Pretty unceremonious question for my first post....but this is one of those little things that slowly steal my sanity.

When I turn on my headlights, my gauges won't light up unless it's dark outside. They're tied to a photosensor and won't turn on until it's really dark. Drives me nuts that it's dark enough to warrant headlights but my gauge backlights aren't on!

I've searched all over and haven't found if there's a way to change this setting to just make the gauges light up when the headlights are on. Any help is greatly appreciated!

Best,
T

BTW
Been lurking here for quite awhile. There are a lot of good people and good information on this board. I acquired an '08 Turbo manual in Midnight Blue about two years ago. All of the stories about a tune and exhaust waking the car up finally got me to move off my butt and make a call. Just installed a 3" catless Kline exhaust and Cobb stage 2.
(Everyone has already said already it but Mitch and his team are awesome and Sam at ByDesign may be the last guy you ever buy parts from. He's pure awesome. )

 

If you have Sport Chrono...you can run through the settings there, as you can change some items like that. Otherwise, it would likely require a PIWIS, or Durametric if it can be done. So I would start with either tinkering with the PCM settings, or look in the manual...if not...would have to be coding.

Good luck,
DC

 

Hey Paint,

With the lights on only the red needles illuminate all the time. The gauges only illuminate when it's darker as you said. The photocell looks like a dot located in the speedo gauge @ 4:00. If it's bright out and you cover it with your hand the gauges light up fully. Of course make sure your gauge illumination setting is turned up (twist and hold the ODO reset **** clockwise).

I haven't found any coding on the Durametric myself. If you're really keen on the gauges steady on when your lights are on, I'd try to bypass the photocell by covering it--remove cluster, open gauges, cover photo dot with tiny round silver sticker or something. Just a thought. Hope this helps.

 

Awesome, thanks Gus!! Now I know what that little dot in the IC is for!