2012 Dash Lights Problem

[RogueCowboy]

Originally Posted by KNEWBUG

Its working properly, the numbers and lines on the speedo and tach are illuminated when the head lights are on. When lights are off and you are driving the only things illuminated are the speedo needle, tach needle and time, temp and mileage. When the auto door locks engage, the locked icon near the door handle is illuminated,everything seems OK to me. The build dfate is on the sticker on the drivers side door jam.

KNEWBUG

Well let’s say when I first start the car for a trip and the sun is not out I remember to turn on the Headlights then I stop for gas.
It beeps at me to turn off the lights. The Sun is out. I continue on my trip with Headlights OFF since w/sunlight I can read the dash.
Then a cloud blocks the sun, I drive past a MT or hill and the car is now in the shade. I can not read the Speedo. A sign appears 35MPH. and I’m actually going 70MHP. Do I quickly take hand off wheel, fumble switch, take eyes off the road to turn on the headlights? Do I jam on the Brakes and get rear ended. Do I guess my speed is safe and end up in the ditch or in a HEAD ON COLLISION?

[RogueCowboy]

The Build Date on the door jam is 8-11

[KNEWBUG]

Roguecowboy:
There is a light sensor in the lower right hand corner of the tach. If you get in the car, start it up, all the needles light up, then shine a light on the lower right hand corner of the tach, the back lights will go on and illuminate the lines, then will fade away in a few seconds.


KNEWBUG

[RogueCowboy]

I fail to comprehend how shining a light at the dash solves the problem of NO DASH LIGHTS while driving in the middle of the afternoon.i.e unable to read your speed unless you turn on the Headlights.

[vern]

OK. I have a 2012 GTI with sunroof/nav. My guages are just like you described. The numbers become unreadable as it gets darker outside and yes the red arrows are still bright red. Checked with my dealer whom I trust, unusual I know, but they said that is correct because this way you will know your headlights are not on. They get this question at least a day on the 2012. By the way during the day the dash is lit completely normal.
It makes sense to me.
This is my 2 cents worth. I'm one the honorary new beetle people going to TOD with my GTI.

Hope this helps.

[KNEWBUG]

Actually, if you ask me, VW did it right. That is, the instrument cluster lights come on automatically when the ambient light is sufficiently bright so that you can easily read the gauges. When ambient light starts to drop, the cluster lights start to dim, leaving the gauges easily readable and yet not distractingly bright. When ambient light drops below a certain point, the cluster lights will turn off completely. Know what that means? Time to turn your headlight switch on

[nighttrain1974]

Originally Posted by KNEWBUG

Actually, if you ask me, VW did it right. That is, the instrument cluster lights come on automatically when the ambient light is sufficiently bright so that you can easily read the gauges. When ambient light starts to drop, the cluster lights start to dim, leaving the gauges easily readable and yet not distractingly bright. When ambient light drops below a certain point, the cluster lights will turn off completely. Know what that means? Time to turn your headlight switch on

Got to agree.

Works like the sensor in my laptop. When it's daytime it brightens the screen to compensate, sat at home in the evening it dims down so not to kill your eyes. Good system if you ask me.

That said if you don't like it there must be some way of over-riding it. Checked your manual?