Blank / button on dashboard above clocks

[hutchysrs50]

I noticed when cleaning the dashboard the other day there is a square blank button thing just above the dials on the curved pod thing.

Im not sure if it serves a purpose on different spec car but just checking what it is before i pull it out and check incase its for the airbags or somthing

 

This part here

[Wonky]

Plastic cover for dashboard assembly retaining bolt perhaps?

[hutchysrs50]

I'll pop it off and check sometime, just didn't know if it was a sensor on different models or something like that.

[Fabia00]

Hi, I believe it is the sunlight sensor for models with climate control. Thanks David 

[hutchysrs50]

Hmm, mine had digital climate control but still looks blank, unless it is indeed a sensor and I haven't noticed but pretty sure it's blank!

[Fabia00]

It may look blank but I'm pretty certain there is a sensor there if climate control is fitted. Believe this is what it looks like if removed:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SKODA-FABIA-ROOMSTER-SUN-SENSOR-5J0907539-/282186792605?_trksid=p2141725.m3641.l6368

[Ootohere]

?

Sun sensor that has your dials and needles go brighter in dull conditions.

[AMD87]

?

Sun sensor that has your dials and needles go brighter in dull conditions.

On my Monte the dials don't light up till you turn the sidelights/headlights on?

[Ootohere]

Sorry i should not have said dials.

But do they show the needles brighter if you put your hand over the sensor on the dash.

ie not the dials light coming on as with the Sidelights/ Dipped / Full beam.

 

I have my dash covered to stop the glare on the windscreen so the sensor is covered all the time.

Edited 18 October, 2016 by Offski

[hutchysrs50]

Looks like you might be right!

Looks like the right part indeed, I'll try and test it out sometime and see if it does anything.

[hutchysrs50]

its a shame actually as i planned on drilling a hole in it and putting in a sensor for Autolights

 

[PhilTheGeek]

It's nothing to do with the instruments. It's definitely a solar sensor for Climatronic. Don't drill it or cover it up if you've got Climatronic, otherwise it's just a blanking plug in which case do what you wish with it.

[Ootohere]

Cheers,

so what happens to the Climatronic when the sensor is covered and it thinks it is night time and dark?

[PhilTheGeek]

If it's hot weather then it won't give a boost of cooling when it would otherwise sense that the sun's beating down through the windscreen and heating the car up. It works out how much cooling is needed right now from the interior temperature sensor and anticipates a temperature rise if the sun comes out. Works brilliantly on the Fabia and a little less well on my 15 year old Land Rover Discovery.

[hutchysrs50]

I've got climatatronic yeah so won't touch it.

As per my project thread, I've installed my autolights / coming home lights this afternoon and just tucked the sensor down by the windscreen so will try and find an alternative!

As above, what does it do then

[xman]

It is the sun load sensor. The reason it looks blank is because the cover is in fact a special infrared filter that allows it to measure the heating effect of sunlight through the windshield.. You can access a hidden diagnostic menu on the climatronic iirc by pressing the foot vent button, face vent button and the econ button simultaneously. Then scroll through many channels of data with the rh dial. One of the channels shows the sun load sensor data, I cant remember which, but you can see the reading change instantly when you shade the sensor from sun.

I think some of the channels can even be programmed or used to perform calibrations using the lh knob.

Cant remember if full instructions are somewhere on this forum, or whether I saw it somewhere else

Here is some info in german http://www.skodacommunity.de/attachments/climatronic_pq24-pdf.8412/

Edited 18 October, 2016 by xman

[hutchysrs50]

I'll look into that and play about with the buttons and see what menu I can get up

Every days a school day!

Glad I made this thread now.

[Ootohere]

Just tried a vRS with Cliamatronic.   no econ button,  but feet, face and AC button had it show 3*oC then 0*oC, and with some messing of the speed knob this then went to different temps lower than the usual 18*oC or 'Low'.

[xman]

I would be very careful in blindly messing with settings, if you dont have the instructions you may end up with a unit that doesnt work correctly. iirc some of the channels were very esoteric.

Edited 18 October, 2016 by xman

[Ootohere]

I never use it anyway, so no loss.

[hutchysrs50]

I'm sure it's easily changed back also, I'll mess with mine anyway.

Might even make a YouTube video of it if none exist already.