No instrument cluster lights during day

[MikeB]

In my MkVI, I find the Speedo / tacho quite dim during morning / later afternoon. The pointers are lit (red), but outer circle of dials are dim (in contrast to MFD which is quite bright). Does anyone else notice this?

Obviously when it's dark enough for lights to be on, instrument cluster lights get switched on and it is bright. So I know the lights work fine. But I find it odd there is no lighting during the day.

Anyone else noticed this? I have checked around and can't find any option to leave them on.

[mfl]

In my MkVI, I find the Speedo / tacho quite dim during morning / later afternoon. The pointers are lit (red), but outer circle of dials are dim (in contrast to MFD which is quite bright). Does anyone else notice this?

Obviously when it's dark enough for lights to be on, instrument cluster lights get switched on and it is bright. So I know the lights work fine. But I find it odd there is no lighting during the day.

Anyone else noticed this? I have checked around and can't find any option to leave them on.

Its normal, apparently the car is suggesting that you should switch your headlights on due to the ambient light conditions, mine does the same even if you have the headlights switched to auto. You need to switch your lights on manually if you want your instruments lights to come back on, or just wait for the headlights to come on automatically, (if set to auto).

[DDTW]

Yes only the needles are lit during the day. The only way to turn them on during the day is to manually turn on your lights.

[Corey_R]

I just leave my headlights to auto and never have issues with the lighting on the instrument cluster...

[Pepe]

It definitely does it and it's a pain... although I tend to leave my MFD on the speed once the oil is warmed up anyway, so it's not the end of the world. If anyone finds a VCDS setting or something to rectify this "feature", I'd be keen to hear it.

[nat225]

it's a safety feature to ensure you don't drive without lights on in the dark.. so you might be able to use it as an excuse if you are caught speeding in the dark, arguing that you can't see the km/h numbers :p

i takes time to get used to though...

[Corey_R]

So if it's a safety feature, maybe it doesn't do it if you're in Auto then... I seriously had no idea what you guys were talking about until I went down to have a look at my car, and switched the lights to off at 7am this morning. Then the dash went dark!

[DDTW]

So if it's a safety feature, maybe it doesn't do it if you're in Auto then... I seriously had no idea what you guys were talking about until I went down to have a look at my car, and switched the lights to off at 7am this morning. Then the dash went dark!

Except for the blue needles, which are still pretty cool looking Reminds me of light sabres lol....

[Lucas_R]

May the force be with you......

I like the glowing needles on the dark cluster. I noticed it for the first time when parking in an undercover carpark during the day (lights set too "OFF").

But like Corey said - if you set your lights to auto then this won't happen in most situations (if it bothers you)

Except for the blue needles, which are still pretty cool looking Reminds me of light sabres lol....

[MikeB]

Its normal, apparently the car is suggesting that you should switch your headlights on due to the ambient light conditions, mine does the same even if you have the headlights switched to auto.....

Good point if lights are on manual. Forgot to mention they are on auto
(I used to have a Honda Accord Euro which had permanently lit instrument lights but manual headlights. Very easy to forget at night coming out of a car park that lights weren't on. Very happy with Golf on Auto mode).
Oh well, looks like this level of detail has escaped VW!

[kman86]

Maybe its just me but I always have my lights set to AUTO, yet at times I am sure my instruments get brighter and then dim automatically as I drive.

Seems to be driving into the sun in an afternoon the instrument cluster lights up really bright (headlights not on as the Red ambient lighting within the car does not light up) and as you drive into the shade or stop under the shadow of an overpass or bridge the instruments become less bright.

Even asked a friend in the passenger seat watch this happen and we both agreed it was changing in brightness depending on the light levels.

Like I said though, this is with lights in the AUTO position.

[Corey_R]

Yeah - I drive with my lights on Auto all the time too. Maybe that's why I haven't noticed the issue that the OP mentioned.

[darkfriend]

Hi All,

I also drive with lights on 'auto' and have had times when the instrument cluster lights do not turn on (but the instrument needles remain lit). It happens about once per monthin winter, usually in overcast conditions during the day when the light isn't so bright. At my 6 month service (Wangara VW in WA) I mentioned it as a problem and they said I had a 'loose connector' to the instrument cluster lights and they had fixed the problem! It still happens.

So it looks like it was not a problem and is supposed to happen according to people here- I can live with that.

But also looks like I was fed a piece of crapola pie by the dealer. That annoys me.

At least I now know that I'm not alone and it is the car doing what the car is supposed to do.

[GTsGTi]

+1 darkfriend et al
Glad also to know its normal reading this today (mine on auto all teh time and it happens)

[easeup]

Have read about this stuff before- check it out. People actually perform manual hack jobs to change the behaviour of their instrument cluster lights. [EDIT: tried.. i don't think succeeded!] Australia spec cars come with a light sensor in the tachometer i believe, that constantly adjusts cluster lighting when lights are set to Auto.

VWVortex.com - DIY: How to remove and open your instrument cluster