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atg
Veteran
Date registered: Nov 2014
Location: Los Angeles
Vehicle(s): 2005 G55, 1985 300tdt
Posts: 129
| Light/dark sensor malfunction?
The dash lights switch seemingly randomly from day to night dimness, including the seat warmer indicator lights and the comand unit screen. Switches several times per minute. I changed the setting for the nav display but the seat indicator still changes back and forth during the day. I assume this means the sensor is bad. Anyone know where the sensor is or how to troubleshoot this problem? Thanks, Karl |
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Floobydust
Veteran
Date registered: Mar 2014
Location: Massachusetts, USA
Vehicle(s): 1995 E320 Cabrio, 2003 G500, 2000 SL500, 1980 TR8
Posts: 284
| RE: Light/dark sensor malfunction?
First, make sure the glass over the sensor is clean (the sensor is under the duct tape in the last picture of this post http://www.pointedthree.com/disc/forums/showthread.php?tid=22070&mi... . Dirt or foreign objects that block the phototransistor will make it think that it is darker outside than it really is. I would then cover the sensor with opaque tape to see if the back and forth goes way. If it does, the sensor itself may have issues, if not you will have to do a deeper dive. |
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94rover
Veteran
Date registered: Oct 2010
Location: 39.2036° N, 76.8569° W
Vehicle(s): 02 G500
Posts: 240
| RE: Light/dark sensor malfunction?
atg - 1/4/2015 4:08 AM
The dash lights switch seemingly randomly from day to night dimness, including the seat warmer indicator lights and the comand unit screen. Switches several times per minute. I changed the setting for the nav display but the seat indicator still changes back and forth during the day. I assume this means the sensor is bad. Anyone know where the sensor is or how to troubleshoot this problem? Thanks, Karl
Check for water leaking in through the antenna (if the antenna boot is torn/roof seal is compromised prime for leak) it gets into the light dome and damages the light sensor. |
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atg
Veteran
Date registered: Nov 2014
Location: Los Angeles
Vehicle(s): 2005 G55, 1985 300tdt
Posts: 129
| Re: Light/dark sensor malfunction?
It does it at night also. So I guess the sensor is bad. We did have rain recently. |
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atg
Veteran
Date registered: Nov 2014
Location: Los Angeles
Vehicle(s): 2005 G55, 1985 300tdt
Posts: 129
| Re: Light/dark sensor malfunction?
No water anywhere. If i cover the windshield sensor with tape it stays in night mode. So it must not fully register daylight for sone reason. Does the part on the windshield ever go bad? |
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sjtymko
G-Class Photo Host
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Canada, AB, Sherwood Park (Edmonton)
Vehicle(s): 2002 G500, 2009 B200
Posts: 511
| RE: Light/dark sensor malfunction?
Mine is bad too. Drives me nuts. Lights are always on (and burning out). It has been like this throughout my ownership. I am also looking for ideas. Steve
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Floobydust
Veteran
Date registered: Mar 2014
Location: Massachusetts, USA
Vehicle(s): 1995 E320 Cabrio, 2003 G500, 2000 SL500, 1980 TR8
Posts: 284
| Re: Light/dark sensor malfunction?
atg - 1/12/2015 6:46 PM
No water anywhere. If i cover the windshield sensor with tape it stays in night mode. So it must not fully register daylight for sone reason. Does the part on the windshield ever go bad?
A tech told me that the tint does darken slightly over time, but I don't think that would cause a malfunction.
Check and sure the phototransistor sensor is properly positioned/aligned with the tint "template" that is on the windshield. If it is misaligned, it may not be seeing enough ambient light.
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atg
Veteran
Date registered: Nov 2014
Location: Los Angeles
Vehicle(s): 2005 G55, 1985 300tdt
Posts: 129
| Re: Light/dark sensor malfunction?
I suppose it could be a loose connection. It seems a bit better after i wiggled everything around. Still not perfect though. The sensor is glued pretty hard to the windshield so im not sure how i would change the alignment even if it is off.
I think the set point is just too light. I noticed driving under an overpass in stop and go that the headlights were flashing on and off even though it was daylight. |
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J.R.
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Southern Maryland
Vehicle(s): 00 G500, 09 911 4S, 11 Cayenne S, 86 280GE (sold)
Posts: 828
| Re: Light/dark sensor malfunction?
I would not want to be in front of a driver with headlights flashing as you described under the overpass. I'd start giving way to driver. Other drivers can turn into jerks and a few even become dangerous jerks. Be careful until you get the root cause sorted and repaired.
Edited by J.R. 1/24/2015 11:17 AM
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DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
| Re: Light/dark sensor malfunction?
atg - 1/24/2015 10:25 AM
I think the set point is just too light. I noticed driving under an overpass in stop and go that the headlights were flashing on and off even though it was daylight.
My 2014 ML350BTC will often go to the night mode (headlights on and NAVI screen to night colors) under a long overpass. It doesn't flash. It just turns on under the overpass and off when I come out. The same can happen when going into a parking deck. |
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Floobydust
Veteran
Date registered: Mar 2014
Location: Massachusetts, USA
Vehicle(s): 1995 E320 Cabrio, 2003 G500, 2000 SL500, 1980 TR8
Posts: 284
| RE: Light/dark sensor malfunction?
My headlight on/off sensor has recently become very sensitive to "dark" - just being in mild shade on an otherwise very sunny summer day will turn on the headlights. Something has definitely changed on my G as it did not exhibit this behavior before. Just wondering if atg's is working now or if anyone has had or is having this experience? |
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atg
Veteran
Date registered: Nov 2014
Location: Los Angeles
Vehicle(s): 2005 G55, 1985 300tdt
Posts: 129
| Re: Light/dark sensor malfunction?
Hey the server is back up! Cool.
I have no idea why, but this behavior went away. All I did was disassemble and reassemble the roof part to check for water, and poke around on the windshield sensor to see if I could find anything loose. Maybe there is a way to set this, but if I changed it, I have no idea how.
Good luck with it,
Karl |
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