: How'd you tell if your lights are on??!
Post by: wantmygti on 11 July 2007, 14:07: the auto symbol is always alight. Besides it's not exactly in the eye line when your driving.
Title: Re: How'd you tell if your lights are on??!
Post by: Creepy Coupe on 11 July 2007, 14:37: Quote from: wantmygti on 11 July 2007, 14:07
the auto symbol is always alight. Besides it's not exactly in the eye line when your driving.

Unlike the dash, climate temp, radio backlight,(if it's on) :wink:
Title: Re: How'd you tell if your lights are on??!
Post by: wantmygti on 11 July 2007, 16:30: That was the whole point. The dash lights are not easy to see in the day time, say if the lights are on due to speed as opposed to darkness.
Title: Re: How'd you tell if your lights are on??!
Post by: p3eps on 11 July 2007, 17:31: Quote from: Creepy Coupe on 11 July 2007, 14:37
Unlike the dash, climate temp, radio backlight,(if it's on) :wink:

I have an aftermarket stereo - which just dims slightly with the lights - and the climate and dash are both very difficult to tell if lit - especially when its sunny (I have my brightness dial turned right down!)
Title: Re: How'd you tell if your lights are on??!
Post by: p3eps on 11 July 2007, 22:11: I found the answer!!!!

When you are driving without lights, the 'auto' dial is green. When your lights come on, all the lights on the dial turn pinky red.

So if the auto marking is green, the lights are off!
Title: Re: How'd you tell if your lights are on??!
Post by: Creepy Coupe on 12 July 2007, 08:27: Maybe because I have tints on my motor the interior being a bit darker might help me notice more easily.
Title: Re: How'd you tell if your lights are on??!
Post by: Pabs32 on 13 July 2007, 11:17: Simple guide.
lights on - can see things in the dark
Lights Off - can't see things in the dark.

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :nerd:
Title: Re: How'd you tell if your lights are on??!
Post by: wantmygti on 13 July 2007, 15:43: Quote from: Pabs32 on 13 July 2007, 11:17
Simple guide.
lights on - can see things in the dark
Lights Off - can't see things in the dark.

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :nerd:

Shut up!! :lipsrsealed: :lipsrsealed:
Title: Re: How'd you tell if your lights are on??!
Post by: Pabs32 on 13 July 2007, 23:52: sorry I forgot humour was banned in the MK5 threads.
I'll try to be more serious in future :sad:
Title: Re: How'd you tell if your lights are on??!
Post by: VWaddict73 on 13 July 2007, 23:57: why the f*ck would someone design a car that the lights automatically came on after 85mph??? Thats just odd!!
Title: Re: How'd you tell if your lights are on??!
Post by: Hully on 14 July 2007, 09:46: Also you can tell by the little infra red lights that come on by the rear view mirror that shine down on the gear knob. Very :cool: at night.
Title: Re: How'd you tell if your lights are on??!
Post by: SteveS on 14 July 2007, 10:31: i just noticed, when i unlock my car (at nite) there is some lights under the window mirrors that light up the ground!! very nice!
Title: Re: How'd you tell if your lights are on??!
Post by: mepal47 on 14 July 2007, 12:02: Quote from: VWaddict73 on 13 July 2007, 23:57
why the f*ck would someone design a car that the lights automatically came on after 85mph??? Thats just odd!!

its to make you more visable to other road users, so when your bombing along they are less likely to pull out of juntions on to you etc.
Title: Re: How'd you tell if your lights are on??!
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on 26 August 2007, 10:44: Quote from: VWaddict73 on 13 July 2007, 23:57
why the f*ck would someone design a car that the lights automatically came on after 85mph??? Thats just odd!!

Erm, how about it being the law in Germany!
Title: Re: How'd you tell if your lights are on??!
Post by: illyun on 26 August 2007, 13:21: Quote from: Teutonic_Tamer on 26 August 2007, 10:44
Quote from: VWaddict73 on 13 July 2007, 23:57
why the f*ck would someone design a car that the lights automatically came on after 85mph??? Thats just odd!!

Erm, how about it being the law in Germany!
ermmm and? we're in the UK and I don't see VW trying to flog LHD vehicles over here...
Title: Re: How'd you tell if your lights are on??!
Post by: Hurdy on 26 August 2007, 14:01: Well you could turn the function off through VAG-COM :nerd:
Title: Re: How'd you tell if your lights are on??!
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on 26 August 2007, 16:32: Quote from: illyun on 26 August 2007, 13:21
Quote from: Teutonic_Tamer on 26 August 2007, 10:44
Quote from: VWaddict73 on 13 July 2007, 23:57
why the f*ck would someone design a car that the lights automatically came on after 85mph??? Thats just odd!!

Erm, how about it being the law in Germany!
ermmm and? we're in the UK and I don't see VW trying to flog LHD vehicles over here...

I agree!

But when in Rome, do as the Romans do . . . . VW are only producing a car which complies with all "generic" EU regulations, and also any country-specific laws. It makes more financial sense to produce a single design spec that will comply with all markets, particularly their "homeland".

The LHD drive thing is an interesting point. All German and French cars are initially designed as left hookers, and are "re-engineered" for the smaller RHD markets.

Look at two simple design flaws we have to put up with, which LHD motors don't. In the GTI and .:R32, the left hookers get a metal dead pedal, whereas we don't. Or pop your bonnet and look at the brake fluid master cylinder resevoir - on ours, it's a right b!tch to get to, but on LHDs it is dead easy! :nerd:
Title: Re: How'd you tell if your lights are on??!
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on 26 August 2007, 16:34: Quote from: Hurdy on 26 August 2007, 14:01
Well you could turn the function off through VAG-COM :nerd:

Yeah, or stop being a lazy git, turn off the auto headlamps altogether, and use them properly. :tongue:

Afterall, the auto headlamps won't activate in daytime rain, spray, or fog - and those scenarios are legal requirements in the UK for dipped headlamps!!! :nerd: