VCDS Error: Interior Light Timer Limit Reached

For some time now, the following error message has repeatedly appeared in the control unit (46) of my Golf IV: "Comfort System".

00953 - Time limit for interior lighting.
. . . . . . .25-10 - Undefined switch state - Intermittent/Sporadic.

Does anyone know which switch might be referred to here, or what else could be the cause of this error message?



Please provide the German text you would like me to translate into English. I will then give you only the translation, without any explanations.

This message usually appears only in conjunction with a door or trunk/boot in the error text.

Since that's not the case with you, I can only think of the switch directly on the lamp. Do you use that switch regularly? Perhaps try using VCDS to read the diagnostic data blocks of each switch and, if necessary, also check the error memory while manipulating the switches themselves.

Regards,
Sure.

Here is the translation of the text from German to English:

"Guste" means "gust" in English. It can also be used as a verb, meaning "to gust."

If you're referring to the switch for the interior light above the rearview mirror, I've used that occasionally; and also the two light switches located above the rear doors.

The error log only contains the aforementioned error message and nothing else.
The measured values displayed in VCDS only show the switch positions of the door lock contacts and the type of locking status (e.g., locked or unlocked).

Of course, the door sensors also turn on the interior light (if the light switches are in the appropriate position). However, according to VCDS, the aforementioned door sensors are functioning correctly.
Apparently, there is no direct way to control the settings for the interior lights (e.g., sliding or tilting switches) via VCDS.

It's possible that the control unit detects the flow of electricity to the interior lights and uses this information to determine whether the lights are on or off. However, I don't know for sure.
Anyway, I stressed the doors and switches several times, but nothing happened.

Could it be that the error message in question was not completely entered in the error list by VCDS?


Have a good drive.
Günther.

Please provide the German text you would like me to translate into English. I will then give you only the translation, without any explanations.

I just took a quick look at the English version of VCDS.
The error message reads as follows:

00953 - Interior light timer limit.
............25-00 - Unknown switch condition.


So, it doesn't really help much.

Perhaps something else is related to it as well, something that doesn't particularly bother me, but is a constant issue.
Occasionally (every few minutes to hours), a brief clicking sound from the control unit, likely caused by a relay switching, can be heard.
During this process, the interior light turns off for a fraction of a second and then comes back on – regardless of whether...
whether the ignition is on or off.

Is there anyone else in this forum experiencing this issue with the interior light?


Best regards,
Günther.



Please provide the German text you would like me to translate into English. I will then give you only the translation, without any explanations.

Do you mean by "interior light on" that the interior light was turned on using a switch on the fixture itself? Or do you mean that a door is open, which is why the interior light is activated?

"I've experienced interior lights that dim and brighten when the door is open in an Audi. However, this only happens with the ignition on and the door open. When activated via the switch, the light stays on constantly. The relay clicking you described can also be heard there. In my case, I suspect a faulty contactor in the door sensor. As soon as you manually connect ground to the output of the switch, the problem disappears immediately, and the light stays on continuously."

Many sizes.
Sure.

Here is the translation of the text from German to English:

"Guste" means "gust" in English. It can also be used as a verb, meaning "to gust."

The brief interruptions occur both when the switch is set to "continuous light" and when the interior light is activated by an open door.
This has nothing to do with the dimming function; it works perfectly on all four doors.
In addition, the short clicking sound from the control unit, as described above, can also be heard without the interior light being activated (with and without the ignition on).

@ Guste:
Regarding a potential mass production issue with the touch-sensitive switches on the Turkish keyboards, the question arises as to why their switch positions...
("Door open" or "Door closed"), but then always and correctly displayed immediately in VCDS?

Regards,
Günther.



Please provide the German text you would like me to translate into English. I will then give you only the translation, without any explanations.

This message is not related to the door contacts. The problem likely lies with the wiring to the interior lights, or it's probably that your interior light switch is simply defective.

If it were just one interior light, that might be correct.
As I said, there are three of them. That means all the switches must have the same problem.
I find that highly unlikely!


Best regards and drive safely!
Günther.




Please provide the German text you would like me to translate into English. I will then give you only the translation, without any explanations.

Quote:

All the switches would have to have the same error.

Um... why? Wouldn't a short circuit, a blown fuse, or a ground fault be enough?

Or does the circuit breaker in your house only trip if you cause a short circuit in every single outlet?

I had removed all the lamps.
No errors detected regarding any short circuits or similar issues.
Schalter sind alle i. O.

In my opinion, the three switches do not send a direct "turn on light" command to the control unit.
because that would require a separate entrance for each one.

As mentioned above, I assume that a (small) electric current is flowing through the lamp from...
The control unit is being measured; only then, when a switch is turned on, does it provide full functionality.
Voltage is released.
So far: Pure speculation! - I'm still trying to figure things out.

