My wife's 18 plate Citigo has developed a problem with the interior light.

The auto centre position doesn't work but it can still be switched on manually.

The car is in warranty but I wondered if anyone else has had this problem and is it an easy fix?

It's the type on the left in the photo.

Edited 19 December, 20196 yr by RickW

It should come on when opening any door or the tailgate (I think), so have you tried it with all doors? If you have only tried say,  the driver's door, chances are it is a stuck or misaligned door switch. If the light is not coming on by opening any door, then I'm not sure what it is....

 

I haven't looked but the switch may be a physical spring switch in a rubber cover or a hall-effect or reed switch type. The physical switch type is the most common on cars, by far.

42 minutes ago, freemansteve said:

 

 

I haven't looked but the switch may be a physical spring switch in a rubber cover or a hall-effect or reed switch type. The physical switch type is the most common on cars, by far.

It is a physical spring switch.

Thanks guys,I'll check it out shortly,its actually stopped raining now!

I can't see it being the light switch, It is such a simple thing. Unless the spring comes off or the plug comes loose there is nothing to go wrong. Neither of those can apply as there is power and some positions work. 

Edited 20 December, 20196 yr by peter3197
spelling

It's not impossible that it is the main multi-way switch that has failed, whether or not certain positions work - they are pretty cheap and nasty inside - but it is unlikely.

 

The door switch is a more likely culprit - if the rubber cover is squished or misaligned, you can get water ingress and corrosion in the switch or simply find that it cannot move sufficiently to work. I've had this a couple of times over the years. As I said, try all the doors first, with the internal overhead switch set to "auto" (obviously!).

 

Does the car have a sunroof? Sometimes a tiny leak can reach the overhead switch and corrode it.....

 

Edited 20 December, 20196 yr by freemansteve
extra thought added.

Thanks for advice and help.

After prodding and poking various things the light has started working again thankfully.

The diagram in the handbook doesn't match the actual lights which have reading lamps.

So was there a fault then?

 

The central position you mentioned as being faulty is the 'OFF' position 'O', so the light isn't meant to illuminate when the switch is in this position?

 

Looking at the image you took from the manual in the opening post it is a shame Skoda omitted to include the actual switch type in your car. Looking at the manuals illustration the central position on the switch type shown (without reading lights) is 'ON with open doors'.

I do realise now that the centre position is off but it wasn't working in the 'auto' position (switch to the right) either where the light comes on when the car is unlocked.

 

Whatever happened to fix it I've no idea but I've mansplained it to my wife now and she's happy again.

 

This particular interior light isn't shown in the manual that came with the car as silver1011 has said.

That light is the standard one that is/was fitted to any number of VAG vehicles over many years and is a straight swap for the light without the individual reading lights. I fitted one in both the Citigos I have had.

Re - mansplaining....

I have argued that I checked the CPU's machine code with a hex editor, and reverse engineered the code in order to craft a patch. ...

 

It did not work as a ploy. I got a sore eye....

 

 

Last night I had a look at my 2019 3-door, and could not find the door switch! I am clearly losing the plot....

 

5 minutes ago, freemansteve said:

Last night I had a look at my 2019 3-door, and could not find the door switch! I am clearly losing the plot....

 

Integrated into the door lock module. Non-visible without significant disassembly. 

By the way,what's the rectangular grid for as shown in my photo?

1 hour ago, RickW said:

By the way,what's the rectangular grid for as shown in my photo?

 

It's a Bluetooth microphone (or position for it). If not fitted there is usually just a lump of foam shoved over the holes.

 

 

Edited 22 December, 20196 yr by TMB

Thanks,now I know how to impress my wife further!