Hi all

 

I continue to love my Octavia 1.0 SE DSG Estate.  It's totally living up to my hopes and expectations.

 

However one thing is bugging me!

 

The instrument panel lights do not come on with just the side lights.  They come on when the headlights are on and they come on when sides and front foglights are on.

 

I expect Skoda would say that one should not be driving on just sidelights but there are times when I prefer to have sidelights on (so that my rear lights are lit) but don't want headlights.

 

Is there an answer?

 

Thanks

 

John

I'm sure somebody will confirm/deny if there is any coding that can be done to give you the result you seek.

Personally, I wish they would do away with sidelights. There are no situations where sidelights would be a preference over a headlight.

Itactually sounds like a sensible safety measure, if its dark enough for you to need instrument illumination then its dark enough to need headlights for driving

Don't think this can be coded, at least with VCDS anyway.

 

Do you not have automatic headlights? This pretty much makes it a non-issue. I just leave mine on auto and can't ever say I've noticed any issue with when the instrument lighting comes on. 

Edited 6 November, 20187 yr by ahenners

44 minutes ago, jst_at_home said:

 

 

However one thing is bugging me!

 

The instrument panel lights do not come on with just the side lights.  They come on when the headlights are on and they come on when sides and front foglights are on.

 

 

I have the same irritation.  My lights are set to Auto and are set to 'come on later' but I still find they are on when they don't need to be and switch to side lights.  Mainly in the mornings as it starts to get lighter - it seems to takes an age for them to turn off.

1 hour ago, Stoofa said:

I'm sure somebody will confirm/deny if there is any coding that can be done to give you the result you seek.

Personally, I wish they would do away with sidelights. There are no situations where sidelights would be a preference over a headlight.

I can think of a couple.

When crawling along in slow moving traffic.  Do you really need to illuminate the inside of the car in front when you're just a few feet away?

When you've had to stop/broken down in an awkward place and have hazards on.  Turning off all other lights makes the hazards stand out, and you can see them from further away, especially from the front.

When parked outside a shop while the other half gets his/her act together.  What ever happened to that UK law that made it illegal to show a light of more than 7 watts when stationary?

When parked on the wrong side of the road and shining your headlights into the faces of oncoming drivers.

When you are at the front of a junction with traffic lights and your lights are shining into the faces of oncoming drivers waiting to turn across you.  Especially at junctions like on the A21 where the B2087 crosses.  The B2087 runs east/west on a ridge and approaching on the A21 from south or north means even dipped headlights can shine into the eyes of drivers coming from the opposing direction.

When I pull up at a junction I often think how nice it would be if all cars switched to side lights automatically.

I'll admit, these are pet gripes of mine, and I am sensitive to any bright light.  But do we really need headlights when stationary?  Anywhere?

I'll now sit back and wait to be told this is all bull****.

 

2 minutes ago, Stewart7 said:

I can think of a couple.

When crawling along in slow moving traffic.  Do you really need to illuminate the inside of the car in front when you're just a few feet away?

When you've had to stop/broken down in an awkward place and have hazards on.  Turning off all other lights makes the hazards stand out, and you can see them from further away, especially from the front.

When parked outside a shop while the other half gets his/her act together.  What ever happened to that UK law that made it illegal to show a light of more than 7 watts when stationary?

When parked on the wrong side of the road and shining your headlights into the faces of oncoming drivers.

When you are at the front of a junction with traffic lights and your lights are shining into the faces of oncoming drivers waiting to turn across you.  Especially at junctions like on the A21 where the B2087 crosses.  The B2087 runs east/west on a ridge and approaching on the A21 from south or north means even dipped headlights can shine into the eyes of drivers coming from the opposing direction.

When I pull up at a junction I often think how nice it would be if all cars switched to side lights automatically.

I'll admit, these are pet gripes of mine, and I am sensitive to any bright light.  But do we really need headlights when stationary?  Anywhere?

I'll now sit back and wait to be told this is all bull****.

 

In all but the first situation, lights off would actually be the chosen option surely?

Are you saying that headlights will illuminate the car in front more during dawn/dusk than at night?

You wouldn't dream of dropping out of headlights to sidelights at night, I cannot see why dawn/dusk would be any different - the lights are going to cause no more irritation when there is a "little light" as opposed to "no light".

 

If it's dark enough that you require instrument panels to be lit, as above - I'd argue it's then dark enough to require headlights.

8 minutes ago, Stewart7 said:

There are no situations where sidelights would be a preference over a headlight.

I was responding to the above statement only.

48 minutes ago, Stewart7 said:

I can think of a couple.

When you've had to stop/broken down in an awkward place and have hazards on.  Turning off all other lights makes the hazards stand out, and you can see them from further away, especially from the front.

I'll now sit back and wait to be told this is all bull****.

 

That's not a very good idea if you've broken down in a 40mph+ area as sidelights must be on then?

BTW, putting your hazards on when you've 'had to stop', (if not broken down) isn't allowed either.

 

Back to the OP's question though, most VAG cars allow the rear lights to be enabled with the DRL's - a possible daytime solution?

6 minutes ago, john999boy said:

 

That's not a very good idea if you've broken down in a 40mph+ area as sidelights must be on then?

BTW, putting your hazards on when you've 'had to stop', (if not broken down) isn't allowed either.

 

Back to the OP's question though, most VAG cars allow the rear lights to be enabled with the DRL's - a possible daytime solution?

 

That was my thought, enabling rear DRLs. You’d need to enable the dash as well, which is different to just enabling the rear lights as DRL, as that seems to be the actual issue here.