has anyone experienced this? cluster lights dims out when the car is in the dark?

[949]

so what happen is this.

its in the middle of the day and I go through a freeway tunnel. headlights are off and in the "O" position. I noticed my cluster starts to dim where all the numbers are completely off. the needle still has lights to them but all the back ground lights go out. when I get out of the tunnel it light back up.

I thought it was a fluke so I decided to try it out in the garage where its in a controlled environment. when I close the garage door the cluster lights go out again but the needles are still lite up. then I turn the headlight switch to on and its back up again. I then turn the switch off and open the garage. the cluster is back up, fully lite like normal. so is it a vcds coding I may have done wrong or is it a normal feature?

is this normal for everyone?
S3 2015 sedan.

 

[veeeight]

Yes normal behaviour.

Explained in the FAQ.

 

[driver_tim]

As veeeight says. I understand why it's there, but that doesn't stop it from being annoying if you are (say) stopped at traffic lights under a bridge.

 

[Gazjs]

Supposed to remind you that it's dark outside and you need to put your lights on, for all us forgetful ones

 

[949]

any way to disable this?
I have the vcds cable.

 

[Max-Robbo]

Supposed to remind you that it's dark outside and you need to put your lights on, for all us forgetful ones

I thought it lights up when it's sunny so you can see the dial through the glare/reflection from the glass panel in front? Goes off in the dark - no glare..

 

[steverobertsbbc]

any way to disable this?
I have the vcds cable.

Do you think you should be disabling safety features?

 

[deci]

any way to disable this?
I have the vcds cable.

Why would you want to? Is it really that annoying?

 

[949]

Why would you want to? Is it really that annoying?

yes

Do you think you should be disabling safety features?

yes

I am not that forgetful nor that old to not remember how to turn on the headlights when it gets dark out. I understand the idea behind it now but its not needed here. I don't feel this is a crucial safety feature for me.

I thought it lights up when it's sunny so you can see the dial through the glare/reflection from the glass panel in front? Goes off in the dark - no glare..

it actually going out completely. no numbers or any of the display shows up, only the needles are still lite up.

 

[deci]

Haha! If it annoys you, it annoys you, I guess!

Probably good practice to put your lights on in a tunnel, though.

 

[Gazjs]

I thought it lights up when it's sunny so you can see the dial through the glare/reflection from the glass panel in front? Goes off in the dark - no glare..

 

[DJAlix]

any way to disable this?
I have the vcds cable.

You will need to reconfigure ALL of the following adaptation channels within 17 - Instruments. Yup... May the force be with you!

(1)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_bargraph_annulus_ACC-X1

(2)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_bargraph_annulus_ACC-Y1

(3)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_bargraph_annulus_ACC-X2

(4)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_bargraph_annulus_ACC-Y2

(5)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_bargraph_annulus_ACC-X3

(6)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_bargraph_annulus_ACC-Y3

(7)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_bargraph_annulus_ACC-X4

(8)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_bargraph_annulus_ACC-Y4

(9)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_bargraph_annulus_ACC-X5

(10)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_bargraph_annulus_ACC-Y5

(11)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_bargraph_annulus_ACC-X6

(12)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_bargraph_annulus_ACC-Y6

(1)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_bargraph_main_colour-X1

(2)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_bargraph_main_colour-Y1

(3)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_bargraph_main_colour-X2

(4)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_bargraph_main_colour-Y2

(5)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_bargraph_main_colour-X3

(6)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_bargraph_main_colour-Y3

(7)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_bargraph_main_colour-X4

(8)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_bargraph_main_colour-Y4

(9)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_bargraph_main_colour-X5

(10)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_bargraph_main_colour-Y5

(11)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_bargraph_main_colour-X6

(12)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_bargraph_main_colour-Y6

(1)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_bargraph_speed_setting_ACC-X1

(2)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_bargraph_speed_setting_ACC-Y1

(3)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_bargraph_speed_setting_ACC-X2

(4)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_bargraph_speed_setting_ACC-Y2

(5)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_bargraph_speed_setting_ACC-X3

(6)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_bargraph_speed_setting_ACC-Y3

(7)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_bargraph_speed_setting_ACC-X4

(8)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_bargraph_speed_setting_ACC-Y4

(9)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_bargraph_speed_setting_ACC-X5

(10)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_bargraph_speed_setting_ACC-Y5

(11)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_bargraph_speed_setting_ACC-X6

(12)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_bargraph_speed_setting_ACC-Y6

