I was just wondering if there was any way to lower the sensitivity of the lights.

I fond even this afternoon in bright sunshine, the xenons were on, and I have no idea why.

To be seen in the sun. You'll notice others with lights on easily too.

There is no adjustment.

http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/Skoda_Octavia_%281Z%29_Rain/Light_Sensor#Coding

Worth a try if you have access to VCDS...

Edited 10 October, 201015 yr by Keith Lard

I have Auto Lights on my car and agree that the sensor is "too sensitive", i.e it switches the lights on the moment it is a bit gloomy. I too would like to reduce the sensitivity but there is no user option on this. I tend to use DLRs and then make my own judgement when to switch the headlights on or off - which kinda defeats the point of having Auto lights.

Better to be too sensitive than not sensitive enough.

You'll never please everyone, nor is there a light sensor cleverer enough to get it right all of the time, hence the over sensitivity.

There is no substitute for common sense. If you think the conditions allow for lights and the auto setting hasn't turned them on for you then just flick them on manually.

Equally if they come on when you don't want them to, turn them off.

I appreciate this defeats the object, but then I've always managed to turn my own lights on and off.

I love some of the neat features on modern cars, however auto lights is one I've found to be more of an annoyance than a help.

Only reason really for having auto lights is to make use of coming home function which does not seem to wrk unless switch is on auto.

Sensors are definitely a weak spot of current Octy. Light sensor is too sensitive, as others mentioned. Also it wouldn't hurt too much if tunnel light delay had two stages, where "not completely dark" stage was set just three-five seconds later than it is now. As is, the lights turn on under almost every rail bridge at 20-30 miles per hour, just to turn off few seconds later. Other drivers in morning traffic rise their hands thinking I'm flashing them about something. I would like to see two stage setting, it would switch on immediately if car enters very dark place (ie light drops by more than 50% - eg. real tunnel or underground parking) and react slower if it's just a bit darker (bridge or narrow street between tall buildings).

On the other hand, rain sensor, is set completely the other way - especially in light rain - sometimes you can barely see through rain drops before it slowly single wipes the screen.

So Skoda, if you don't have time to test universal settings for all geographical locations (I presume that's what it is - maybe Czech Republic have less gray skies and bigger rain drops than our climate with constant gloom and drizzle), then just let people set sensitivity through maxidot.

Edited 10 October, 201015 yr by v0n

Sensors are definitely a weak spot of current Octy. Light sensor is too sensitive, as others mentioned. Also it wouldn't hurt too much if tunnel light delay had two stages, where "not completely dark" stage was set just three-five seconds later than it is now. As is, the lights turn on under almost every rail bridge at 20-30 miles per hour, just to turn off few seconds later. Other drivers in morning traffic rise their hands thinking I'm flashing them about something. I would like to see two stage setting, it would switch on immediately if car enters very dark place (ie light drops by more than 50% - eg. real tunnel or underground parking) and react slower if it's just a bit darker (bridge or narrow street between tall buildings).

On the other hand, rain sensor, is set completely the other way - especially in light rain - sometimes you can barely see through rain drops before it slowly single wipes the screen.

So Skoda, if you don't have time to test universal settings for all geographical locations (I presume that's what it is - maybe Czech Republic have less gray skies and bigger rain drops than our climate with constant gloom and drizzle), then just let people set sensitivity through maxidot.

Having had 5 months of rain sensing wipers I have to say I prefer the conventional selectable intermittant set up. On too many occasions it seems impossible to get a sensible balance between frantic wiping or at the other extreme waiting for the wiper to move and clear the screen. I have not had rain sensing wipers before so can't compare to other vehicles, but have to wonder if Skoda have an "el cheapo" set up.

Having had rain sensing wipers and autolights on BMW and Mercedes I think they all perform pretty much the same. In fact the sensors may come from the same supplier (TEMIC?). There is such a variety of environmental conditions, sun angles etc that it never going to be perfect.

My Octavia has both auto wipers and lights.

I could very easily live without both!

Despite auto lights I find I always have to over ride them.

Despite auto wipers I miss the normal intermittent.

Progress hey!

I like my auto lights. If they are on then it means that there is a reason for them to be on. Must say the comment about two stage is amusing though. The lights turn on under railway bridges BECAUSE IT'S DARK! They then switch off again because you are out of the darkness! It may only be short but you have triggered the sensor. If you don't like them, simply use the light switch as normal!

And auto wipers are great too. You can adjust the sensitivity you know, and they only work with movement. So first thing in a morning you may have to do a manual wipe, but that's hardly a hardship for the advantages you get in variable light rain when the weather can't make it's mind up.

I agree - no problems with either here.

Took a while to get used to the wipers, but now leave them set at one click to the left of the middle setting and they seem fine.

Doing a manual wipe before you set off (just flick the sensitivity switch right one position and then back again is the easiest way) is the only downside so far.

Anyway, what do I know - only had the car 4 weeks and over 1 week of that is at the dealers with them scratching their heads over the Climate Control not blowing cold on LO.

Sounds expensive for their warranty claim!!

erm.......you don't have to activate the auto-wipers on the FL vRS, they are always ready for rain if the stalk is one level up from off.

as for the lights, I agree, mine came on today in bright sunshine too (and have done since I've had it) - I just turn them off manually.

Edited 11 October, 201015 yr by Herschel

On mine, if you start the car up in the morning with a wet screen and the wiper stalk already in the auto position, nothing happens until you drive forward.

If I reverse off my drive the rear wiper doesn't automatically come on because the front wipers haven't activated. If I just flick the semsitivity control over one position to the right and back again it does one wipe of the screen, then senses it is raining. If I now reverse the rear wiper comes on.

If I drive off forwards (into the fence ) the wipers just kick in straight away.

From what I can tell those that use the auto lights feature tend to leave them in auto and forget about them.

I drove a new Focus the other day and the auto setting was the furthest point on the switch - after dipped headlights.

To me this makes more sense than on the Octavia where it is the first setting.

My car has xenons and it is widely known that they do not like to be turned on and off in quick succession too often.

If for what ever reason I have manually turned my lights on I always have to pass through side lights to get to the off position. This then results in a flash of the xenons.

I reckon I must have an OCD as I am unable to turn my engine off whilst there is any electrical load, so flicking the lights from dipped to auto instead isn't an option!

I leave both on Auto & 99% of the time they are fine.

To the OP: i was also finding my lights (on auto) coming on on sunny days for apparently no reason - checked the manual and its the "motorway mode" kicking in - ie drive for more than 140kph for 10 seconds and it'll switch the headlamps on.

HTH.