Hi,

I drive with the lights in the 'auto' position (and Daylight Running Lights), and have noticed that when I drive through a tunnel or very shady tree's that the main lights come on, which is all fine but how long should they stay illuminated afterwards? Sometimes it's been brillant sunshine and they stay on for maybe 5-10 mins othertimes it's about 5 secs.

Is this normal?

Many thanks,

Mike

Normally 5 seconds is correctwhen returning to bright sunshine. However AUTO does a lot more than that and a quick Read of The Feckin' Manual will show 

 

1. If the automatic light control has been switched on and the vehicle speed is over

140 km/h for at least 10 seconds, the side lights and low beam are switched on

automatically.

If the vehicle speed is below 65 km/h for at least 2 minutes, the lights are switched

off.

 

2. If you switch on the windscreen wipe in the operation rain sensor for longer than

10 seconds or in the operation permanent wipe (position 2 or 3) ? page 54

switching on for longer than 15 seconds, the side lights and low beam are switched

on automatically. The light switches off if the windscreen wipe is in operation

rain sensor for more than around 4 minutes or is not switched on in the operation

permanent wipe.

 

3. Switching on Coming Home Function

– The light switch is in the position automatic driving lamp control ???? and the

low beam illuminates.

– Switch off the ignition.

– After opening the driver's door, the function Coming Home is switched on.

– Close all the doors and the boot lid and lock the vehicle. After a short time,

switch all lights off.

Depending on equipment fitted the function Coming Home switches on the following

lights:

? Parking lights,

? Low beam,

? Entry lighting in the exterior mirrors,

? Licence plate light.

Coming Home Function

The lights go out 10 seconds after closing all the doors and the boot lid.

If a door or the boot lid remains open, the lights go out 60 seconds after switching

off the ignition.

The function Coming Home is controlled with the light sensor in the mount of the

interior rear mirror. If the light intensity is higher than the set value of the light

sensor, the Coming Home Function is not switched on after switching off the ignition.

 

4. Switching on Leaving Home Function

– The light switch is in the position automatic driving lamp control ????.

– Unlock the vehicle with the radio remote control - the lights come on.

Depending on equipment fitted the function Leaving Home switches on the following

lights:

? Parking lights,

? Low beam,

? Entry lighting in the exterior mirrors,

? Licence plate light.

Leaving Home Function

The function Leaving Home is controlled with the light sensor in the mount of the

interior rear mirror. If the light intensity is higher than the set value of the light

sensor, the Leaving Home Function is not switched on after unlocking the vehicle

with the radio remote control.

After unlocking the vehicle with the radio remote control, the lights come on for

10 seconds. The Leaving Home Function is also switched off after the ignition is

switched on and after locking the vehicle.

If no door is opened within 30 seconds, the lights go out and the vehicle is locked

automatically.

 

etc., etc., etc..

 

HTH

Hi, I drive with the lights in the 'auto' position (and Daylight Running Lights), and have noticed that when I drive through a tunnel or very shady tree's that the main lights come on, which is all fine but how long should they stay illuminated afterwards? Sometimes it's been brillant sunshine and they stay on for maybe 5-10 mins othertimes it's about 5 secs. Is this normal? Many thanks, Mike

 

In my experience, it's a bit random.  Usually, it's about 5 seconds, but every so often, a lot longer (and meeting none of the criteria in freedie's post above).

I have an impression that low beams stay on after leaving a tunnel if the Sun, although bright, is low in the sky. Noticed that on several occasions.

Hi,

Many thanks for the responses, I was unaware of all the different settings the 'auto' lights play a part in. I will be able to test the 'auto' lights as I am due to travel down to Sicily through many tunnels and if they stay on in excess of 10mins in the sunshine I will be going back to the dealer to resolve (when back in UK). In the meantime if they stay on I have been switching them out of the auto position.

Kind regards,

Mike

It happens to me too from time to time.Switch off the engine and restart.That will resolve it.

The auto lights come on when I start the car in the garage and usually go off a few seconds after I am on the road.  From time to time they stay on for around five minutes, even in bright sunlight.  I just figure that it is one of those things that I am not meant to understand.  I don't assign gender to my cars, but perhaps my Yeti is female?

Don't forget that what appears to be bright sunshine to you may not actually be that bright if measured absolutely.  The eye and brain do a good job of maximising available light to give better vision, whereas a light sensor only senses what light is there.  The evening sunshine might look bright but there's not a lot of light about.