Inexplicable instrument panel lights always illuminated for handbrake and left turn indictor

[aongo]

Hi all,

Proud new owner of a used 2013 Skoda Superb II Combi 1.6D Greenline, delighted with my move from an aging Toyota Prius.

I am having trouble with Inexplicable instrument panel lights always staying illuminated (dimmer  and without blinking but definitely on) for handbrake and left turn indicator whilst driving (with handbrake off and left indicator not in use) and I am mystified as to what is causing it, have consulted Owner's Manual to no success? Happens in both "Auto" and "Main Lights" lights settings in the car.

 

These lights disappear when the car is stopped and the handbrake engaged properly (handbrake light remains illuminated as n)

 

Might this be a fault or a warning of something? Perhaps a lights setting that I am not aware of?

 

The dealer suggested it might be from the car being valeted before sale and could resolve in a week or so, but I am dubious about this explaination.

 

One of the fog-lights appears also to be illuminated at the same time, though this could be linked to the "Corning" feature of the car that turns on the L or R front fog light during a turn when in "Auto" mode.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated, this is worrying me in case a sign of trouble to come.

 

Thanks a million,

Aonghus

[silver1011]

Welcome to Briskoda 

 

A dim or flickering dash board warning light is not right, there is something wrong.

 

There have been several reports of similar issues on the MkII Octavia (see thread below, check out post #15), but I've never heard of it on the MkII Superb...

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/303790-vrs-2-fl-dashboard-lights-doing-some-wierd-things-help-please/

 

As for the dealers response, how will hoovering or washing a car affect the dash lights?

 

I suspect they know the likely culprit, a discharged or failing battery. A car sat on a forecourt being shuffled around and taken on short test drives will be hard on the battery, especially given that Skoda have a reputation for fitting poor specification batteries in the factory. Leaving the doors open with the radio on (whilst valeting the car) won't help either.

 

Their advice to leave it a few weeks is them saying use the car normally and hopefully you'll recharge the battery whilst driving the car.

 

The single operation of the front fog lights is indeed the cornering function, with dipped headlights turned on (in either Auto or manual) when you turn the steering wheel or indicate the corresponding fog light will fade on and off when the steering is straightened or the indicator cancelled. Both cornering lights come on when reverse is selected.

Edited 8 January, 2016 by silver1011

[aongo]

Thanks a million Silver1011, that's very helpful and reassuring as it sounds plausible that it might be resulting from a low battery.

I think the garage's proposal was that some cleaning solution worked its way behind the fascia.

I'll give it a few good drives and if it doesn't resolve itself, I'll be back to them for a replacement battery or investigate further!

Thanks a million for putting my mind somewhat at ease, this was an only niggle on the priciest car I've bought so far but one I am otherwise delighted with!

Great forum too, will be a frequent visitor I'm sure!

[st1100]

Hi, I have exactly the same fault on my Superb SE Plus Mk2 2013 2.0 TDI DSG estate. Checked all bulbs and all ok. Did change one tail light that had discoloured but still working. After checking the left indicator warning light at night, I did see that it faded out to off when I drove for a long distance so assumed it to be battery related. Turned off when the battery recharged! Got my tame battery supplier to check my original battery who said it was fine but did seem to be down slightly on stated amp rating, so got a new battery anyway and fitted it. And behold, no warning light fault. However after a few weeks of all lights, heater, rear screen demist and what not being used on way to work and then back again (Oct, Nov, Dec etc) in stop start traffic the warning light returned. Stopped displaying again in Feb when the electrics weren't being beaten to death in slow traffic. It's now May and the warning light has still not returned. Looks like it's a low power warning system built into the vehicle that no ones been told about! I'm going to check the tension of the drive belt just in case and the output of the alternator. If it happens again this winter I'm going to find the biggest rated battery that will fit and try that.

[superbdreams]

Sounds like a poor earth connection somewhere or corroded contacts.

Definitely a fault!

[silver1011]

Skoda are well documented to fit low spec batteries to their cars.

 

The MkII Superb is no different.

 

Wait until the original dies and then fit a proper battery to it, A Varta E44 for example.

[st1100]

Bad news, my light has come back on again! I did have the boot open for a long time but as I have LED's in the boot and interior lights there shouldn't be that much of a drain

and they turn themselves off after a while!

Checked belt tension and alternator output and all appear ok.

Will now start to check all of the earth points I can find, ref the above post.