Instrument cluster lighting issue

[Dave McB]

Im pretty sure the other week when i was driving my s8 that the back lighting on the dials kept getting brighter/dimmer as i was driving (no lights on)

Anyone had this issue before? I was busy driving and wondered if i was imagining it or not....

[The_Laird]

It's supposed to do that. The lights dim if the car 'thinks' you need to put lights on. So, if you're driving in and out of shade/poor light, then the usual back lighting will go dim when you're in shade/poor light and come back on when the external light improves

[David's8]

So in Scotlandthe lights are pretty dim much of the time. The unusual appearance of the sun last week caused the normally unseen fluctuations!!

[briang9]

Originally Posted by The_Laird

It's supposed to do that. The lights dim if the car 'thinks' you need to put lights on. So, if you're driving in and out of shade/poor light, then the usual back lighting will go dim when you're in shade/poor light and come back on when the external light improves

well I didnt know that, every days a school day

[47p2]

Originally Posted by briang9

well I didnt know that, every days a school day

Best lookout for Miss Whiplash then Brian, she may be on the war path

[David's8]

You're right Brian - every day you can learn something new! I was concerned the other day that the brightness of the display wasnt much affected by my pressing of the +/- buttons. so the comment above made me read the instruction manual again and now I understand why.

It says the instrument lighting is switched ON when the vehicles lights are OFF and ignition is on. It then dims automatically dependent on ambient lighting and goes off completely when its dark. (In order, as it states, to remind you to switch your lights on!). When the vehicle lights are on the instrument lighting can be varied by use of the +/- buttons. (I was trying to birghten the lighting when it was in auto mode - which doesnt work)

Apologies for stating whats in the manual for all to see but its surprising how much one doesnt take in even if you have read it.

[Dave McB]

Originally Posted by The_Laird

It's supposed to do that. The lights dim if the car 'thinks' you need to put lights on. So, if you're driving in and out of shade/poor light, then the usual back lighting will go dim when you're in shade/poor light and come back on when the external light improves

I wondered if i was imagining it lol - it appeared that the dash lights were on when it was a dim area but i couldnt see if they were on when it was in a bright area.

If only i had a bloody owners manual id have read that....

[briang9]

Originally Posted by Dave McB

If only i had a bloody owners manual id have read that....

have you tried A8 Parts for a manual Dave?

cheers

[notorious]

Originally Posted by The_Laird

It's supposed to do that. The lights dim if the car 'thinks' you need to put lights on. So, if you're driving in and out of shade/poor light, then the usual back lighting will go dim when you're in shade/poor light and come back on when the external light improves

Excellent Jim. I didn't know about that. I thought it is a 'bug' in my clauster and I switched off that automatic lightning feature with VAGCOM. I now need to switch that functionality back on!