Dont leave keys in IGN with lights in Auto

[logger]

This is for VW Newbies like me...
I know in this day and age leaving keys in IGN for extended periods with IGN off is uncommon. However I have cause to do so at a particular location and I can imagine others doing so in a lockup garage. The manual even recommends against doing this for extended periods because eventually it will flatten the battery. But another trap I have noticed with my MkVI is that the Auto headlight setting will activate parking lights at dark even with the keys in and IGN off. So battery will of course flatten much quicker in this state. Turning headlights from Auto to Off fixes this, if one must leave keys in and IGN Off. Still it is a trap for young players like me and I thought is might be useful info to other VW newbies like me. My Toyota Auto lights are only active with IGN on.

[mtj007]

Turning off the coming home feature in the MFD might resolve this issue - pretty sure my Mk V's parkers went off with the ignition when I had "Coming Home" set to off. Can I ask why you would leave the keys in the ignition anyway?

[logger]

Nah it doesnt. First thing I tried was turning off the coming home feature in MFD and no change to the behavior I described. Lets just say it is the accepted protocol at a particular location since year dot. Quite a common practice if you spend a bit of time in the bush. Not that it is necessarily a smart thing to do.

[gregozedobe]

Lets just say it is the accepted protocol at a particular location since year dot. Quite a common practice if you spend a bit of time in the bush. Not that it is necessarily a smart thing to do.

I'd need some pretty good convincing on the security front before I'd be leaving my keys in the ignition, and I'd lay money your comprehensive insurance provider would be even more sceptical than me

Probably a good move to not tell us where all these cars are sitting around with the keys in the ignition, just ready to go !

[logger]

Can't argue with that. I am not for a minute questioning the wisdom of doing such. Just that my experience has allowed me see something that most people were probably not aware of and I am passing it on.

[blutopless2]

what you need to do is remove the key from the ignition and then put it back in.
because you have had the car running it will leave the lights/elec windows/mirrors etc all functioning even with the ignition off... think the windows and mirrors will deactivate after a period of time or if you open the drivers door, but the lights will remain on in auto mode.
removing the key and reinserting it will deactivate the lights.

[STV4SYT]

Yes, i leave my keys in occasionally when i am doing a lot of running around (lock up garage) and for me now its 2nd nature when i stop the car i just take keys out and back in and it turns off the auto lights feature and more importantly for me was that it kills the radio too without having to turn it off manually.

[brad]

I'd need some pretty good convincing on the security front before I'd be leaving my keys in the ignition, and I'd lay money your comprehensive insurance provider would be even more sceptical than me

Probably a good move to not tell us where all these cars are sitting around with the keys in the ignition, just ready to go !

Sometimes you have no choice.
I was doing some subcontract work in the Sydney Water Bathurst St office in 2007 & needed a carspace (boot full of tools) and the only way i was allowed to park was if I left the keys in the car - they "buddy park" 3 deep. Bugger of a place to keep your car & chips & scrapes guaranteed. I hated the idea of some stranger moving my car.

[gregozedobe]

Sometimes you have no choice.
I was doing some subcontract work in the Sydney Water Bathurst St office in 2007 & needed a carspace (boot full of tools) and the only way i was allowed to park was if I left the keys in the car - they "buddy park" 3 deep. Bugger of a place to keep your car & chips & scrapes guaranteed. I hated the idea of some stranger moving my car.

So how do you think you'd go if your car was stolen from there ? I can't see either the police or your insurance company being very understanding. I don't even like leaving my car for servicing (and I check the Kms before and after).

[brad]

So how do you think you'd go if your car was stolen from there ? I can't see either the police or your insurance company being very understanding. I don't even like leaving my car for servicing (and I check the Kms before and after).

Dunno.
They had a couple of sleepy security guards & security cameras everywhere. Both entrances had automatic roller shutters & swipe card or security guard activated ingress/egress. They also had the mandatory "Park at your own risk" signs.

i think most insurance policies says something like "take all reasonable steps to secure the car", so you'd probably be alright as you are only abiding by the rules of the establishment you are in.

I was early start/late finish so my method of security was to get the first spot & be parked in by 2 other cars.

[logger]

what you need to do is remove the key from the ignition and then put it back in.
because you have had the car running it will leave the lights/elec windows/mirrors etc all functioning even with the ignition off... think the windows and mirrors will deactivate after a period of time or if you open the drivers door, but the lights will remain on in auto mode.
removing the key and reinserting it will deactivate the lights.

Yes, i leave my keys in occasionally when i am doing a lot of running around (lock up garage) and for me now its 2nd nature when i stop the car i just take keys out and back in and it turns off the auto lights feature and more importantly for me was that it kills the radio too without having to turn it off manually.

Thanks Fellas. Great tip. Will put it to use from now on. These forums are great.

[Guest]

Is it really that hard to use the light switch? instead of it being on Auto all the time?

[The_Hawk]

I understand that you might need to leave your keys in the car in certain circumstances, the buddy park being the one that our offices use. I will note that the practice in our car park is to put the keys either on the dash or on the log book on the passenger seat and not leave them in the ignition.

I'm not a fan of doing it, but when you have to you have to, on the upside I keep a clean car so there nothing to steal other than the car itself and a space saver spare

[blutopless2]

Is it really that hard to use the light switch? instead of it being on Auto all the time?

there are other items that remain powered also... so switching lights to off position will not completely solve the power drain issue.

might sound lazy i know... but i leave mine on auto all the time also... i figure i paid for the technology so might as well use it. wipers and dimming mirror also stay on auto.

[Lima]

[pet hate rant mode]

I'd say a fair percentage of drivers on Australian roads have NFI when they should put their lights on. So unless we get mandatory DRL legislation I wish all cars came with an Auto lights function.

That way, the boneheads who are unable to make a simple judgment call as to when lights should be used won't have to bother.

Still, makes you wonder doesn't it, if people can't work out when their lights should be on, what else are these goons incapable of while on the roads?

[/pet hate rant mode]