cxwhiteley
Member
I’m used to driving vehicles where the headlights turn off when the ignition is turned off. If I do not manually turn the headlights off at the switch when exiting my TDI the driving lights stay on at a low level even with no key in the vehicle and drain the battery. It is a simple fail-safe that most vehicles offer these days to kill the headlights when the ignition is off. My 2006 Jetta TDI does not. I have had this happen to me twice in 7 years. Once when I was late for a flight and my vehicle sat for 2 weeks at the airport, ultimately, destroying the battery.
After looking into it, I’m uncertain if you can program the ECU to address this or replace the type of light switch used. Any info on that would be helpful. I have read a number of posts discussing this shortcoming and whenever someone mentions it on the net, there seems to always be some hair trigger commenters saying “well just turn off your lights, it’s not that hard to do”. If that describes you, then I’m happy for your flawlessness, but that’s not me. I listen to loud music, I have screaming kids, I’m rushing around more that I would like and occasionally I forget to turn off my lights. It doesn't help that I drive 6-10 different types of vehicles every month and this is the only one where this happens.
For the benefit of any fellow “less than perfect” MKV owners that might have an interest, I thought I’d share how I modified my headlights so that they turn off when the ignition key is turned off. If you’re one of those smug people that thinks VW’s design is fine and that the problem lies with the user or that pointing out a shortcoming of VW is somehow heresy, move on, start anther thread and debate it. For everyone else, or anyone with information on alternative approaches here is what I did.
Step 1 Remove Headlight Switch Housing – turn the switch handle all the way to the left/off position. Push the switch in. It goes in about a ¼ in. and then turn it all the way to the right/on position to unlock the module. The housing then slides out.
Step 2 Remove switch and unplug the wire loom from the back of the switch.
Step 3 – Open up the fuse panel on the driver’s side dash
Step 4 – Pull the wire loom out through the fuse panel opening. Remove the fuzzy tape to expose the Red & White wire.
Step 5 – Insert an “Add a Circuit” (available at any auto parts store) into the third slot shown above on the fuse panel to get power only when the ignition is on.
Step 6 – Add a relay – buy an automotive relay at Radio Shack or the auto parts store. Cut the Red & White wire from the switch loom. Run one lead of the Red & White wire to pin 87 and the other side to pin 30 on the relay. Run the “ignition on” wire from the Add a Circuit to pin 86. Run a ground wire to pin 85. I attached the ground underneath the torq bolt circled above. I mounted the relay to the torq bolt that holds the fuse panel in place.
Step 7 – Re-install everything in reverse order. Re-tape the switch loom. I just used electrical tape vs. fuzzy. Push the loom back through to the headlight switch hole and plug it into the switch. Reinsert the switch by sliding it in with a positive click. Finally, make sure that your connections are not half assed.
Now, IF you leave your lights on and exit the vehicle they will turn off when you turn the vehicle off rather than stay on and drain your battery. You can also just leave the lights “always on” and forget about them if you like.
After looking into it, I’m uncertain if you can program the ECU to address this or replace the type of light switch used. Any info on that would be helpful. I have read a number of posts discussing this shortcoming and whenever someone mentions it on the net, there seems to always be some hair trigger commenters saying “well just turn off your lights, it’s not that hard to do”. If that describes you, then I’m happy for your flawlessness, but that’s not me. I listen to loud music, I have screaming kids, I’m rushing around more that I would like and occasionally I forget to turn off my lights. It doesn't help that I drive 6-10 different types of vehicles every month and this is the only one where this happens.
For the benefit of any fellow “less than perfect” MKV owners that might have an interest, I thought I’d share how I modified my headlights so that they turn off when the ignition key is turned off. If you’re one of those smug people that thinks VW’s design is fine and that the problem lies with the user or that pointing out a shortcoming of VW is somehow heresy, move on, start anther thread and debate it. For everyone else, or anyone with information on alternative approaches here is what I did.
Step 1 Remove Headlight Switch Housing – turn the switch handle all the way to the left/off position. Push the switch in. It goes in about a ¼ in. and then turn it all the way to the right/on position to unlock the module. The housing then slides out.
Step 2 Remove switch and unplug the wire loom from the back of the switch.
Step 3 – Open up the fuse panel on the driver’s side dash
Step 4 – Pull the wire loom out through the fuse panel opening. Remove the fuzzy tape to expose the Red & White wire.
Step 5 – Insert an “Add a Circuit” (available at any auto parts store) into the third slot shown above on the fuse panel to get power only when the ignition is on.
Step 6 – Add a relay – buy an automotive relay at Radio Shack or the auto parts store. Cut the Red & White wire from the switch loom. Run one lead of the Red & White wire to pin 87 and the other side to pin 30 on the relay. Run the “ignition on” wire from the Add a Circuit to pin 86. Run a ground wire to pin 85. I attached the ground underneath the torq bolt circled above. I mounted the relay to the torq bolt that holds the fuse panel in place.
Step 7 – Re-install everything in reverse order. Re-tape the switch loom. I just used electrical tape vs. fuzzy. Push the loom back through to the headlight switch hole and plug it into the switch. Reinsert the switch by sliding it in with a positive click. Finally, make sure that your connections are not half assed.
Now, IF you leave your lights on and exit the vehicle they will turn off when you turn the vehicle off rather than stay on and drain your battery. You can also just leave the lights “always on” and forget about them if you like.
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