Very dim MFD and entertainment system

[twistview]

Seem to be having a few issues with the Superb in the last few days which isn't great! Hoping someone can help with this latest problem, which is that the MFD and entertainment screen are both really, really dim to the point where in daylight they're barely visible. I know there is nothing physically wrong with them, since when I get in the the car and the time shows on the MFD, the brightness is fine. However as soon as I turn the ignition on, they go to virtually black and it's basically impossible to read them whilst driving. Unless I start driving 100% at night, I guess.

 

Had a quick pop into the Skoda dealer on the way home and they suggested it might be a user setting, but having discussed with them it seems like I've tried all the settings they are talking about (and indeed I've reset to factory defaults a couple times to no avail). So maybe a dodgy light sensor somewhere? Anyone have this issue before?

[varaderoguy]

Daylight sensors do occasionally go short, but not often.  Does your car have AUTO lights or are they manual?  Try changing the lights to OFF (if you have AUTO lights) and see what happens.  If it gets brighter, its a sensor...if nothing happens, then firstly check the fuses.  Have a look at this: https://fuse-box.info/skoda/skoda-superb-b8-3v-2015-2018-fuse-box-diagram

and look at Fuse No 8 (Light switch, rain sensor, diagnostic connector, parking brake, lighting of the instrument cluster) and see if it has blown.

[twistview]

Thanks @varaderoguy - I do have auto lights. Have checked both off and auto positions, same behaviour. Taken a look at the fuses, number 8 seems okay (have tested continuity with a multimeter). I don't think there is a power issue as such, it looks like some kind setting or something. I've taken a short video to show the behaviour:

 

https://streamable.com/peyubn

 

In this I start with the car locked, the MFD is fine, as is the entertainment system. Then I turn the car on, the MFD goes pretty dark, then a few seconds later the entertainment system fades out. Then take the ignition key out, lock the car, the MFD goes back to full brightness again. It's really confusing me.

[varaderoguy]

Thanks for the video. When the car is started and in sunshine, can you check out what the car headlights are doing when the switch is in Auto? If they are on (over and above DRL) then you have a faulty light sensor. If they are off, can you then go into the MFD/MIB2, press Menu, Settings, Lights and give us a screenshot. Whilst in Menu, check Display and see what the brightness of the display is set to.

Edited 1 July, 2020 by varaderoguy

[Kenny R]

In my previous Skoda’s there was an ambient light sensor in the bottom half of the Rev counter that operated the dash day/ night illumination.

Have you recently put something that would block light to said sensor, or is bezel very dusty?

[twistview]

1 hour ago, varaderoguy said:

Thanks for the video. When the car is started and in sunshine, can you check out what the car headlights are doing? If they are on (over and above DRL) then you have a faulty light sensor. If they are off, can you then go into the MFD/MIB2, press Menu, Settings, Lights and give us a screenshot. Whilst in Menu, check Display and see what the brightness of the display is set to.

 

Thanks for the quick reply @varaderoguy. Have been out to the car just now, it's pretty bright outside as you can see from the photos. Looks like on AUTO that the sidelights are on - indeed flicked the lights manually over to sidelights and nothing changes. I'm attaching the screenshots below but looks like it might be the sensor in this case. Don't suppose you have an idea of cost?

 

 

27 minutes ago, Kenny R said:

In my previous Skoda’s there was an ambient light sensor in the bottom half of the Rev counter that operated the dash day/ night illumination.

Have you recently put something that would block light to said sensor, or is bezel very dusty?

 

Thanks for the tip @Kenny R, just become aware of the sensor in the last day and located it on the dash. Unfortunately nothing covering it as such and I cleaned the bezel. Even tried shining a torch directly at it, but no luck.

[varaderoguy]

The sensors can be mounted in one of three places: in the dash, in the MIB system or if you have a camera (for Lane Assist) it will be located in there in the screen.

 

So - a sensor failure will show up in the logs. If you can get somebody with either a VCDS or ODBEleven system to scan your car to see what errors are reported, then we can find the sensor part no and then give appropriate costs. Its not generally expensive (sensors are relatively cheap). Its more labour to do the work.

Edited 1 July, 2020 by varaderoguy
updated info

[D402]

Just tested mine, the auto headlights come on when I cover the rain sensor on the windscreen.

[twistview]

So a very late update on this one, but did finally manage to get this resolved and thought I would update in case people have similar issues. I ended up having to go to a couple of dealerships to get to the bottom of this, since the diagnostics checked out and the sensor was seemingly fine. Turns out that unfortunately the body control module had failed, so needed a replacement for a rather lot more than I was hoping for (around £650 in the end).

[confusedmeerkat]

On 19/08/2020 at 18:46, twistview said:

So a very late update on this one, but did finally manage to get this resolved and thought I would update in case people have similar issues. I ended up having to go to a couple of dealerships to get to the bottom of this, since the diagnostics checked out and the sensor was seemingly fine. Turns out that unfortunately the body control module had failed, so needed a replacement for a rather lot more than I was hoping for (around £650 in the end).

Hi,

 

I've got exactly the same issue with my Skoda Octavia (2017 Model)

I was wondering which dealership you took your car to and how long did it take to get it fixed?

[numskull]

I’d find a decent VAG specialist and get them to do it. 

[Esseesse200]

Yep mine did this with the bcm. Heated seats stopped working too. Module is 500 quid and the. Fitting and coding 

 

[kindalen]

Same as above, pricey BCM needed to be fitted and coded.

[twistview]

On 02/11/2022 at 23:05, confusedmeerkat said:

Hi,

 

I've got exactly the same issue with my Skoda Octavia (2017 Model)

I was wondering which dealership you took your car to and how long did it take to get it fixed?

 

I don't want to state exact dealers but wasn't a particularly special dealership, and based in the south west. As memory serves they had to have it in for a diagnostic, then they rebooked it a few days later for replacing the BCM. Dropped off in the morning, picked up mid-afternoon. I noticed afterwards that some weirdness I had with e.g. the boot sensor flashing open/closed also disappeared, so I guess this can affect quite a few things.

 

I am not sure how much you would save going to VAG specialist, seems like there's a bunch of coding needed, but guess you might be able to save some money this way?