A weird thing - my lights stayed on.

[Ayjay]

I did a small job yesterday which involved pulling the stereo out and putting it back again. I didn't put the lights on (or accidentally nudge the switch) or disconnect anything and nor did I switch on the ignition whjile working but when I locked the van sfterI had finishedi the passenger side ONLY headlight and rear light stayed on. I therefore switched the lights off and then back to auto but the same lights stayed on when I locked the van again and it was only after starting the van, switching off and relocking it that the lights eventually went off as normal. Is this something to be worried about (I suspect not!) or was it just a computer having a brain fart?

 

[Stay Frosty]

Indicator stalk turned to left or right?

 

[Ayjay]

@Stay Frosty. Nope (and they weren’t flashing - just solid lights).

 

[Howzat]

I think Frosty is thinking you engaged the parking light somehow which is activated with the indicator stalk.

 

[cgtmiles]

Sounds like parking lights

 

[Ayjay]

As mentioned above, they were on passenger side only - AFAIK parking lights should be all four corners. Those that were on didn’t respond to the stalk or rotary switch either.

 

[dubber36]

Leaving the indicator stalk down (or up) with the ignition off will turn on parking lights. You'll get one 'side' light at the front and one tail light depending on which way the indicator stalk is switched. Parking lights at the headlight switch turns on all the 'side', tail. number plate and dashboard lights. Being able to leave just the lights on needed to make the vehicle visible if necessary when parked saves electricity.

My money is on that when you started the van when you'd noticed it, the indicator came on and you subconsciously cancelled it without realising it was connected.

It's not just a VW thing, my 1990 Cavalier and more or less every vehicle I've had since has been the same.

 

[Howzat]

As mentioned above, they were on passenger side only - AFAIK parking lights should be all four corners. Those that were on didn’t respond to the stalk or rotary switch either.

Thread '(Solved) Exterior lights on one side does not switch off'

14 Nov 2022

Hi. I'm having an issue on my '16 Multivan where the LEFT (drivers side) front headlight and rear light does not switch off even when the car is locked over time. Any help would be highly appreciated!
Thanks in advance!

• diamond_dog
• Replies: 14
• Forum: Electrics, Lighting, ICE, Security

I didn't know it was a legal requirement. They say igorance isn't a defence but I wonder how many people really know it's not just a feature.

 

[Ayjay]

Thanks for the comments and suggestions guys. Sounds like you’ve all nailed it but I have to say that I didn’t think I’d even touched the stalk other than to put the lights from low to high to see if that made any difference. I’ll also confess that over a lot of years driving vehicles ranging from a 1960s Lotus Elan S2 to a Bedford 4 Tonner (with a lot of stuff in between!) this is the first time I’ve ever actually encountered this feature or inadvertently used it. What possible use would having dim lights from and back only on what’s usually the pavement side serve?

 

[JumpShip]

Its just a marker light so people can see your vehicle , the parking light thats lit is changed from side to side depending on whether you indicate left or right before turning ignition off .

 

[dubber36]

The point is that if you park on the left, you should put the switch in the right hand indicator position to put the right hand parking lights on. This makes it a deliberate act, so you shouldn't leave lights on without knowing.