(1)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_clock_dial_day-X1

(2)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_clock_dial_day-Y1

(3)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_clock_dial_day-X2

(4)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_clock_dial_day-Y2

(5)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_clock_dial_day-X3

(6)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_clock_dial_day-Y3

(7)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_clock_dial_day-X4

(8)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_clock_dial_day-Y4

(9)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_clock_dial_day-X5

(10)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_clock_dial_day-Y5

(11)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_clock_dial_day-X6

(12)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_clock_dial_day-Y6

(1)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_clock_dial_night-X1

(2)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_clock_dial_night-Y1

(3)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_clock_dial_night-X2

(4)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_clock_dial_night-Y2

(5)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_clock_dial_night-X3

(6)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_clock_dial_night-Y3

(7)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_clock_dial_night-X4

(8)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_clock_dial_night-Y4

(9)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_clock_dial_night-X5

(10)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_clock_dial_night-Y5

(11)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_clock_dial_night-X6

(12)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_clock_dial_night-Y6

(1)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_gauge-X1

(2)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_gauge-Y1

(3)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_gauge-X2

(4)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_gauge-Y2

(5)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_gauge-X3

(6)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_gauge-Y3

(7)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_gauge-X4

(8)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_gauge-Y4

(9)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_gauge-X5

(10)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_gauge-Y5

(11)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_gauge-X6

(12)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_gauge-Y6

(1)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_indicator_lights-X1

(2)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_indicator_lights-Y1

(3)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_indicator_lights-X2

(4)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_indicator_lights-Y2

(5)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_indicator_lights-X3

(6)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_indicator_lights-Y3

(7)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_indicator_lights-X4

(8)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_indicator_lights-Y4

(9)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_indicator_lights-X5

(10)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_indicator_lights-Y5

(11)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_indicator_lights-X6

(12)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_indicator_lights-Y6

(1)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_internal_phototransistor-X1

(2)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_internal_phototransistor-Y1

(3)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_internal_phototransistor-X2

(4)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_internal_phototransistor-Y2

(5)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_internal_phototransistor-X3

(6)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_internal_phototransistor-Y3

(7)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_internal_phototransistor-X4

(8)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_internal_phototransistor-Y4

(9)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_internal_phototransistor-X5

(10)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_internal_phototransistor-Y5

(1)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_middle_display_main_field-X1

(2)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_middle_display_main_field-Y1

(3)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_middle_display_main_field-X2

(4)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_middle_display_main_field-Y2

(5)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_middle_display_main_field-X3

(6)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_middle_display_main_field-Y3

(7)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_middle_display_main_field-X4

(8)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_middle_display_main_field-Y4

(9)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_middle_display_main_field-X5

(10)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_middle_display_main_field-Y5

(11)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_middle_display_main_field-X6

(12)-dimming_characteristic_curve_adjustment_middle_display_main_field-Y6

 

[949]

ummmmm..... it doesnt bother me that much anymore

 

[SevenW]

I used vcds to disable the DRLs in the position and that's when my car started doing the same thing, the entire dash dims when in tunnels or dark areas.
Was thinking of messing around with vcds but then again it doesn't bother me so much.
I wanted the DRLs off when I'm sitting in the car stalking people, so that was main purpose, if I want the dash lit in daylight when I'm in a tunnel or garage I just turn the lights back to auto and get all dash lights back on.
Not a big deal anymore, especially seeing I need to mess around with so many adaptation channels.
Cheers and your not the only one out there!

 

[Max-Robbo]

That's me told!

 

[DJAlix]

ummmmm..... it doesnt bother me that much anymore

It used to bother me also as I had this "safety feature" disabled via VCDS on my previous 8P's, but my issue went away when I retrofitted Auto Lights. Leaving the switch in Auto never allows the dash to dim as at that point it's dark enough for the sidelights / dipped beams to come on automatically. Retrofit can be done, if you have VCDS, for about £100 of eBay parts.

Edit: This add's Auto Wipers and Auto Coming Home / Leaving Home lights also

 

[Tony1982]

I dunno about this reminding you to put your lights on, my lights are automatic! I have noticed my dials seem to self adjust how bright they are depending how bright it is though

 

[J4MMYz]

Can someone answer this?:

I have auto lights, at night sometime my aircon lights/steering wheel button lights go off then back on again. I did complain about this and the tech said he will reset the system which made no difference. On return one day I will complain again but if it's a normal thing I won't bother. Definitely not a loose connection as it can happen anytime over smooth ground, never hit a bump and it's done it.

I remember I asked this a while back and got no joy apart from a few others saying they've seen this too!

 

[Tony1982]

I've not seen this happen on mine so I can't see that it's normal and would think there is something not quite right.

 

[DJAlix]

Can someone answer this?:

I have auto lights, at night sometime my aircon lights/steering wheel button lights go off then back on again. I did complain about this and the tech said he will reset the system which made no difference. On return one day I will complain again but if it's a normal thing I won't bother. Definitely not a loose connection as it can happen anytime over smooth ground, never hit a bump and it's done it.

I remember I asked this a while back and got no joy apart from a few others saying they've seen this too!

Am yet to see this happen with my car.

 

[thebluefox]

Can someone answer this?:

I have auto lights, at night sometime my aircon lights/steering wheel button lights go off then back on again. I did complain about this and the tech said he will reset the system which made no difference. On return one day I will complain again but if it's a normal thing I won't bother. Definitely not a loose connection as it can happen anytime over smooth ground, never hit a bump and it's done it.

I remember I asked this a while back and got no joy apart from a few others saying they've seen this too!

Never seen it happen on mine Jammy mate, sorry!

 

[gamegenie]

Yes. Since you have your headlights in the Off position, so no interior or exterior lighting will illuminate when you are driving in the dark.


Resolution: Turn your headlights on by turning the light switch to the Auto position.