Can anyone help my 2014 Yeti Outdoor instrument panel lights fade to "off" after a few seconds from start up, whilst the day running lights are on. 

Because it is telling you that you need to turn your lights on.
Nothing to do with the DRL's.

1 hour ago, Llanigraham said:

Because it is telling you that you need to turn your lights on.
Nothing to do with the DRL's.

 

Shame more cars don’t do this - so many cars driving in poor light with no lights on because the instruments are lit up permanently

Thank you ! 

Couldn't find any info in the manual and the Skoda garage couldn't help as well.

Also I have noticed that with the lights off during the day the instrument lights get brighter the lighter it is outside.

If you are driving along a road which goes from bright sun to shade ( a road that has areas of tree shade and then no shade )

the instrument lights get darker when you go in to the shade, and brighter in the sun.

 

Thanks AG Falco

The sensor is in the left instrument, put a duster or something like that into the tachometer and the lights will dim.
An excellent safety aid.

Another reason to leave lights on auto.

11 hours ago, kenfowler3966 said:

Another reason to leave lights on auto.

+1

Except auto lights only react to circumstances.

 

They only put the headlights on after you have gone in to the tunnel.

They can struggle with mist/fog/snow.

 

They don't dip the lights for a cyclist/pedestrian coming towards you.

They don't dip the lights for another car that is trying to come out of a side road in front of you.

 

Thanks AG Falco