Ok, first time in weeks I have access to my car. I start it up and drive down the road. Park up next to side of road very close to postbox. Turn engine off. Leave key in ignition and open door. Warning buzzer sounds, like the lights on one. Get out and post letters. Notice that the passenger side sidelight is on. Check lights switch, its all off. Close door and start engine. Drive like normal, go to fill up, no warning buzzer now. Back at home I check all the lights are working and all are normal.

What was my car trying to tell me? :confused:

What was my car trying to tell me? :confused:

You probably left the car's parking light on by leaving the indicator stalk in the left or right position after switching the ignition off and opening the door.

Wow, didn't know that. I probably did leave the indicator stalk as well. Thankyou.

yup... it's the parking lights, if you leave the stalk turned the two sidelights in the direction of your indicators will stay on

Isn't it fun finding out all the neat little design details even after owning the car for quite a while?

Lotta thinking went into the design, respect to the engineers at VAG.

Yeah, I know what you mean Basil. I've owned the car about 2 years now and never noticed.

On the subject of parking lights. Any idea how long you can leave them on before you have a flat battery?

Someone will know - assume a half-charged battery, and the current draw from the two tiny bulbs and it's simple maths....

If six (4 side lights+ 2 on number plate) 6 watt lamps are on when parked that takes 0.5 amp per lamp which equals 3 amps in total. I the battery is of 60 ampere hour capacity , new and fully charged then the lamps would light for 60 divided by 3 , giving 20 hour total time before the battery is fully discharged. This will never be reached ,because the battery is more likely to partially discharged from the last start ,and the small load being taken all the time for radio ,clocks etc . But my figures give you a guide as to what is happening when lights are left on without the engine running.

On the subject of parking lights. Any idea how long you can leave them on before you have a flat battery?

twice as long as if you leave all the side lights on, funny as thats what the feature is for, battery life saving............

Vauxhall cars have their parking lights using the indicators....reckon they pinched it off VAG or VAG pinched it off Vaux....

ALL these features are in the Manual

VAG have had this feature for a long time. Remember my Mum's C-reg (1983??) Polo squareback doing this

Steve

ALL these features are in the Manual

How many blokes read the manual though? Seriously?

I found that out after about 1 week.

I use my left or right parking lights all the time when I park outside my mums or my mates houses

my mk1 seat ibiza i had between '98 and winter '01 did this too

My Dads old Mk1 Polo (1975-78 pre facelift) had this too , although without the warning buzzer!

My dads Audi 100 had these, back in the mid 70's, He was posted to Germany, and was advise by the police if he was parked just out of range of overhead lights, he was supposed to leave the offside parking light on. .

So VAG have had this function for yeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrs.

It's well weird when it initially happens...then u find out whats going on, it's ace!! I use it all the time now just to show off lol