Hi everyone!

Just bought an Octavia VRS (petrol, manual). Great car. But! When I turn on the sidelights, the daylight running LEDs dim and no sidelights turn on! (so the lighting gets dimmer on sidelights than on daylights) Dealer I bought it from says this is normal. I don't think so. Any ideas?

Kev

It's normal the vrs dies not have sidelights

Hi and welcome aboard.

Welcome to Briskoda

Thanks all for the welcome.

Sad that the vrs dosen't have sidelights, I can't understand that by turning the sidelights 'on' the front lights get dimmer. I know you shouldn't rely on sidelights but dimming the lights is dangerous when you're trying to be more visible.

Anybody know if upgrading halogen headlights to zenon hdi units invalidates the Skoda warranty?

Again, thanks for the welcome, I'll stay in touch.

The logic is that DRL LEDs are very bright during the day so that they can be seen in bright sunlight.

When you turn your sidelights (or headlights) on, the assumption is that the ambient lighting is now darker (hence why you have decided to switch your lights on!). If the LED's remained extremely bright they could dazzle drivers who's eyes will have adapted to the darker conditions, so they dim slightly and can still be seen easily.

It's much the same thought process as what happens to the display on your car stereo- logic dictates that when it gets dark you need it to get brighter to see it, but in reality it actually gets dimmer when you switch your lights on because it needs to be much brighter for you to see it in daylight than it does for you to see it when it's dim outside.

welcome to briskoda

Thanks everyone for the welcomes and the advise.

Cheers Stevoraith, got you all the way, like you say, it's like the illumination on the stereo, ie it gets dark, the stereo lighting dims.

At least when you select 'side lights' the rear lights come on. I wouldn't want to rely on side lights only anyway, I was just miffed by what was happening. Now sorted!

Thanks everyone; I'll try and find my way aroun the Briskoda site and talk soon.