Team-BHP (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/)

-   Test-Drives & Initial Ownership Reports (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-drives-initial-ownership-reports/)

-   -   Driven: Volkswagen Passat (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-drives-initial-ownership-reports/194694-driven-volkswagen-passat-16.html)

Yet another of those quirky VW features. That's the way it is on my Passat as well. I have tried everything including 3rd Party app "Carista", but still cannot make the instrument panel lights to switch on with Parking lights set to active.

BTW, if you are interested in activating more features on your Passat, try out the Carista app available for both Android & IOS. I use a paid version for IOS which allows several customizations for Doors, Windows, Remotes, Instruments, Displays, Dings, Lights, Heater & AC through a Generic Wifi ELM OBD2 Adapter. You can find further details of the app and supported customizations here.
Note that some features do not work due to hardware limitations/missing hardware in the India spec Passat.

This image shows a snapshot of Light related settings on my Passat from the Carista app.


PS: I am only an end-user of the app and have no other association with the Carista brand.

Guys, I was waiting/hoping for any one of you to start an ownership thread, and learn more about your experiences. A couple of our colleagues indicated WIP but it's not materialised yet?

I think it is a safety feature. I suppose they don't want people to put the parking lights on and assume that the headlights are on and keep driving. When it's dark and you see that the instrument light isn't illuminated, you are sure to notice it which will then 'force' you into turning the headlights on. Assuming you are dumb enough to not notice that the road ahead is not illuminated by your headlight lol:.

In my Polo GTI which (strangely) does not have the Auto headlight feature, the instrument back light acts like the auto brightness feature on smartphones. (It uses the light sensor which is why it is strange that there is no auto headlight despite the presence of the light sensor). So during day time and bright sunny periods it is illuminated the brightest. As the light starts to fade it's brightness too starts dimming proportionately. And when it is close to darkness the backlight turns completely off. Only after I turn the headlights on does it illuminate again. I do use this indicator to turn on the headlights at dusk etc.. If the instrument cluster is off then it is a good time to turn on the headlights.

You're confusing two light sensors here.

One is built inside the instrument cluster which adjusts the backlight of the cluster. The Jetta, Passat and GTIs are equipped with this sensor in the cluster.

The sensor is located behind a round patch between 5 and 6 on the tacho ring:



The other is provided with the RLS (rain light sensor)/RLHS (rain light humidity sensor) which provides the signal to the BCM to turn on the headlights. All highline variants are equipped with the RLS but not Auto lights on the Polo/Vento/Rapid.

Here's how it works (from the cluster on my car in the basement):

https://youtu.be/lElZRy-GS5c

Oh Ok. I thought this sensor which typically feeds info to the auto headlamps also worked for the instrument cluster.



So basically this is a waste in my car since there is neither auto headlamps nor auto wipers!

Santosh, I have a feeling you can activate the auto lights by simply swapping the headlight switch. I recall the Laura had one such model which came with the RLS unit on the windshield but a manual headlight switch with a smaller 10-pin connector. By changing the switch to one with the auto selector, the automatic option worked.

Check what is the connector type behind your switch. Easy swap if it is indeed the 10-pin unit:


(Image from AliExpress)

At the most you may need to enable the option on VCDS.

Thanks for this. Any interesting and significant tweaks that you found through this app?

What I was really interested in was to somehow get native navigation (which I'm sure is not possible) and internet. The other thing I was interested to upgrade was the instrument panel to a digital cockpit but it might cause warranty issues later and knowing the workshops, they would be more than happy to negate warranty for any issue if we mess around with the car.

Hi all,

I got ceramic coating for my Passat done from Ultimate Detailerz at their C V Raman Nagar detailing centre. Mohsin and his team were extremely helpful in answering all my queries. Here are the results:





On another note, see the range displayed after a highway drive of 50km after full tank :)



Regards,
Prasad

Hey buddy good to know that the issues are resolved at last and you are enjoying the vehicle. Best of Luck and drive safe.

Hey I have the same issue in my car and looking for a solution too. Intend to get it checked from the Service Centre when i visit it next time along with resetting my TPMS pressure to 31psi, as I have realised the best tyre pressure to drive the passat is on 33psi.

Hey Prasad Congratulations for getting the Ceremic Coating. The white shines even more with the coating on. Please could you tell me which Coating has been used on the car? I have been studying the Ceremic Coating brands etc and found Armour Brand Ceremic Coating the Best though no one in India is using it. Most used Coating here is 9PH or in some cases Quartz.

Now my main question to thr owners has anyone used the Adapt Feature in the car? I am itching to use it as I feel my gearshifts are taking place a lil on higher RPMs, which should take place at 2500rpm on relaxed driving style. I read about this feature in the User Manual. I haven't been driving the car much as I still prefer my jetta lol: dont know why it feels more stable on higher speeds.

I have got it coated with Car Pro's Cquartz Finest Reserve (details here). It is not available off the shelf, but has to be applied only by certified detailers. I got it done from Mohsin (a team-bhp member) of Ultimate Detailerz. They have a team bhp thread on them that now runs into 16 pages with all positive reviews. You can check it out.

The features that I have activated are the cosmetic ones such as Needle Salute, Lane change flash count, Emergency Braking Hazard lights Flash, Infotainment/Cluster Start screen logos, Scandinavian DRL (DRL activates Tail lamps), Coming home lights duration, etc.

I do not see any buttons marked 'NAV' or 'TRAFFIC'. So most likely native navigation is not supported by the stock HU.

I too have the itch as well to upgrade the Instrumental Panel to Digital Cockpit but staying away from such upgrades for now so as the car is way too much electronics and I do not want to risk void the 4 Years warranty!!!

The closest I do in my Octy is pull out the switch in parking mode to turn on fog lamps. Then the instrument panel gets illuminated. Not sure if the same works in Passat.

Good one! This works, yes except that of course the fogs are on :Frustrati

On a sad note, noted that the Superb doesn't fit in my office parking slot. It's too wide and long for the one-on-one lift sections. If the Superb doesn't the Passat won't either.

Now I know what I gotta do!

Another annoying omission is that the steering mounted stereo controls don't work if the car is turned off. Only when you hit the ignition on, they come alive..

Buy the Tiguan soft roader - shares the MQB platform and engine but with a 7 speed DSG, AWD, etc., just got to live with those leatherette seats!