This is literally the only thing that I can find that irritates me about my vRS and I've nearly had it a month (so that's quite impressive in itself!). Anyway, when I'm driving around normally, the auto lights are brilliant and the sensitivity is perfect. However, sometimes they randomly turn on when I turn the car on from cold. If I disable auto lights and then enable it again that sometimes fixes it, but most of the time it just turns the xenons back on (even though it's no where near dark enough for them). It also doesn't turn them off automatically (driven for about 15 mins with the lights on in gorgeous sunshine to test this! lol!).

Just wondered if this was a common fault or if there's anything I can do to fix it, short of disabling the auto lights! lol! It doesn't do it from every start, but when it does it's rather annoying!

Thanks in advance

Only issue I can think of that some people have is related to the rain/light sensor. I would make sure that's perfectly clean, and clean the glass around that area with IPA or something of similar strength.

Just in case that is getting confused. Is there any pattern depending on where the car is parked? Overhanging trees, or particular shadows perhaps? Both of these conditions can fool the sensor.

Yeah I thought that about the sensor so I've cleaned it with concentrated AutoSmart glass cleaner (really good stuff!) and still with no luck. I also thought it was because of where it's parked and at first I thought it was because of that, but then sometimes it does it even if it's parked in the sun. It's very weird!

OK, those are the 'basics' covered then. Hmmm, strange.

Not sure if there's a sensitivity option with VCDS that could be altered. I've never gone to look...

Yeah, that might be an idea. I've spoken to James (jrw) about it before and he seems to think there might be an option in VCDS. But I'm hoping it's a separate option to normal driving (a "startup" option maybe?) as the normal light sensitivity is perfect, it's literally just this starting up error that's causing the issue :(

You can reduce the sensitivity, it might even be set wrong from factory, its also worth doing a scan for error codes.

Ah, might have to speak sweetly to James then and see if I can borrow his VCDS at some point then!

Mine does this - in fact I mentioned it to Wardy the other week!

Every now and then the lights decide they want to come on from startup in bright sunshine. This is with a clean screen, no errors log and the sensitivity set correctly as well as the glass type.

I find a restart of the engine always clears it, but flicking the lights back to 0 and then back to tunnel doesn't always cure it. This is without moving the car and it still being in exactly the same place on my drive.

I think of it as random DRL's and have learned to live with it!

There have been reports that bright sunshine can randomly activate the light sensor.

Some believe it's deliberate as headlights in low lying sun can help you to be seen; others think it’s just the sensor getting confused.

I think of it as random DRL's and have learned to live with it!

lol!! Well I'm glad I'm not the only one, but it's kind of irritating me! lol! I might have to pop to Skoda if no one on here comes up with a solution and see what they can do, as I feel like a bit of a noob driving round with my headlights on in the blazing sunshine! Yes, I know we don't get blazing sunshine very often, but still :p

Is it such a bad thing to have the lights on in bright sunlight, bikers do it all the time.

Not necessarily, it's just not to my taste so want to stop it. If not for anything else, for saving the bulb life of my xenons!! Lol!

This post is of no use - but I must say my auto-lights work perfectly.

At just about the right amount of darkness or continuous rain the Xenon's switch on.

If light improves, then I'd say it's usually around 4-5 minutes before they switch off.

They only switch on from cold when it's dark enough.

I couldn't tell you anything about the settings - they just seem to work for me.

Not necessarily, it's just not to my taste so want to stop it. If not for anything else, for saving the bulb life of my xenons!! Lol!

if u want to save ur bulb life - turn the switch position to "0", and manually switch on the lights only when needed.

...like the old fashion way - "human control"

Human control is just boring though... :p

Often more efficient though

Often more efficient though

You are just jealous because you have a light sensor and no tunnel light switch

Often more efficient though

Well yeah but lets be honest, it's more about lazyness... lol :p

Oh yeah and whilst I'm on the topic, it's been doing it every time I turn the car on today (in various different locations). However today it's been disabling as soon as I move it to manual mode and then back to automatic. It's very strange...

how can u alter the sensitivity of the light sensor, i got the same issue too, really fed up of it..

Thanks..

vcds

Pretty sure it's a VCDS job! It keeps doing it more and more now (about 95% of the time when I start the engine) :(

where to change the code in the vcds??

Thanks..

Don't know mate as I don't have it myself, sorry!

In either the coding or adaptation for the rain/light sensor.