Baggerdude

Finally got my BGTS 4.0 although it took nearly a year, and a rebuild of a totaled car on a Roro bound for the US.
I have little seat time in the car. Long story. But, some things need to be addressed.
For one thing, the tac / speedo don't illuminate under normal daylight conditions. This is odd IMO. Service
says this is "normal". If so, WTF?
I have had many Porsche vehicles. Presently a 2020 Cayenne S and the tac / speedo are lit constantly
under any lighting conditions.
I was told that they only time the tac / speedo are back lit is when the lights are on. True? And, if so, how
stupid is that.

RoadrunnerGTS

Speedo and tach dont illuminate in day light. I had to code that feature in. Unlikely dealer will code it for you.

Baggerdude

How stupid is that? I can't see the tac / speedo in daylight driving !
Who tho't this was a good idea? Never saw this in all the Porsches
I've had previously. Just this one.

dgwhitten

RoadrunnerGTS: can you tell us how to code this in?
Thanks!

RoadrunnerGTS

All info re lights in here
https://rennlist.com/forums/718-gts-...for-718-a.html

RoadrunnerGTS

All current models are the same. Unless main beam or parking lights are on, the cluster is off. Hence code to be on with DRLs.

Baggerdude

Thanks for the help.

boss2k

Are you saying cluster is completely dark and you cant see the speedometer/ tachometer in daylight , can you send a pic

I dont have a porsche and never heard that

RoadrunnerGTS

See this same issue on Mecan forum https://www.macanforum.com/threads/p...7/post-2635537

manifold danger

I'm not sure I follow; I've had several Porsches as well and never had an issue seeing the tach (even had it in 3 colors, including black); and the speedometer is digital anyway.

718socal

Yep that was an issue for me on overcast day or before sunset.
Coding with PIWIS here https://rennlist.com/forums/718-gts-...l#post18176447

Baggerdude

There are 3 gauge dials on the cluster. The right dial is illuminated ALL the time.
The tac and speedometer are not illuminated in daylight. Only when headlights are ON
do they light up. Otherwise ... nada.
Yes, the speed is shown in digital on the central dial, but that is less than expected of Porsche..
Why would Porsche not have ALL dials illuminated constantly ? This is beyond stupid.

Bearrun21

@Baggerdude , obviously you've got a visual need to 'get the lights on'.

I am in the lighting business. Especially from 'olden times'...the default engineering thinking is to maximize a source's longevity (and brightness) by making lights something that is controlled conditionally. So, this is not a Porsche directed scheme against someone seeing the dials.

The good news, this issue can be programmed away (as others have mentioned).

The best news, just imagine the happiness if 'this' is the biggest issue you encounter during your ownership? I'm willing to bet that will be the case.

rubber_ducky

it isn’t beyond stupid. Of the dozens of cars that I’ve owned over my lifetime, I can’t recall a single one whose gauge cluster’s illumination wasn’t tied to the headlights.

perhaps it’s your eyes because this certainly isn’t an issue for me. If so, that sucks. But this isn’t some widespread problem that porsche are stupidly choosing to ignore.

Baggerdude

I'm not sure why I seem to be attacked for having posted this issue. I have owned over a dozen Porsches, and several BMWs, and other vehicles over the last decade or so.
I don't remember any having the speedo / tac gauges "off lighted" unless the head lights are on. Ever.

Yes, I suppose someone can "program" this issue away. I doubt if the dealer will do so, and I'm certainly not savvy enough to do so. And, why should I have to do this anyway?
The gauges should be lit all the time ... why not? What's the reason for not being back lit all the time?

I had a 2019 Macan S, a 2019 Targa 4 GTS, and now a 2020 Cayenne S .... ALL these vehicles gauges are illuminated ALL THE TIME !

Watching the tac with a MT is something I've done since the 60s. Having this illuminated is a good thing. Why do some you think this is OK to have no
back lighting during the day time when the head lights are OUT? Why have the gauges at all? And, I don't typically drive at night anyway.

And, why would all the other Porsches I've owned have these gauges illuminated ALL THE TIME? And, not the BGTS 4.0 I now have?
I'm not sure you can justify that.