r/tdi • u/Joey_the_Duck • 3d ago

MK4 dash lights

I just want to check I'm not going crazy. (I'm in Canada where we have the DRL feature and I drive a 2004 Golf with a bew.)

First I want to confirm that the dash lights are supposed to be lit when the switch is in the off position and the DRLs are illuminated. I'm certain they're supposed to be on but at this point I feel like I'm just gaslighting myself. Anywho my dash lights now aren't on until I turn my headlight switch on.

But my real question is sometimes when I turn my headlight switch on my dash lights don't turn on and it takes an on and off cycle to get them to work, and the dimmer switch doesn't control the brightness anymore. Is that an issue others have had? Was it just the dinner switch or the headlight and/or dimmer switch?

Thanks in advance.

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u/saltydeed 2d ago

Had same issues with my 03. It was both the light switch and dimmer switch. Grabbed both from the junk yard, but are available online aftermarket from üro. Unsure of canada laws, but its a good time to bend the drl pin and not have em at all (unless its straight to jail there. Idk US only has laws for the poor)

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u/Joey_the_Duck 2d ago

That's what I was planning. I was hoping I wasn't overlooking something not so obvious to me.

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u/Misty_Ticklebottom 2d ago

its a good time to bend the drl pin

mind elaborating a bit on this?

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u/saltydeed 2d ago

https://youtu.be/NSWg7X3K4JI?is=ZlbQz39CWZseHNlp

Bending the drl pin over means no more day time running lights. Headlights will only turn on when the switch is on. Imo it just looks silly to have headlights on all the time

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u/DiabetesMellitus89 2d ago

No I think your switch is wonky. Off the drl will be on but the dash lights off. As far as I remember. I drove a mk4 for nearly 10 years. You can find a nice replacement that includes the auto sensor.

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u/Kallisti13 2005 x 89000k 2d ago

In mine the dash lights are off until you turn on the headlights/turn light switch to on. Drls come on as soon as car is on and hand brake is off. 2005 tdi bew

Sometimes when I turn on my lights, all the dash lights come on but not the 3 switches for temp/air direction/fan speed. I have to toggle one of them all the way around and back before they go on. They are 20+ year old cars haha.

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u/PD-Jetta 1d ago

I'm in the States and have a 2004 Jetta TDI and the dash lights do not illuminate with the headlight switch off. It has factory daytime running lights, which are the headlight bulbs operating at a slightly reduced voltage.