"automatic headlights"

[eason]

hi, i have a 2004 boxster s. When i was reading the manual, it said theres a light sensor which led me to think my car has automatic headlights. When I the person i bought the car from brought it back to the dealership to ask, the person said it's not automatic unless it says the word "automatic" on the light switch. (btw, i have litronic). is this true or is the person I bought the car from just trying to cover up something? (also, i live in canada if that makes a difference at all)

[Q-Ship986]

You may have read that there is a light sensor in the instrument cluster; it is part of the control system for backlighting of the LCD display in the same cluster.

Also, it's possible you read that the litronics are automatic; they are, in the sense that they adjust their aim according to the loading of the vehicle.

However, automatic illumination of headlamps was not even an option for 986/996, regardless of halogen or litronic.

--Brian

[soopster]

I believe it's law in some States to have automatic head lights (but I'm not sure being Canadian and having metric headlights :P ). I know in 2006 when I started to travel to Texas again for work, all of the rentals had automatic headlights and the rental company told me it was now law for new cars. Not sure when it started. Perhaps it is referencing that.

The same rental cars in Canada don't have automatic lights, so would be a local modification for the car companies.

[eason]

You may have read that there is a light sensor in the instrument cluster; it is part of the control system for backlighting of the LCD display in the same cluster.

Also, it's possible you read that the litronics are automatic; they are, in the sense that they adjust their aim according to the loading of the vehicle.

However, automatic illumination of headlamps was not even an option for 986/996, regardless of halogen or litronic.

--Brian

Main issue is that the LCD display in the cluster does not seem to light up unless i turn the light manually. i was under the impression that the light sensor was suppose to light up when it senses that it's getting dark. The actual headlights themselves doesn't bother that much cause they seem to be on all the time regardless of whether or not i turn them on. thx

[70Sixter]

Main issue is that the LCD display in the cluster does not seem to light up unless i turn the light manually. i was under the impression that the light sensor was suppose to light up when it senses that it's getting dark. The actual headlights themselves doesn't bother that much cause they seem to be on all the time regardless of whether or not i turn them on. thx

The lights have to be on for the instrument lights to be on. I think Loren or ToolPants posted info on the dash lighting and said maybe Durametric or PIWIS could adjust the brightness range.

Try a quick search.

Edited September 5, 2008 by 70Sixter