Is there any way to turn the dash lights completely out? I do a lot of night driving and would like to have complete darkness in the cabin. I'm able to do this in my pickup and find that I'm able to see deer, and other critters much easier without dash lights. Yes, it's important to see my speed, but most of my miles are cruise control. I also have an iPhone app that provides a brightness adjustable heads up display.
View 1 RepliesHow do I turn my dash lights COMPLETELY off? I do a lot of night driving and have learned to live with the dimmer all the way down, though my personal preference is to have it just a little dimmer. My commute makes traffic unpredictable, so I often get to work early (better than too late!), so I like to nap a little in the car until time to drag myself in to the office. When my headlights are off and I'm parked, the dash lights are WAY bright. Is there a way to turn them off, and also have the headlights off too? I need the headlights off (and the silly parking lights that stay on till you set the parking brake). So, simply stated, is there a way to turn everything all the way off while the engine (and heater) stay running?
View 10 RepliesI had parked my 2010 Prius in the garage overnight, the next morning it was completely dead. No lights on the dash. Nothing. I don't think I had left a door ajar or the lights on or anything. Can't be sure, though. So the car was dead, I called my Dad, (just like always) because he knows stuff, is an electrical engineer, even has his very own Prius. I thought it would be fun for him to charge it and we were a little afraid together (quality time!). We carefully followed the instructions in the book. Nothing went poof. The car started right away, everything worked fine. Off I went. I took my dad's portable charging thingy just in case.
View 14 RepliesThis morning as soon as I started the car, the speedometer dash turned completely scrambled and the rest of the lights keep blinking/flashing. The car does turn on and drive. Upon drive the Maint Reqd and Low temp icons keep flashing. I think I smell something burning as well but I not sure.
In the video below you can see the scrambling. Occasionally it will just turn off. I tried the battery disconnect but did not work. I definitely think something is burning around dash but cannot be sure.
I drove to work yesterday, all was fine. Got in the car at lunch time and NO START!! No "parallel" start!!! the car "wakes up", the wheel and tranny unlock, all the dash lights activate but the starter will not crank!!. I did hear 4 or 5 clicks coming from under the car on the first attempt but none after, this morning I heard the same clicks in the first start attempt then nothing after. Here is a scan:
Code:
Thursday,10,July,2014,14:01:01:08208
VCDS -- Windows Based VAG/VAS Emulator
VCDS Version: 12.12.2.0
Data version: 20140212
[Code] .....
The issue being that my interior, tail and sometimes dash lights have begun to flicker while the engine is running. It's noticeably worse upon cold start, however, once the engine warms up the flickering improves a bit. Also noteworthy, is just after starting the voltmeter jumps around between 14-14.5 volts. When the car idles down it settles at 14. My left side battery is sitting at 5 years old and when just the electronics are on it hovers around 13 volts. Am I looking at a failing alternator or voltage reg? Or perhaps a loose connection or iffy fuse or ground somewhere. The car does not idle roughly and I am not hearing or smelling anything that isn't normal. I just had both vcg, valve body, and tie rod ends done. I do not have a vag yet, but I was wondering if there is any for of troubleshooting I can do before she goes back in?
View 24 RepliesFeb. 2, 2010, I had my '04 Phaeton in for service (88,997 mi) because it would not start. After diagnosis, found faulty brake switch and shifter mechanism. Removed and replaced brake switch, shifter assy, and PRNDL sensor. On Feb. 17, '10, after I started car, it sounded like it was in wrong gear and all drives were lit on dash. Turned off, started again and everything was OK. Called service tech to let him know; he said he would notify mechanic.
On Fri., 19 Mar. '10 at around 2:15 p.m., was driving and noticed again that all drive lights were lit on dash. Pulled off road, turned off motor, started again, and everything seemed OK. Went farther down road, entered super highway, pressed accel. to pass tractor-trailer, only to notice all gears were again lit, as well as a new engine outline (in orange). As I was passing the truck, car surged forward and then made a loud clunk, I drove at 60 on the 70 mph rd. to get to rest area. Turned off motor, looked in manual and it stated car should be taken to dealer. Since it was still "drivable" and I didn't need a tow, I tried calling the dealer 4 times, but only got through to an answering machine. I decided to take car to dealer.
When I arrived, I spoke to the only service writer at the desk, and he was new. Told me they were too busy to take my car that day. I asked to speak to VW service manager, and he said I should not drive car. Car now has 91,509 mi.
I was wondering, why all gear lights keep coming on at the same time, and why the car feels like it has to shift to the next gear. I am thinking the repairs on Feb.2 were not complete.
How the rear, high center mounted brake light (ie "3rd brake light") intermittently lights individual bulbs, but never all at once. It was also causing an annoying "Check Brake Lights" warning plus beep on the dash (on every brake). Till I get it sorted I simply disconnected the 3rd brake light which completely turned it off and just gave me one warning/beep (instead of lots of them).
I spoke to VW about it yesterday and wasnt impressed by their attitude, so last night I tried plugging it back in to see if it was still the same now that my battery should be topped up due to change of house and longer trips. To my surprise at first it worked perfectly, all bulbs lit up.
