VW Atlas Lighting Glitch: Switch Module Fix Guide

I encountered a similar electrical problem with my VW Tiguan 2019. The dashboard lights kept showing unusual faults and the headlight switch started acting up, pretty much like what you describe. Having some experience with electrical issues in VWs, I initially thought it was the dimmer switch module. After a workshop visit, they diagnosed a loose connection in the main headlight switch wiring harness. The cable connections had worked themselves loose over time, causing intermittent faults in the lighting system. The fix involved reconnecting and securing the wiring properly, plus cleaning the contact points. Total cost was 95€ for diagnostics and repair. Much cheaper than replacing the entire switch assembly. To better assist you, could you share: Are there any specific patterns when the lights turn on? Does the issue happen more frequently when using specific switch positions? Have you noticed any correlation with weather conditions? What exact error code is stored in the system? These details would help determine if your issue matches what I experienced or if its something different in the lighting control system.

Thanks for the insights. My Atlas has 136337km and was last serviced 2 months ago. After checking the fuse box and all connections as suggested, I found the problem seems worse when using the auto position on the headlight switch. The dashboard lights and error warnings appear most frequently during dusk or dawn. The automotive switch feels slightly loose when rotating, unlike the solid feel it had when new. The workshop pulled error code P0919 which points to the headlight switch circuit. Based on your experience, I should probably have them check the wiring connections first before committing to a full switch replacement. Any other testing I could do to narrow down if its truly the wiring or the switch itself?

The loose feeling in your automotive switch definitely matches what I experienced. While my Tiguan initially showed similar symptoms around the auto position, I discovered that cleaning the switch contacts temporarily improved things before the complete diagnosis. Here is a quick test you can do: When rotating the headlight switch between positions, listen for any scratching sounds or feel for inconsistent resistance. In my case, this helped identify that the wiring connections were the root cause rather than the switch mechanism itself. The P0919 code commonly indicates connection issues in the lighting control circuit. Before my workshop visit, I checked the tail lights connections too, as poor grounding can trigger similar dashboard lights and warnings. But the real problem was indeed in the main switch wiring harness. Given your mileage and the fact that the issue worsens during light condition changes, Id strongly suggest having the complete circuit checked, including: Main switch connector pins, Ground connections, Wiring harness condition near the steering column, Fuse box terminals for the lighting circuit The repair should cost around 100€ for diagnostic and rewiring if its similar to my case. Much more cost effective than immediately replacing the complete switch assembly at 300-400€.

Based on all this helpful information, I think I'll have the workshop do a complete circuit inspection first. The similar error code and symptoms, especially the loose feeling in the headlight switch and problems during auto mode, seem to point toward wiring rather than a faulty switch assembly. I checked the connections as suggested and noticed some play in the main switch connector when wiggling it gently. The dashboard lights actually flickered when doing this test, which pretty much confirms loose wiring could be the culprit. The car switch definitely feels different than when new, but maybe that's just from the poor connections. I'll schedule a diagnostic visit and ask them to thoroughly check all the wiring points mentioned, particularly around the steering column area and ground connections. Hopefully it will just need some reconnection work like your case. The 100€ estimate for wiring repair sounds much better than spending 300-400€ on a new switch assembly if its not actually needed. Thanks for helping me narrow down the likely cause. Will update once the workshop identifies the exact issue in the lighting control system.