Mayor

Guys,

I have a 1999 A6 - I cant seem to turn off my dashboard lights - specifically the area behind my steering wheel (MPH, Tach, etc) - not the radio / climate control area - they go on & off no problem.

Do they stay on all the time?

Thanks,

Mayor

QCRAZY

That'd be normal!

Randy Welch

On my 2002 S6 the answer is yes.

Finman

Yes, for 2002-2003 (and some earlier years)
No, for 2001 (and I think 2000)

DWP

On my 99 gauges and needles were on all the time IIRC. On my 02, only the needles are lit all the time. I believe this can be modified with VAG-COM so that either the needles or the entire gauges are on all the time, or they only come on with the head and parking lights.

myfirstimport

no on the 2000

phred

driving into a tunnel or shade, you can still see the IP clearly

Mayor

I agree with you 100% - I just wanted to make sure I didnt have an electrical issue.

Thanks,

Mayor

Finman

Ahh...I see you are thinking more clearly today!

MP4.2+6.0

Actually, yes on really early 2000 (VIN<800), like I have. The early owner's manual even documented the feature explicitly. That is, until the dealer (Carlsen Audi) changes your cluster and deletes the feature, and everyone from Audi of America on down feigns ignorance about the situation. At $600 a pop just for the part if the LED's fail in the cluster (as they were apparently early on), rumor is Audi decided to cut warranty expense till the supplier got it right (perhaps in later years). The same white LED's in the cluster drive day and night use illumination (at different brightness I think via the sensor in the middle of the defrst air vent on top of the dash), so if they fail, it's new cluster time at $600 plus.

Having said that, I still wish mine was illuminated. It WAS a nice feature, when I had it.