However the more I tested, the less lights lit up. It was quite strange, they would "dance" on an off right in front of me. Wiggling the wiring had a small effect, but it didnt seem to be a wiring issue. So I plugged it out and left it was it was (disabled). However to my annoyance on my trip in today, I start getting repeated "Check Brake Light" warnings beeps (remember, its disconnected so it should do it once only) and even more irritating every time the warning came up on the dash the front left headlamp would flash on and off once! What the hell is going on with the lighting system!
2004 with 214000 miles. Brake pedal goes to the floor, red dash lights are flashing, I just added a container of brake fluid and still no pressure at the pedal. I'm guessing master cylinder.
My question is: Even though my brake pedal goes directly to the floor, how am I getting the car to stop at the very end of the push? Do the brakes somehow work as a fail-safe even the the hydrolics are basically toast? I know that's a long shot, but it wouldn't be the first time I've been shocked over systems in this car.
I have a 1985 Cutlass Ciera Brougham with a 2.5L four. Got in it one day and when I turned the key nothing happened except the dash lights came on. No clicking or buzzing, no engine turning over, nothing... Pulled the starter and had it tested, it passed. Then again it is only about a year old. I then jumped the poles on the starter and the engine came to life. Replaced the ignition switch ( the electrical part ) still have the same problem. Turn the key and nothing happens except the dash lights.
View 8 RepliesI have a 2002 Ford Explorer. For about the last year some of the dash lights have been turning on and off randomly and intermittently. The three lights are the check engine, the airbag and less frequently, the check gauge light. It seems like there's some connection between the lights because often when one comes on so does another and often one will turn off, but immediately another will turn on. My mechanic (not a Ford dealer) tried to fix the check engine light by diagnosing and fixing the indicated codes, but a day later the light came back on. It stayed on for a week, then one morning it stayed off, but the airbag light came on. Is there some electronic (or other) component that links these three lights and could be causing this situation?
View 1 RepliesIs there a way to turn all interior lights on the dash off when the headlights are off?
It is so bright that you can't see in the dark with everything off without being blinded.
I replaced the 12v starter battery about 8 months or 30,000 miles back. The problem is that It was running fine, and I put the key into it to start and pushed the start button the dash lights would not turn on, the center console lights and instruments work, but the main dash fuel, speedometer lights are out. The car seems to run ok and the main battery bank is fully charged for now.
View 10 RepliesI've been having a problem which i cant seem to find the fix for. My ABS and ECS dash light keep turning on. Its intermittent and does not stay on. Ive noticed that it usually happens if I travel at highway speeds for more than 15miles. I had the brakes x4 changed 1 year ago and all brake pads show good life. Brake fluid is at a good level with no leaks to be seen. I am wondering if its one of the sensors? How can one check for that? I have a 2006 3.3l GLS with 86k.
View 2 RepliesDipped the oil today... and the dipstick came out completely dry. Put it back in again and it came out showing oil halfway between min and max.
View 2 RepliesThis morning as I was heading for work out of the blue my driver's seat moved completely back while in motion, and moving mirrors. It was kind of dangerous.
View 2 Replies2002 Camaro SS. Been sitting in my garage and I have not started it for 2 months (I know, not smart). So I started it yesterday, it ran for about 20 seconds then just died and I cannot get it to restart. Battery is fully charged, it turns over, I can hear the injectors seemingly shoot fuel when I just turn the key into accessory mode, but when I try to start it, it just cranks like it's out of gas and never even gives the slightest hint of trying to turn over completely. There is a 1/4 tank gas, that is at least 2 years old in the car. Also, when it started the first time a ton of black stuff came out of the tail pipes.
Bad gas? Fuel pump? Not sure which path to go down first.
I have a 2003 V12 Phaeton with 50k miles. Wonderful car to drive but unending series of electrical and mechanical problems. On FM, the sound completely stopped. The receiver seems to be working since all radio stations are displayed on the screen. But there is no sound. AM and CD both work. The dealer took a look and told me that they couldn't pinpoint the problem and that I would have to replace the entire entertainment console.
Unrelated but also annoying, all within the last month: the horn stopped working (dealer can't figure out why), one of the windshield wipers stuck in the up position, drainage canals plugged resulting in backseat flooding after a heavy rain that shorted electrical connections in rear seat (the dealer said this was a widespread "design defect" in Phaetons and Audi A8's) and front passenger seat heater shorted burning a hole in the leather (and, almost, my wife's rear).
My 1995 Ford Thunderbird has a problem when I turn it off. After turning it off and removing the key the gauges still stay on and the low fuel light come on even though there is a full tank. Every other time I turn the car off the heater fan turns on even though it is in the off position. I replaced the ignition switch and cylinder but it didn't make a difference. I'm thinking it might be the ECU but I don't want to just start replacing more and more things trying to find this out.
View 5 RepliesI can get the fan to work in lo-med-hi if I set the rear-cool fan selector to those positions, however, selecting auto results in the fan turning off completely. Do I have to have the front in "auto" for the rear "auto" function to work?
View 3 RepliesI have a 2000 chevy s10, it has a brand new battery and alternator. When the battery is charged the battery meter will keep dropping until the dash is completely off when I am driving, then i wont be able to start it unless i get a jump or charge the battery. why is the battery draining so quickly?
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