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Author Topic: New owner - no manual - what does the light switch symbol mean?  (Read 17520 times)

Offline Chris_R

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New owner - no manual - what does the light switch symbol mean?
« on: December 29, 2016, 01:57:48 am »
Hi there, new to VW ownership as of today and never had a car with a light switch separate from on the stalks.
I have a 56 plate GTI and wondered what the first setting is after the 0 on the light dial? Sides and main beam makes sense but not sure on that one with a light and what looks like a door/arch in front of it.

The one at approx 12 o'clock position here:
http://c1552172.r72.cf0.rackcdn.com/5600_x800.jpg

Thanks for any answers, may need to get a manual in the long run.

Offline The Red Warrior

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Re: New owner - no manual - what does the light switch symbol mean?
« Reply #1 on: December 29, 2016, 03:24:07 am »
That's the auto lights setting. The symbol is a tunnel apparently.
Leaving your lights on the auto setting means they come on in low light situations, e.g. night (duh), rain, tunnels. They also come on at 140kph after a few seconds if they weren't already on.
They will turn off automatically when not needed. The sensor is in the windscreen above the rear view mirror

Offline MIJ_JAGGER

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Re: New owner - no manual - what does the light switch symbol mean?
« Reply #2 on: December 29, 2016, 03:25:26 am »
Auto setting. I think the symbol is trying to illustrate a tunnel...

Charlie23

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Re: New owner - no manual - what does the light switch symbol mean?
« Reply #3 on: December 29, 2016, 04:43:25 pm »
Don't put it on that setting!!!!!  :jumping:

That's for the After Burners and once they go off your in trouble  :signLOL:


Sorry  :laugh:

Auto Lights Setting - Check your interior mirror it should have a sensor built in between the windscreen that detects light and darkness. You prob find you have Auto Wipers also  :happy2:

Offline Chris_R

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Re: New owner - no manual - what does the light switch symbol mean?
« Reply #4 on: December 30, 2016, 01:33:32 am »
Cheers Charlie, slowly but surely figuring it out. Found the heated wing mirrors today too. I was surprised at the amount of electronic gizmos so far, it is the newest car I have had TBH though
But have been mainly checking everything works like it should - looks like I have a temperature issue - the heating is awful and noted that the temp gauge is not going above around 70-75 and actually dropped when I gave it some. Will just go round replacing parts that are likely to be sticky as everything seems to be that way - I think the car has been stood for a while judging by bonnet catch, indicator cancel and boot handle. Have managed to sort the first two relatively quickly, the indicators just seem to have freed up through use.

Faults to sort:
Temperature is my primary concern - going to do the inline thermo first before tackling the one by the alternator (it's too cold to be out swinging spanners around for hours outside)
Drivers door unlock by remote - not sure on this one, the other door and the boot seem to unlock just fine - key works every time though so liveable for the minute
Damp/Condensation - probably a result of sitting around for a while too, that and with the poor heating means its out with the demist wipe at the minute.
Service - probably just DIY it, having older cars it's one of the benefits

Is genuine VAG-COM/Rosstech stuff still the way to go for diags/coding/reset? I used to have one for my 1998 Audi S4, but sadly sold it many years ago. Are there any cheaper options available these days?

Positive though, the car is amazingly well put together, all feels so solid and tight for something with 130,000 on it. It doesn't feel as fast as I was expecting, but the speedo says otherwise :)

Offline The Red Warrior

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Re: New owner - no manual - what does the light switch symbol mean?
« Reply #5 on: December 30, 2016, 11:59:39 pm »
From your description it sounds like it's your main thermostat that is the problem not the inline one. Thermostat permanently open allowing coolant through the radiator and never getting up to temperature. This is why it gets cooler still when giving it some as you then get more air flowing through the radiator.

As for the speedo, these cars read quite high. Do a search and find out how to do the secret heater display show the real speed. If I remember correctly, it's function 19-01 for mph.

Offline Trow81

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New owner - no manual - what does the light switch symbol mean?
« Reply #6 on: December 31, 2016, 08:01:39 am »
Hi the drivers door should be able to be changed in the mfd screen in convenience I think if not it can be coded using vcds where are u located im sure one of the members will help u out for beer tokens


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
« Last Edit: December 31, 2016, 08:03:35 am by Trow81 »

Offline Chris_R

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Re: New owner - no manual - what does the light switch symbol mean?
« Reply #7 on: December 31, 2016, 02:58:15 pm »
From your description it sounds like it's your main thermostat that is the problem not the inline one. Thermostat permanently open allowing coolant through the radiator and never getting up to temperature. This is why it gets cooler still when giving it some as you then get more air flowing through the radiator.

As for the speedo, these cars read quite high. Do a search and find out how to do the secret heater display show the real speed. If I remember correctly, it's function 19-01 for mph.

Another bit to order then LOL.
Looked like a bit of a pig to do if I am honest, nothing I wouldn't tackle, just would rather not if I could have helped it.
Will get the bits ordered I guess later in the week, still waiting on my old car being moved which means I am parked well away from my tools and garage at the minute.

Offline Chris_R

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Re: New owner - no manual - what does the light switch symbol mean?
« Reply #8 on: January 01, 2017, 12:46:10 pm »
Ha! Found the manual, what idiot would suspect it would be in the special manual holder in the glove box.
 :doh:

Offline unzippy

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Re: New owner - no manual - what does the light switch symbol mean?
« Reply #9 on: January 01, 2017, 02:20:02 pm »
Is genuine VAG-COM/Rosstech stuff still the way to go for diags/coding/reset? I used to have one for my 1998 Audi S4, but sadly sold it many years ago. Are there any cheaper options available these days?


https://www.amazon.co.uk/VCDS-VAG-COM-12-12-3a-Diagnostic/dp/B01FFZQFX0/

Offline Chris_R

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Re: New owner - no manual - what does the light switch symbol mean?
« Reply #10 on: January 01, 2017, 07:26:32 pm »
Cheers Zippy, gone for a slightly newer version of the same - the older copy doesn't support Windows 10 by the looks of it and both my laptop and surface are running that.
Was contemplating a brand new one, but they only appear to support 3 or 10 cars (by VIN) now? Seems a bit of a sly move from them really, probably to stop people sharing their cable with others  I guess

Offline The Red Warrior

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Re: New owner - no manual - what does the light switch symbol mean?
« Reply #11 on: January 02, 2017, 06:42:57 am »
There is also another alternative to vcds now. Can't remember what it's called, but if you search on YouTube for deutche auto parts they have a video all about it

Offline Chris_R

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Re: New owner - no manual - what does the light switch symbol mean?
« Reply #12 on: January 02, 2017, 10:03:33 am »
Cheers Red Warrior - https://obdeleven.com/ - this looks like the one you are talking about



Offline The Red Warrior

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Re: New owner - no manual - what does the light switch symbol mean?
« Reply #13 on: January 03, 2017, 03:00:42 am »
Yip, that's the one