Auto night mode not working

stevet · Dec 19, 2014

Hi folks, got my Model Sp yesterday. Love it.

One problem: it doesn't seem to want to go into "night mode" at night automatically as it should (or any normal car does). The bright screen (super super bright!) is great in the day, but basically dangerous at night when it's in "day mode". I need to manually switch it to night mode lest I am blinded. Is there some software update I need to fix this? Am I doing something wrong (i.e. using "auto" for the display brightness)? I have basically all of the options possible, etc.

Thanks for your help.

Steve.

captain_zap · Dec 19, 2014

Congrats on the new MS! Sorry you are having troubles with the auto dimming.

First recommendation is to try the center screen reboot...hold both steering wheel scroll wheels down until the center screen blanks.
In the early days of Model S ownership we had to do this periodically...not much lately as the software has become much more reliable.
Also you can try the driver's screen reboot...hold both bottom steering wheel buttons down.
There are more dramatic things that can be done as well, the infamous fuse 51 pull...but if the soft reboots don't work I recommend calling Tesla. They can diagnose many things remotely.

stevet · Dec 19, 2014

captain_zap said:
Congrats on the new MS! Sorry you are having troubles with the auto dimming.

First recommendation is to try the center screen reboot...hold both steering wheel scroll wheels down until the center screen blanks.
In the early days of Model S ownership we had to do this periodically...not much lately as the software has become much more reliable.
Also you can try the driver's screen reboot...hold both bottom steering wheel buttons down.
There are more dramatic things that can be done as well, the infamous fuse 51 pull...but if the soft reboots don't work I recommend calling Tesla. They can diagnose many things remotely.

Okay, so is that to say that the automatic night mode works for you? In other words, the display goes into night mode when it's dark (like any other car)? You shouldn't have to switch it yourself?

captain_zap · Dec 19, 2014

Yes...mine works fine.
BTW, my wife corrected me...it's the two top buttons on the steering wheel that reset the driver's display.

bsd · Dec 20, 2014

Auto works fine for me. We park our car in a car port and night mode is engaged except on the brightest conditions. Call Tesla.

TES-E · Dec 20, 2014

Auto mode definitely works. Sometimes a tad slow to respond, but otherwise good.

jerry33 · Dec 20, 2014

Mine works fine too. First make sure it's set to auto and then reboot the large display by pressing and holding the two scroll wheels. If that doesn't fix it, then you'll need to call service.

rodb · Dec 20, 2014

I have had intermittent problems with auto lightening and darkening. Some days it just will now work and I have to use the controls to turn it to night or day mode depending. Most times it works as it is supposed to.

stevet · Dec 20, 2014

Looks like I need to call service then. I rebooted and it seemed to work, but the next time I drove it I was again blasted with day-mode lighting. Thankfully it only seems to affect the screen and not the headlights.

Now to call service... haven't done this before... I'm on day 3 of owning a Tesla...

Todd Burch · Dec 21, 2014

Just a note: The headlights and touchscreen are connected to the same light sensor, although different algorithms are used to determine which is on and for how long.

If it's nighttime and you drive under a lighted canopy, then you will find that within a few minutes the screen switches to day mode. Driving back out into the darkness, it will stay in day mode for about 5 minutes. I agree with others that it's waiting a bit too long to make this switch.

If your headlights are fine, then it's probably not a sensor issue. Reboot by holding both top buttons until the car resets. Also try rebooting using the two middle buttons to reboot the touchscreen. Ensure after the reboot that your display mode is set to "Auto". If all those check out, then it's time to call service.

themacs · Dec 21, 2014

captain_zap said:
Yes...mine works fine.
BTW, my wife corrected me...it's the two top buttons on the steering wheel that reset the driver's display.

I think you are correct. The service center told me holding it the 2 roller buttons on the steering wheel will reset all.

stevet · Dec 21, 2014

Todd Burch said:
Just a note: The headlights and touchscreen are connected to the same light sensor, although different algorithms are used to determine which is on and for how long.

If it's nighttime and you drive under a lighted canopy, then you will find that within a few minutes the screen switches to day mode. Driving back out into the darkness, it will stay in day mode for about 5 minutes. I agree with others that it's waiting a bit too long to make this switch.

