Small light within headlight cluster

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cemerson

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Hi all

In traffic queues I love looking at the reflection of my headlights in the car in front (Xenons, they look awesome) but I've noticed a tiny additional light that appears only when the engine is running. My headlights have been on in all cases - I've not tried looking with them off yet - but it's at the top about half way along, and I notice it going on and off with the stop/start. When the engine stops the light fades out about a second later, and when the engine starts again after I put the clutch in it comes on about a second after that.

Does anyone know what this is for?
 
It's not the cornering light is it? Although that's obviously only be if it was one side or the other, not both! And I don't think that's particularly at the top... I can't think of any other bulbs in my light cluster.
 
Aren't the DRL's dimmed when the headlights are on as it might be that reflection. What do you see when you are actually looking at the headlamps and where is the light positioned within them?
 
No, it's separate from the DRLs. I've only seen it in the reflection, at the top in the middle, just under the DRL and in the 'corner' of the headlamp (as it were).
 
I had a look at the lights in the dark this morning, couldn't see any difference between engine off and engine on.
however, I do notice that when the fog lights are switched on, it appears to "raise" the light beam of the xenons. I have noticed this effect by seeing the reflection of the car in front whilst waiting in traffic. It may be my mistake and the fog lights may cross the xenons in an upward direction???? But that doesn't make sense to me.
 
Surely that is your eyes just adjusting to the differences between the headlamps and the fog lights being on....
 
Possibly. But the effect can also be seen by just switching on the rear fog lights, unless there is something I'm missing.
 
I doubt if your seeing anything other than normal behaviour, if you are that worried then take it to the dealer..
 
cuke2u said:
I doubt if your seeing anything other than normal behaviour, if you are that worried then take it to the dealer..
Click to expand...

Thanks, Im sure you are right about it being normal behaviour, it's just an unusual observation I have never noticed before! I'm a newbie to all the xenon lights and front fog lights, which I have to say am very impressed with, and after 6 weeks, still revelling in all the new functionality :yum:
 
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A3sportbackMark said:
Thanks, Im sure you are right about it being normal behaviour, it's just an unusual observation I have never noticed before! I'm a newbie to all the xenon lights and front fog lights, which I have to say am very impressed with, and after 6 weeks, still revelling in all the new functionality :yum:
Click to expand...

I am still smiling when I see the xenons self adjust when I start up the car I the morning, and when the wing mirrors fold when I lock the car......little things please little minds!!!
 
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Chris.

I had a look this evening and could not see a separate light. I know you said you first saw it in a reflection but any chance of a pic?

John.
 
Daveotto said:
I am still smiling when I see the xenons self adjust when I start up the car I the morning, and when the wing mirrors fold when I lock the car......little things please little minds!!!
Click to expand...
Same here, I just love the look of the xenons at night, very smart & classy.
 
I can try and get a pic but the light is so small I'm not sure it'll show up. I'll see if I can get one against a reflective surface from out of the car or something.
 
I've not had a need to switch front fogs on yet but I'll try that too off the road somewhere.
 
AJB said:
It's not the cornering light is it? Although that's obviously only be if it was one side or the other, not both! And I don't think that's particularly at the top... I can't think of any other bulbs in my light cluster.
Click to expand...

Both cornering lights do come on at times - if you have Sat-Nav. It's part of the Speed dependant light system (think its called something like that) and if you drive up to a junction at slow speeds you will clearly see that both cornering lights come on. Not mentioned in the brochure but is in the handbook.
 
jet_andy said:
Both cornering lights do come on at times - if you have Sat-Nav. It's part of the Speed dependant light system (think its called something like that) and if you drive up to a junction at slow speeds you will clearly see that both cornering lights come on. Not mentioned in the brochure but is in the handbook.
Click to expand...

I have also noticed that my cornering light(s) come on at a junction, not very often though. The 1st time it happened i thought "wow". The next time i approached the same junction, i was looking out for the cornering light, but it didnt come on. Wasnt aware its a sat nav feature. The manual says they come on when the steering wheel exceeds a specified angle, or when the indicators are used (relevant for the adaptive lights option).

I also noticed they came on as I left my driveway, I live at the end of a cul-de-sac with a roundabout at the end.
Are both cornering lights suppose to come on or just the one relevant to your direction of travel? It's difficult to tell whilst driving!
 
I noticed this week at night when waiting at the traffic lights. I came to a standstill, indicated to turn left and I noticed a gradual beam of light appear on the left. Very good when there are no street lights.
 
