Dimming headlight lights on dashboard

[Spinifex]

I've noticed on many new cars, (my 3yr-old Mazda, my 12yr-old Subaru, and my current Octy3) the headlight & foglights have "lights-on" indication lights shining on the dashboard, when they are on.



Is this a legislated requirement in some countries? And can VCDS or something similar, allow these to be dimmed together with the other dashboard lights?

I find it strange that modern cars, with auto-on/off headlights, and loud warning buzzers if you leave the lights on and try to exit the vehicle, would even need to inform the driver that they have their lights on, with little green, blue or orange symbols in the dashboard?

Why are they there? Don't people know they've got their lights on?

I can fully understand actual WARNING lights being full-brightness, if they need to illuminate - but why does the driver need to be informed they've got their headlights on with a symbol on the dash? Can't they see outside the windscreen?

The main reason I find it annoying, is that when driving on a dark road with no street-lighting (especially remote highways), I like to have my dashboard lights dimmed, so they are not on full brightness in my face, distracting me from concentrating on the road outside.

But these bright-green headlight symbols are shining at full strength right in your face, and they negate having dimmed the rest of the dashboard lights.

High beam symbol too, can be quite bright in your face.



Anyone else find these lights too bright, and would like to be able to dim them?

Or am I just a big sook?

[Mysticality]

Why are they there? Don't people know they've got their lights on?

You've clearly never driven through a city at night, have you... Endless streams of Toyota's and Kia's with only their running lights on.

But yes, I agree with you - the symbols across the top of the Mk2 dash are needlessly bright! (Especially mine as they're blue!)
Unfortunately, short of taking the cluster to bits and dabbing a permanent marker over the LED I don't know what you can do about it.

[Spinifex]

LOL...... and damn

[Mysticality]

LOL...... and damn

That being said, its an easy job - however not for the faint of heart.

[Jondalar]

I looked tonight on the way home, there's no headlight on light on my dash, just the one very low down beside the lights switch, which to me isn't very bright. The high beam is kinda bright but I barely ever get to use it.

Cheers,
Karl

[Antiplastix]

My Aprilia has the same light, was sort of annoying until I stuck some black electrical tape over it.

[Spinifex]

Yeh- I've got this a bit wrong !!!

In the Octy3, there's no light on dash to indicate the headlights are on - only on the actual light switch itself.

But there ARE lights for front & rear fogs, and high-beam. Which is all fine I guess, IF they dimmed with the rest of the dash lights.
Interestingly, the Kia Cerato hire car I'm currently in, it dims ALL dash lights - even the head/fog/highbeam lights, which would definitely be the preference to reduce distraction.

Curious to people's opinions - is there an engineering reason why cars don't just have their lights on all the time?

All my previous cars, I've driven with the headlights on ALL the time. I was taught this way, so that I'm visible to other drivers more easily.
Laws in Australia were made so that motorbikes must have their headlight on when ignition is on, for the same reason. I remember there was a lot of angriness when this law was first introduced, as riders had to get their existing bikes rewired to do this with the ignition circuit, but now, it's just normal to see bikes with (at least one) headlight on all the time.

So why do people object to doing this in cars?
If lights just came on automatically when starting car, there would be no reason to even have a light switch, never mind an "auto" switch or light sensor, or distracting bulbs in the dash reminding you the lights were on....

Is this a personal preference thing for drivers to NOT want lights on at all times?
Or a valid engineering reason for it (reduced lifespan of bulbs etc..... but that's a redundant cost when compared to an accident or loss-of-life)

[The_Hawk]

I've seen lights to say fogs are on in my old Subaru... but never lights are on. Now I don't have an Octavia so don't know... but it isn't a bulb out warning by any chance is it?

[Jondalar]

Spinifex I agree with your sentiments re lights on however I feel that DRL do a better job than lights on, DRL are designed to be seen, i.e. they are not pointed down light low beam. I've enabled the Scandinavian DRL in my car via OBD Eleven so I have the rear lights on too. The only downside to this mod is you never know when the auto headlights are on as the indicator always shows them on.

Cheers,
Karl

[Spinifex]

I've enabled the Scandinavian DRL in my car via OBD Eleven so I have the rear lights on too....

What's these DRLs?

I've just received my OBD11 dongle, but haven't had a chance to plug it in or play with it yet, as my car is still being repaired.

[Jondalar]

DRL = Daytime Running Lights...

What's these DRLs?

I've just received my OBD11 dongle, but haven't had a chance to plug it in or play with it yet, as my car is still being repaired.

[Spinifex]

LOL sorry - I meant what do you mean by "Scandinavian" ?

I know what DRL's are and I have them by default on my RS.... but unsure what you meant by the Scando versions?

[Jondalar]

Oh, the Scandinavian (as the OBD Eleven app calls it) are front DRL with rear tail lights on.

[Spinifex]

Ohhhhh....... thanks for clarifying that!

My OBD11 dongle arrived a few days ago but I haven't been able to register or use it yet, as my car is still being repaired.

[Mysticality]

The dash shows you when fog lights are on, because they should only be on in special conditions.

The Mk2 has a light on the dash to say the headlights are on; the Mk3 appears to not! (I just checked)