If your headlights are fine, then it's probably not a sensor issue. Reboot by holding both top buttons until the car resets. Also try rebooting using the two middle buttons to reboot the touchscreen. Ensure after the reboot that your display mode is set to "Auto". If all those check out, then it's time to call service.

In a way this is bad news. If it's not the sensor, I might be screwed since this is "how it's supposed to work" or something. Even after rebooting everything I've been utterly blinded by the display several times now when it didn't switch to night mode. I ground my new rims on a curb pulling over to switch it back (somebody send me the number of a guy in the Bay Area to fix it please). Now I just leave it in night mode all of the time. Not fun. Anyhow, I'll call Tesla tomorrow and hopefully they will have some answers.

Thanks everybody for the help.

jerry33 · Dec 22, 2014

stevet said:
In a way this is bad news. If it's not the sensor, I might be screwed since this is "how it's supposed to work" or something. Even after rebooting everything I've been utterly blinded by the display several times now when it didn't switch to night mode..

Mine used to do that in one of the 4.x versions, but it's never done it since. IMHO, you have a problem.

bollar · Dec 22, 2014

stevet said:
In a way this is bad news. If it's not the sensor, I might be screwed since this is "how it's supposed to work" or something. Even after rebooting everything I've been utterly blinded by the display several times now when it didn't switch to night mode. I ground my new rims on a curb pulling over to switch it back (somebody send me the number of a guy in the Bay Area to fix it please). Now I just leave it in night mode all of the time. Not fun. Anyhow, I'll call Tesla tomorrow and hopefully they will have some answers.

Thanks everybody for the help.

I would associate screen brightness to the right roller wheel, at least at night. Although I'm not blinded by the screen, I do like to make adjustments as conditions change.

Todd Burch · Dec 22, 2014

stevet said:
In a way this is bad news. If it's not the sensor, I might be screwed since this is "how it's supposed to work" or something. Even after rebooting everything I've been utterly blinded by the display several times now when it didn't switch to night mode. I ground my new rims on a curb pulling over to switch it back (somebody send me the number of a guy in the Bay Area to fix it please). Now I just leave it in night mode all of the time. Not fun. Anyhow, I'll call Tesla tomorrow and hopefully they will have some answers.

Thanks everybody for the help.

The way it's supposed to work shouldn't be giving you this much of an issue. The way it works now should be fine 99% of the time. Definitely have Tesla take a look--something's not right. (BTW, since there are various hardware configurations out there, it's believed that there are many different software builds for the various configurations of cars--it's possible there's an issue in your particular configuration).

NigelM · Dec 22, 2014

stevet said:
In a way this is bad news. If it's not the sensor, I might be screwed since this is "how it's supposed to work" or something.

No, you're not. The sensor isn't working properly; call your local service center and have them fix it.

castor · Dec 22, 2014

NigelM said:
No, you're not. The sensor isn't working properly; call your local service center and have them fix it.

I'm not 100% sure is the sensor, at least in my case, look at the post I did 5 min ago, I think it is a software problem

http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/showthread.php/39913-Is-NAV-broken

The day sensing starts on the night mode since the car was in the garage, it won't switch to day mode, switching the console between Auto => Day will won't fix it and will still show the Night mode when on Auto, however if switching between Auto => Day => Night => Auto then it will fix it and show Day mode in Auto

Todd Burch · Dec 23, 2014

castor said:
I'm not 100% sure is the sensor, at least in my case, look at the post I did 5 min ago, I think it is a software problem

http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/showthread.php/39913-Is-NAV-broken

The day sensing starts on the night mode since the car was in the garage, it won't switch to day mode, switching the console between Auto => Day will won't fix it and will still show the Night mode when on Auto, however if switching between Auto => Day => Night => Auto then it will fix it and show Day mode in Auto

When I pull out of the garage I switch from night to day within seconds. Time to call service!

stevet · Dec 23, 2014

Here's an update. I called service and they had me bring the car in. They fiddled around with it, using a jacket to cover up the sensor to simulate night. They rebooted it in night mode. This seemed to have fixed the problem, and it worked coming back from the mall earlier this evening. Then an hour later when we went to dinner and... same problem as last time.

I guess I need to take the car in for a "full scan" now. I'll let you know how it goes.

castor · Dec 24, 2014

Todd Burch said:
When I pull out of the garage I switch from night to day within seconds. Time to call service!

Most of the times works fine.

I really doubt is a hardware problem.

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