Best regards, and please avoid short circuits!
Günther.



Please provide the German text you would like me to translate into English. I will then give you only the translation, without any explanations.

Circuit diagram available in the upload section.


Best regards,
Günther.

(@ Malte:)
Thank you for the private message. Unfortunately, I'm only getting around to replying now; I haven't had much time lately.
As far as I can tell, everything you've written is correct. I already have the schematic diagram; please see the upload section.


Recently, I also noticed that after opening the doors (light turns on via door sensor), after a few minutes, the...
The interior light turns off again (doors are still open), and it cannot be turned back on even using the courtesy light switch.
It doesn't work initially. Only after several more minutes and the relay clicking, the light turns on automatically again.
regardless of whether it is activated via the door contact or the continuous light switch.


Have a nice day.
Günther.




Please provide the German text you would like me to translate into English. I will then give you only the translation, without any explanations.

Greetings to all!

I fiddled around with the interior light problem for a few hours again last night.
Für mich steht nun fest, daß der Fehler im Steuergerät (Fa. HE(LLA) is located.
Most likely a software error, possibly also a hardware component failure on the circuit board.
A replacement control unit would be critical, at least for the same model, because the spare part number has remained unchanged.
That's why, according to the Volkswagen warehouse employee, the software and hardware may not have been updated.

The solution, therefore (amazing, amazing, amazing!!!):
Remove or disconnect pin number 18 from the 23-pin connector of the control unit (ECU) (red and blue wire, 0.5 mm²). Connect this wire to...
Connect the red and black wire (1.5 mm²) to the terminal block using a connector. The red and blue wire is the "positive" lead.
This applies to all interior lights. The red and black wire comes from fuse S14.
This means that the option to switch off the "plus" power supply for the interior lighting via the control unit (STG) is being bypassed, and consequently, so is...
False alarms.
After being activated, the dimming function and the shut-off function (which activates if a door is open for 10 minutes) will become active again.
(surprisingly, only after several minutes). These two functions are controlled via the "mass" connection.
So far, everything is working perfectly (after now 9 years) for the first time.
The error message mentioned at the beginning, "... undefined switch position," no longer occurs. *Sound of a champagne cork popping*
The only drawback (possibly): The automatic shut-off of the continuous lighting, which turns off the interior light after 1 hour (if Walter has set the switch accordingly).
is out of order.

Here's another reminder about the circuit diagram in the upload section (/viewtopic.php?t=21866).

This was the engine control unit with part number 1J0 959 799 AH.


-Günther-



Please provide the German text you would like me to translate into English. I will then give you only the translation, without any explanations.

Volkswagen Golf 4, engine code AJM, year 2001, fully equipped with features including navigation system and heated seats, among others.
Starting situation:
The interior lighting is malfunctioning!
Trunk light doesn't work. Vanity mirror lights don't work!
If you press the button for the front lights, sometimes it works.
It's happening again... when you close the door, it doesn't turn off!
If you turn it off, does that mean it's completely off, even if it was on before?
Error 0953 reappears immediately after being cleared, and it happens again when the light buttons are pressed!

"Because of an ESP error, I had to go to the QBS and the g202."
based on the descriptions here and in other forums.
The ZKS was targeted and immediately dismantled.
(Black box located to the left of the steering column; complete trim below the steering wheel must be removed.)

Upon opening it, I immediately saw three cold solder joints on the circuit board and re-soldered them all. (Caution: I know how to solder!)

built-in

"Mirror lights work. Trunk works. Error code 0953 reappeared after repeatedly pressing the light switch, but then disappeared! The interior front lighting only worked after replacing the LED bulbs (they had a CAN resistor on the base, but still didn't function properly). Several workshops have also tinkered with it (by previous owners), and various wires were connected to the lights... some wiring was bypassed using wire connectors at the front light, which I can't fully understand. The LED bulbs that are currently installed still don't work correctly after the attempted repairs."

PS: Sometimes it doesn't work when I close the door; it only works after pressing the foot pedal. I suspect it's due to the door lock switch... although the door opening is detected correctly, because when the door is open, the ZKS (door control system) prevents a door closure. Could there be two switches in the lock?
PS2: Please don't be offended, but modifying wiring harnesses due to ECU failures seems like a very crude and unprofessional approach to me; I would rather avoid doing that.

Warum machst Du mit Deinem Problem eigentlich nicht ein neues Thema auf? Es ist doch kraus, sich damit an ein anderes, gelöstes Thema anzuhängen. AOkay!
hg
Herbert.

If you actually expect to receive help here, you should pay attention to the basic rules of spelling, such as using periods, commas, and proper capitalization.