Are the cornering lights within the headlamp assembly. I don't like the Seat cars that light up a fog light when they turn. To me it looks like a bulb has failed...
 
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cuke2u said:
Are the cornering lights within the headlamp assembly. I don't like the Seat cars that light up a fog light when they turn. To me it looks like a bulb has failed...
Click to expand...

Yep. They are separate halogen bulbs in the main headlight cluster.
 
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A3sportbackMark said:
I have also noticed that my cornering light(s) come on at a junction, not very often though. The 1st time it happened i thought "wow". The next time i approached the same junction, i was looking out for the cornering light, but it didnt come on. Wasnt aware its a sat nav feature. The manual says they come on when the steering wheel exceeds a specified angle, or when the indicators are used (relevant for the adaptive lights option).

I also noticed they came on as I left my driveway, I live at the end of a cul-de-sac with a roundabout at the end.
Are both cornering lights suppose to come on or just the one relevant to your direction of travel? It's difficult to tell whilst driving!
Click to expand...

Not 100% sure - may depend on the junction - but if you approach a cross-roads for example, and don't indicate as if going straight on, they definitely both come on.

Page 52 in manual btw.
 
Cheers Andy I'll look out for that.
My p52 is all about door/window convenience opening/closing. P55/56 describes static cornering lights.
I think we may have slightly different manuals! (may 2013)
 
A3sportbackMark said:
Cheers Andy I'll look out for that.
My p52 is all about door/window convenience opening/closing. P55/56 describes static cornering lights.
I think we may have slightly different manuals! (may 2013)
Click to expand...

Looks like it...May 2013 car but November 2012 manual...but its the para after the static concerning lights "Speed-dependant light distribution".
 
cemerson said:
No, it's separate from the DRLs. I've only seen it in the reflection, at the top in the middle, just under the DRL and in the 'corner' of the headlamp (as it were).
Click to expand...

It maybe the cornering (turning light).

For xenons, there are 2 replacable bulbs in the cluster, the indicator and turning light (which is at the top centre of the cluster). There is a complete diagram of this in the manual under fuses and bulbs, p253 (may 2013 issue)
 
Perhaps, but it's strange that it goes on and off with the engine if so.
 
A3sportbackMark said:
It maybe the cornering (turning light).

For xenons, there are 2 replacable bulbs in the cluster, the indicator and turning light (which is at the top centre of the cluster). There is a complete diagram of this in the manual under fuses and bulbs, p253 (may 2013 issue)
Click to expand...

It is the cornering lights.

I saw the reflection today in a queue of traffic, lights were on as it was dull, and I could see this extra little light source just above the headlight. Then as I moved ahead, it went out. This is the intelligent light (sat-nav) feature - I was passing a junction at slow speed so both cornering lights come on, and there's a little bit of light that can be seen from dead ahead that reflects. Also noticed that although headlights stay on, these go off with the stop/start.

If you want to try it, turn the wheel when stationary and you'll see one side come on.
 
Cool, good to have it cleared up! I think mine was near a junction too which would make sense. The cornering lights add a nice touch really, I like them. I have no idea what changing the setting in the drive select for them does though!
 
They are - look in 'Individual settings' - there is a setting for cornering light. Unless this means the adaptive xenons?
 
Mmmm...just looked in the handbook...so what's the difference between a 'Comfortable' cornering light and a 'Dynamic' cornering light...or 'Balanced' for that matter?

Calls for some experimentation methinks...
 
I run in individual, everything is on dynamic except steering which is on comfort.

I assume the setting for lights relates to how much they bend... but they don't bend as much as I was expecting even in dynamic anyway.
 
Do you see a difference in different modes? As you say, Cornering light may be referring to either the static cornering lights or the bending headlights...or both?

I had a similar feature in my last Peugeot, and on that the turn of the headlight was much more apparent.
 
Do they all have "cornering lights"? sometimes I think my front fogs are on when parking at night but I had eventually told myself it was just the reflection confusing me because of the angle the xenons hit the back of other cars.
 
The fogs aren't used for cornering (which I'm glad about), but they are using for the coming home / leaving home lights. You'll see the cornering lights light up to the left and right, really useful I think.
 
cemerson said:
The fogs aren't used for cornering (which I'm glad about), but they are using for the coming home / leaving home lights. You'll see the cornering lights light up to the left and right, really useful I think.
Click to expand...

Correct on the fogs being used for coming home/ leaving home and have just changed the "dirty" halogen light to bright white bulbs to match xenons and DRL and now the whole lighting effect looks far better
 
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