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Gen 2 Owners - Orientation Light

nigelpugh

nigelpugh

New member
Hey Gen 2 Owners,

A quick question for you regarding the LED Orientation light in the rear view mirror.

In the manual it says that it comes on in the dark, but mine does not.

Does its have its own sensor for the dark, or should it come on with the lights switched on, IE side or dipped beam switched on?

I know that you can change the intensity of it in the PCM memory settings, but it makes no difference to mine whatsoever.

Can some one else with a Gen 2 tell me how yours works please?

Thanks in advance.

Nige.

 
Just had a play cos it's dark enough in my garage! Light comes on OK and went off when I drive out into the daylight. Nige have you checked in PCM the light setting value. Info - options - orientation light can be set from 0-10. New setting applied when you exit the options screen. BTW the light isn't "in" the mirror it's in the plastic block behind it pointing down and forward, just in case you're looking in the wrong place!![:)]
Cheers
 
Alan,

Thanks for that, I assume you have the sport chrono too, so you can change the settings in the PCM memory for the Orientation light in the memory settings.

I had assumed that it works the same as in my other cars, in that it proves background light to the center console, but I am not sure Porsche meant it to be used like that.

In my Land Rover its called Waterfall Lighting, but I am sure that's marketing speak!! At least it works in the Land Rover though!!

Thanks in advance.

Nige.
 
I have Sport Chrono but must confess that I've not been out much at night in this one so far! The light appears to shine down on the dash clock area and is only a single LED so not very bright even on max. See how you get on with the settings later[:)]
 
Alan,

Thanks for the feedback, I will try it later when it gets dark enough.

And yes I do know where the LED is located.

Also good to know that it goes off when you drive away, I will make sure I am not missing it, even though I have it set to 10 on the intensity setting.

Thanks again,

Nige,
 
I think I was being unclear! The light will stay on in the dark at all times, even when you're driving unless you set it to 0. Possibly!
 
Alan,

Just tried it in my garage, but perhaps its not dark enough right now as the sun has come out here and the brightness is getting in!!

I also chnaged the setting to delay to 120 seconds, as I assume that means it will stay on longer.

Any way its still not working, so will do one final check tonight when its really dark.

If no joy then its off to OPC Solihull for a chat.

I have also just had to put another 1/2 litre of mobil 1 as the indicator was showing low.

Thanks for your help.

Nige.
 
Excuse my butting in here but I have to say that I am totally bewildered by the purpose of the orientation light. What function is it supposed to fulfill? Perhaps confirm which way is up or where the front of the car is after a mishap? I'd been driving my C2S for best part of 6 months before I even realised it was there and then only after I read about it in the handbook. Next time I'm out after dark I'll try turning it off to see if I notice any difference.
 
Hi Allan,

No worries, I suspect that not many other gen 2 owners know, or perhaps even care either too!!

I am not sure what it is supposed to do, I just want to make sure mine actually works.

I had though it was supposed to provide lighting for the centre console area and PDK shifter, so that the area had some illumination after the interior lights go out after starting the ignition.

But as it can only stay on for a max of 120 seconds in the PCM settings, I am now not sure either what it is for.

Lets see if mine does work when I drive it tonight first shall we?

Nige.
 
Nige, I'm pretty sure the orientation light stays on all the time the outside is dark enough to trigger it. The timer you refer to, on the same screen, is for the exterior light fade out time if you put the selector to "Home" when you park up at night. I've just tried it again and it certainly doesn't go out after 30 secs! Like the other Allan I'm not really sure what the (passenger) orientation light is there for!
 
Alan,

Thanks for that, I understand what the delay is for now.

Will try shortly now its getting dark to see if my orientation light is working.

Nige.
 
Yup, I have one on my Gen 1, although I have never understood the benefit. The home lights and interior lights seem do be enough for me to work out if the car is upright or back to front.
 
ORIGINAL: MarcBC

Yup, I have one on my Gen 1, although I have never understood the benefit. The home lights and interior lights seem do be enough for me to work out if the car is upright or back to front.
Click to expand...

I imagine the conversation amongst the Gen 1 design team went something like:

"ve gut gib zen usb/ipod connextion, blueteeth or ze orientation light - vat ist it to be?"
 
Don't you need to have your headlights on for the orientation lights to work ? They're only meant to sublty illuminate the interior enough to see your way around in the dark.
 
Just checked again and the little LED orientation light comes on when the car is first unlocked and ambient light is low enough. Seems completely independant of headlights. It goes off when the car is re-locked or, I presume, some time after the key is removed from the ignition. (Coudn't be bothered to try this!) I don't remember my Gen 1 having this light but it's more likely I didn't know it was there than it wasn't fitted! In any event seems rather superfluous?
 
ORIGINAL: snarf

ORIGINAL: MarcBC

Yup, I have one on my Gen 1, although I have never understood the benefit. The home lights and interior lights seem do be enough for me to work out if the car is upright or back to front.
Click to expand...

I imagine the conversation amongst the Gen 1 design team went something like:

"ve gut gib zen usb/ipod connextion, blueteeth or ze orientation light - vat ist it to be?"
Click to expand...

Or "Ve haff all zese free LEDS left over von Christmas, vot shall ve do viff them? Ach so, orientation lights und den headlight LEDS for ze Gen2 . Ve can safe oodles off pfennigs!"[:D]
 
I read an article a while ago..
It is supposed to aid a slight illumination to the interior of the car which can aide in motion sickness when in the dark..- mainly for the passengers etc..

The brightness is controllable via the PCM settings or left in auto- this information is based on Gen1

garyw
 
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