Xenons always on???

[Dipesh2031]

Hi,

This is my first car with xenons, and even when the light is switched off, the xenons are on full blast? why is this? is there something wrong? I cant turn them off unless I switch to side lights.

[Booth11]

Just to clarify, are you talking about the main Xenons or the DRL's (daytime running lights)?  If it's the main lights are you saying that even with the switch in the OFF position they are on?  They should be off with the switch in this position.   If the switch is at AUTO position they may be on or off depending on weather the light sensor determines is required based on the outside light conditions. 

If it's DRL's then on later models they are always on and cannot be turned off without VCDS.  On earlier models you could turn them off via the indicator stalk. 

[SRGTD]

Hi Dipesh. The early mk6 xenons didn't used to have the LED 'fairy light' DRL's and the xenon dipped beam acted as the DRL. Not certain when the LED DRL's were first introduced, but if your car pre-dates this, then this would explain why your dipped beam headlights will be on permanently.

[Dipesh2031]

It's a 2009 model, so no DRL's

when the main headlight switch is off the xenon dipped beam stays on, when they are on Auto it is also always on and in dipped beam mode they are also on, only on side light mode are they off, very odd...

[Booth11]

Sounds like that's the early style DRL then.  If you want to turn them off, as they are xenon I think you need VCDS as stated in this thread http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=187595.0. I think only the early halogens DRLs could be disabled via the indicator stalk.

[GTI2014]

Hi Dipesh,

As per above link, the Xenons can be turned off using VCDS by changing "DRL via low beam" option - co-incidentally made this change a few days ago when making the change to remove the errors for the new LED tails (thanks to top bloke, Andy, for helping me out with this!)

[Obbzi]

This has always bugged me. I have xenons too and can't turn them off

[Dipesh2031]

ah I thought this was the case, I want my DRLS to be the side lights as I think these look quite cool, especially when I put super bright white LED's in there 

[dubber36]

I want my DRLS to be the side lights as I think these look quite cool, especially when I put super bright white LED's in there 

You can code it with VCDS to do that, but you'll have your tail lights on as well. I know you do at the moment, but I think it looks a bit odd.