Manual Headlight Switch Question

[CoreyS]

Hello All,

I have a 2004 VW Jetta TDI Wagon with the 1.9l BEW engine. Not that any of that is supper relevant to this question. The car has "Manual" headlights with the headlight switch that just has two positions, on or off basically. I bought the car a few months ago and have been using the headlights like this, turning them on at night and off when I'm driving during the day or not in the car. I noticed there is not a warning "dinger" when you leave the headlights on and get out of the car. Yesterday, I forgot to turn the headlight switch off and when I got back into the car it started with no issues, no dead battery and the headlights weren't on when I got back out to the car to get in it. I'm wondering if anyone knows if these cars have run-down protection to keep from killing the battery if the headlights are left on, or if they just always turn off when the key isn't in the car.

I'd like to just leave the headlight switch on and forget about it, as if the car has automatic headlights, just curious if anyone else does this or has any experience with it.

Thanks in advance!
Corey

 

[bryanmabbott]

No, the car does not have battery run down protection. Leaving the switch on with the car off will leave the parking lights on until the battery is flat. I've done this many times and I had to get in the habit of looking back at my car before I leave to make sure no lights are on. There is a buzzer for leaving the lights on when the driver's door is open but more often than not, the driver's door sensor is broken and does not detect when the door is open hence no buzzer. Easy way to check is to open the door and see if the interior lights and the open door light in the instrument cluster is lit.

 

[Figit090]

Edit: above post makes mine redundant, it posted while I was typing.

On my 2003 it beeps constantly with the lights left on and the key out but the parking brake turns off the headlights so only corner light illuminate. I haven't seen them turn off.

I would love it if my lights would turn off automatically!

Sent from my Moto G (5S) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[gforce1108]

You have a bad door switch if you aren't getting a warning when you open the door.

 

[Nero Morg]

Once upon a time there was a kit you could buy to retrofit auto lights on our cars, but I've only ever seen them once on the private for sale forums. Search around I'm sure you'll find one. It's a replacement headlight switch, module, and a daylight sensor.

 

[CoreyS]

Thank you for the responses everyone! I guess I will be looking into replacing the drivers side door sensor. I have noticed that the interior lights don't seem to come on when the door is open but just chalked that up to a weird nuance of the car.

 

[gforce1108]

My 04 has an issue with the door lock module. The sensor doesn't work when I get out of the car, but does when I open it from the outside. I've left my lights on a few times but the monster AGM battery is fine after at least 6 hours. One of these days I'll tear into it.

 

[steve6]

Thank you for the responses everyone! I guess I will be looking into replacing the drivers side door sensor. I have noticed that the interior lights don't seem to come on when the door is open but just chalked that up to a weird nuance of the car.

If you're handy you can repair it, search for 'stupid $3 door switch'.

And as previous posts there should be an alarm, its a constant noise, very annoying, cant be missed.

 

[Rob Mayercik]

No, the car does not have battery run down protection. Leaving the switch on with the car off will leave the parking lights on until the battery is flat. I've done this many times and I had to get in the habit of looking back at my car before I leave to make sure no lights are on. There is a buzzer for leaving the lights on when the driver's door is open but more often than not, the driver's door sensor is broken and does not detect when the door is open hence no buzzer. Easy way to check is to open the door and see if the interior lights and the open door light in the instrument cluster is lit.

You sure about that? I can recall a couple of occasions where I drove to work with the lights on (rainy day), and forgot to turn the lights off on my '02 - just shut the engine off, got out and locked it up, then went inside. Came out at the end of the day to drive home, and was surprised when the console lights came on when I went key-on, because no lights were lit on the inside or outside of the car when I walked up to it (was parked in an underground garage, so it would have been very obvious). All I can conclude is that there was some sort of auto-cutoff that engaged when I locked the car.

Additionally, my owner's manual does say the little blinking red light on the driver's door will be disabled after 30 days to save the battery, so there does seem to be some sort of rudimentary load-sensing going on....

 

[KrashDH]

You sure about that? I can recall a couple of occasions where I drove to work with the lights on (rainy day), and forgot to turn the lights off on my '02 - just shut the engine off, got out and locked it up, then went inside. Came out at the end of the day to drive home, and was surprised when the console lights came on when I went key-on, because no lights were lit on the inside or outside of the car when I walked up to it (was parked in an underground garage, so it would have been very obvious). All I can conclude is that there was some sort of auto-cutoff that engaged when I locked the car.
Additionally, my owner's manual does say the little blinking red light on the driver's door will be disabled after 30 days to save the battery, so there does seem to be some sort of rudimentary load-sensing going on....

On my '02 Golf (with just an on/off headlight switch), I left the headlights on when I went into work. When the car was turned off, the headlights turned off, but the lights in the front fenders stayed on (that's what I noticed when I came out). That was the only thing draining during the day and did not completely kill the battery.

 

[Wilkins]

I’m pretty sure the salesman told me the car shuts down most electrical drains when the battery voltage drops, ie from being drained by a light left on. That was 15 years ago though. I can also confirm that if a door is left open more than about 20 min the interior lights shut off.

If you can find the Asian market VW upgraded replacement door switches that would be the easiest way to fix the damn door switch issue permanently. Aligning the non vw switch is a PITA. Replacing them doesn’t need much in the way of tools, but you will probably be very good at pulling doors apart and reassembling by the time you are done. Also check the wiring from door to car for damage, been known to suffer corrosion at the connector just inside car.

 

[Figit090]

Anyone else notice a faint whine noise and flicker of the interior lights when you leave the open too long? Almost like a reminder you're waisting the battery. It sounds like the sound I hear when the lights fade out after you shut the door (and you're in the car) but they just flicker and stay on.

Sent from my Moto G (5S) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[gforce1108]

I’m pretty sure the salesman told me the car shuts down most electrical drains when the battery voltage drops, ie from being drained by a light left on.

Salesmen may have told you that, but no... they stay on until the battery dies (parking lights). Even the new VWs (ones without auto headlights) still do this and people complain to this day.

 

[wonneber]

I do recall my interior lights shutting off if I had a door open to long. (key off)
Not sure how long.

Key off, head light switch on, the head lights went off and the parking lights stayed on.

 

[CoreyS]

Waiting for a response from the company selling this yet to confirm it will actually turn all the lights off when the car is off (and switch is in auto mode). But for $24, almost feels worth the gamble.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/329...7.0&pvid=6eded747-e219-4e93-a64a-0ef34599da24

 

[KrashDH]

Waiting for a response from the company selling this yet to confirm it will actually turn all the lights off when the car is off (and switch is in auto mode). But for $24, almost feels worth the gamble.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/329...7.0&pvid=6eded747-e219-4e93-a64a-0ef34599da24

I also wonder in "auto" mode if it will kick the tail lights on too? I always love it when people drive around with their DRL's or headlights on Auto and there's no tail lights...

 

[jokila]

Thank you for the responses everyone! I guess I will be looking into replacing the drivers side door sensor. I have noticed that the interior lights don't seem to come on when the door is open but just chalked that up to a weird nuance of the car.

The easy test is to see if the door open indicator turns on, on the dash. Try it for each door. They do fail.

The sensor is part of the door lock module.

 

[BobnOH]

Believe it will also fail to chime if it thinks any door, hood or truck is open.