Dash Guage Light Issue

[nykerk11]

I was driving the car this morning (early) with the head light light stalk on Auto. The head lights were on, but the dash illumination kept going from head lights on (dim) to head lights off (not dim).

I'm wondering if the the head light sensor, or wiring to the gauges is defective?

Anyone experience this issue?

 

[ShoNuff]

The gauge lighting (and the LCD screen) are controlled by a different sensor than the headlights. It is distinctly possible for the headlights to stay on but have the gauges and screen changing between day/night settings. No worries.

 

[MichaelOne]

Thanks for the explanation. I had also observed this.

 

[nykerk11]

That makes absolutely no sense. We have been programmed since the very first head light sensor was available when the head lights go on, the gauges dim into night mode.

It's very annoying at just around sun rise when the dash gauges flick on and off several time from dim to normal. At first I thought there was an electrical problem.

What advantage is there to having it perform any differently than originally designed?

Taking the car to the dealer tomorrow anyway for the 2010 map update and will have them check this out as well.

 

[jgriffter]

My Genesis does the same thing, particularly in the morning. Driving to work the headlights and dash will come on even though it is quite bright outside. What I have found is that in the morning, there are shadows that seem to affect the car lights more than any other car i have had before (like the sun coming up behind you so that the front of the car is not receiving the sun like the back). I have not been able to find any other reason and once it is truly brighter outside they stay off as they should.

 

[james203]

When the headlights are on, the panel illumination is controlled by the sensor that sits just behind the windshield at the front of the dash. Someone in another post (sorry I can't remember where) suggested using a light application of fine sandpaper (don't take it too far) and then applying clear nail polish to the sensor. If you notice, the dimming also happens when you go under an overhead obstruction such as a road overpass. Mostly at sunrise or sunset. I guess that the sensor is running on a very fine edge of reading ambient light.

 

[BacktoHyundaibychoice]

Isn't there a setting to turn off the "auto" of the dash lights? Too lazy to run out and look.
Though I admit I don't understand the problem. It's only distracting to me if the map is on. But I know my way to work, and the other modes (radio, DVD) arent being watched.
Anyway, check the manual or settings.

 

[BacktoHyundaibychoice]

Isn't there a setting to turn off the "auto" of the dash lights? Too lazy to run out and look.
Though I admit I don't understand the problem. It's only distracting to me if the map is on. But I know my way to work, and the other modes (radio, DVD) arent being watched.
Anyway, check the manual or settings.

Found it, only partially right. The setting I was thinking of is in Nav where you have a choice of Day, Night, or Auto. Probably has no effect on other displays, but I'm not sure.
Oh well...

 

[robthoke]

Mine also does this in while. I turned off auto light to reset the system to see if it would fix. Sometimes it did and sometimes it did not. As long as the lights turned off when I left the car, I was okay with it.