The Ridiculous Fading Panel Lights

TonyFSC

Active Member
Jun 20, 2015
121
1
And another annoying thing is not being able to easily adjust the brightness of the dash lights at night.

Retrograde steps, IMO!

I found a setting deep in the menu which enables the panel lights to be dimmed and I generally drive around with the headlights full on to avoid the distraction of losing the dash lighting when a sparrow flies over the car!
Tony
 

riskfactorr

Active Member
Mar 16, 2016
19
0
I've been wanting to ask about this but did't know how to state the issue.
I don't have an auto function and this drives me nuts - stupid me, I thought it had to do something with speed :feeling stupid: thanks for the explanation it doesn't solve the annoyance but at least I learnt something new...
 

MyLeon

Active Member
Jun 3, 2015
349
2
Since I had "rear lights with drl" enable with vcds my panel lights no longer fade.
I'm fairly sure that this can be done with the beta version of the Carista app. as well (£15 + ELM adaptor @ £11ish)


2015 Leon ST FR 184 DSG
 

Curtly

Active Member
Jun 5, 2015
893
19
Essex
Since I had "rear lights with drl" enable with vcds my panel lights no longer fade.
I'm fairly sure that this can be done with the beta version of the Carista app. as well (£15 + ELM adaptor @ £11ish)


2015 Leon ST FR 184 DSG

Where did you get that done?
 

martin j.

Active Member
Feb 11, 2007
1,996
889
Fife
Reviving an old thread again, I find the headlights come on when the conditions are still bright, does changing the sensitivity in the menu make much difference? I assume low means it has to be darker than when set to medium and high will put the lights on when a cloud appears in the sky somewhere?
Glad I searched this as I wondered if my eyes were playing up when the dash lights seemed to be going on/off in the fading light, Ta guys.
 

Walone

Active Member
Feb 10, 2016
1,533
418
Near Heathrow
Reviving an old thread again, I find the headlights come on when the conditions are still bright, does changing the sensitivity in the menu make much difference? I assume low means it has to be darker than when set to medium and high will put the lights on when a cloud appears in the sky somewhere?
Glad I searched this as I wondered if my eyes were playing up when the dash lights seemed to be going on/off in the fading light, Ta guys.

I think what you are referring to are the settings for the height of the beams for motorway driving.
 

TonyFSC

Active Member
Jun 20, 2015
121
1
Reviving an old thread again, I find the headlights come on when the conditions are still bright, does changing the sensitivity in the menu make much difference? I assume low means it has to be darker than when set to medium and high will put the lights on when a cloud appears in the sky somewhere?
Glad I searched this as I wondered if my eyes were playing up when the dash lights seemed to be going on/off in the fading light, Ta guys.

SEAT's answer to my original complaint was that the panel lights dim to remind you to switch on your headlights and was a safety feature.
I asked them 'what is safer both hands on the wheel or one hand on the wheel and one on the light switch and in high summer too'.
They could not answer that, but promised to pass the comment onto the software designers.
Tony[:@]
 

Fred99

Active Member
Sep 21, 2013
448
1
Granada, Southern Spain
My auto lights are on medium setting. They work fine. I have never noticed the panel lights dim - why would that happen if you haven't got the lights on?

We have loads of long tunnels here where not using your lights gets you a big fine. They have worked faultlessly for three years so far. If they come on at dusk or on cloudy wet days, so much the better.
 

TonyFSC

Active Member
Jun 20, 2015
121
1
My auto lights are on medium setting. They work fine. I have never noticed the panel lights dim - why would that happen if you haven't got the lights on?

We have loads of long tunnels here where not using your lights gets you a big fine. They have worked faultlessly for three years so far. If they come on at dusk or on cloudy wet days, so much the better.

That's because I don't have auto lights and it happens when I don't have the lights on.
So I now drive with the lights on permanently, throughout the year.
Tony
 

veno

Active Member
The main issue is that when you are on AUTO it is supposed the computer to deal when to switch on the headlights. I have no clue why the computer fade the panel lights instead of switching on the headlights? Or probably two different sensors with no connection between them. Both cases really stupid!
 

