Anyone know the point / purpose of the little black doodar on climate control settings - Fan speed knob, in the middle of heated windscreen and setup button? I cant help but keep poking it. It looks like it should have a use.

Could it be a light sensor for Auto climate settings. My Mondeo had one, but bigger and in the middle of the dash by the windscreen. Was a lot bigger tho

Light sensor for the dash illumination, there's another in the rev counter.  The light sensor for the climate control is in the centre of the windscreen diemister vents.

Thanks. Thats one less mystery. I will have to have a look for the rev counter one.

Thanks. Thats one less mystery. I will have to have a look for the rev counter one.

I think it's in the rev counter anyway, was in the speedo on the mkII, it's just a small circle that looks like it could be a light for something

Anyone know the point / purpose of the little black doodar on climate control settings - Fan speed knob, in the middle of heated windscreen and setup button? I cant help but keep poking it. It looks like it should have a use.

Could it be a light sensor for Auto climate settings. My Mondeo had one, but bigger and in the middle of the dash by the windscreen. Was a lot bigger tho

Yep that is the cabin temp sensor, all newer climatic/climatronic equipped cars have this for temp regulation

Edited 21 March, 201412 yr by pipsyp

Light sensor for the dash illumination, there's another in the rev counter.  The light sensor for the climate control is in the centre of the windscreen diemister vents.

Light sensor? The dash lights come on with the auto headlights ...... The sensor is behind the mirror

Light sensor? The dash lights come on with the auto headlights ...... The sensor is behind the mirror

It's the light sensor that allows the car to adjust the brightness of the instruments to different ambient lights, just like the screen on a mobile phone.

Edited 22 March, 201412 yr by johh

I stand corrected.

It's the light sensor that allows the car to adjust the brightness of the instruments to different ambient lights, just like the screen on a mobile phone.

Sorry, but the brightness of the interior lights is set through the infotainment system, on the Mk2 it was a rotary knob, next to the headlight height adjustment. There isn't an auto adjust, anymore than my mobile phone does either!

Sorry, but the brightness of the interior lights is set through the infotainment system, on the Mk2 it was a rotary knob, next to the headlight height adjustment. There isn't an auto adjust, anymore than my mobile phone does either!

Oh yes there is, as was there on the mkII. Switch your lights on during the day and drive into a multi story car park, all the instruments will be mega bright and after a short time they will dim down, just like my phone does.

The setting in the infotainment is relative to ambient light inside the car.

Oh yes there is, as was there on the mkII. Switch your lights on during the day and drive into a multi story car park, all the instruments will be mega bright and after a short time they will dim down, just like my phone does.

The setting in the infotainment is relative to ambient light inside the car.

This sensor is in the main instrument cluster towards the bottom right hand corner of the rev counter I believe.

This sensor is in the main instrument cluster towards the bottom right hand corner of the rev counter I believe.

Sounds about right

Maybe your phone does, but I have never had such a phone, nor dies my Octavia instrument cluster alter from my setting. My mk2 didn't either. I think you are imagining it.

Maybe your phone does, but I have never had such a phone, nor dies my Octavia instrument cluster alter from my setting. My mk2 didn't either. I think you are imagining it.

You can always deny that which you don't understand.

Maybe your phone does, but I have never had such a phone, nor dies my Octavia instrument cluster alter from my setting. My mk2 didn't either. I think you are imagining it.

Well I'm not, my iphone does it and the instruments on my mkII vRS & mkIII vRS do it too.

Maybe your phone does, but I have never had such a phone, nor dies my Octavia instrument cluster alter from my setting. My mk2 didn't either. I think you are imagining it.

Welcome to the 21st century   - you should try one of our phones!  

Oh I understand, my new NokiaLumia does, blackberry didn't, as Neily said, I stand corrected, just never seen the effect. Going to try torch in the dark.....