Walone

Active Member
Feb 10, 2016
1,533
418
Near Heathrow
The main issue is that when you are on AUTO it is supposed the computer to deal when to switch on the headlights. I have no clue why the computer fade the panel lights instead of switching on the headlights? Or probably two different sensors with no connection between them. Both cases really stupid!

Yes there are two different sensors, the one for the panel lights is in instrument binnacle, if you hold your hand over a certain area the panel lights react accordingly. At least they do on my MY '16 FR ST. The headlight sensor is in the windscreen/rear view mirror area.
 

Keyzer Soze

Active Member
Sep 18, 2016
123
3
Newcastle upon Tyne
Why not just put sidelights on? There's no change to the DRLs , your rear lights will be on and the dash will stay lit up (at least that's how it works with led lights).

Sent from my P027 using Tapatalk
 

yellowcone87

Active Member
Mar 9, 2014
490
0
Warwickshire
DRL is significantly brighter than sidelights. You're literally better off not using them to be honest. If it bothers you I'd just leave them 'on' all the time and forget about it. Volvo's used to have theirs on all the time anyway until the advent of DRLs.
 

Keyzer Soze

Active Member
Sep 18, 2016
123
3
Newcastle upon Tyne
DRL is significantly brighter than sidelights. You're literally better off not using them to be honest. If it bothers you I'd just leave them 'on' all the time and forget about it. Volvo's used to have theirs on all the time anyway until the advent of DRLs.



I know that's the case with conventional bulbs, but I can't see a difference with the leds. Unless the lights or my eyes aren't working properly.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

yellowcone87

Active Member
Mar 9, 2014
490
0
Warwickshire
I know that's the case with conventional bulbs, but I can't see a difference with the leds. Unless the lights or my eyes aren't working properly.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

They're supposed to dim by about 40% or thereabouts. It can be altered via VCDS coding, but your LEDs should definitely be brighter on 'DRL only' from factory pal. Can't say I've ever used sidelights on the Leon to be honest. Seems a bit daft to make them less bright when it gets darker if you ask me!
 

TonyFSC

Active Member
Jun 20, 2015
121
1
Why not just put sidelights on? There's no change to the DRLs , your rear lights will be on and the dash will stay lit up (at least that's how it works with led lights).

Sent from my P027 using Tapatalk

The only setting on a non Auto LED Lights Leon where the panel lights stay on is headlights on.
Tony
 

Keyzer Soze

Active Member
Sep 18, 2016
123
3
Newcastle upon Tyne
Thanks for the replies fellas. I can only assume that my car has been altered with VCDS or similar. When I put my side lights on, the brightness of the LEDs stays the same and the dash lights come on and stay on. My first Leon and my first lot of LED lights. I know what Yellowcone means, in my last car, a Seat Mii, when you put the side lights on it was so dim it was pointless, I often wondered why the setting was there.
 

MadeInYorkshire

Active Member
Jan 25, 2018
55
5
Picked up my 64 plate Leon ST 1.8 after having a Mondeo for a good 4 years.
Driving around I noticed that the instrument lights were fading and brightening and was planning on getting in touch with the dealer to tell him there was something wrong.
How silly of me as Seat in their infinite wisdom think this is good design and it's supposed to work like that.

When I think how everything about the Mondeo was just perfect it's quite disappointing to find features like this that strongly detract from an otherwise nice car.

I do note that it's 1 1/2 years since the last post on this subject so I'm really keeping my fingers crossed that someone may have found a fix for this problem?
 

zeffania

Active Member
Nov 4, 2016
479
159
hehe, I thought I was going mad when mine did it the other day. In the 3 months I have had the car, commuting has always been with lights on so it isn't very often I get DRLs only.

Echo many people on here. Those idiots driving in the dark with just front DRLs, no lights, fogs and sides, blah blah blah. So much hate for these morons, one flashed me when I did what they were doing on a DC. Thankfully the 3 cars behind flashed her and she finally got it!
 

MadeInYorkshire

Active Member
Jan 25, 2018
55
5
I always like to have my lights on as I realise that they make me more visible and therefore safer. The settings for the dash dimming seem ridiculous though and as others have said small local differences have a large effect on the dash lights.
My only comfort is knowing that everyone else in a VAG car seems to have the same problem.
 
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