Enabling the “coming home” feature on your Volkswagen or Skoda using VCDS can significantly improve your nighttime driving experience. This feature automatically illuminates your car’s exterior lights for a predetermined duration after you park and lock your vehicle, providing a safe and well-lit path to your door. While this feature often comes standard, some models may require activation via VCDS. This guide provides insight into enabling “coming home” functionality, specifically focusing on vehicles without a light sensor.
Understanding Coming Home vs. Leaving Home
It’s crucial to distinguish between “coming home” and “leaving home” functions. “Leaving home” automatically activates your car’s lights when you unlock the vehicle, usually requiring a light sensor and an “auto” setting on the light switch. However, “coming home” activation is often simpler, requiring only a flash of the high beams before exiting and locking the car.
VCDS and Adaptation Channels: The Key to Coming Home
VCDS (Vag-Com Diagnostic System) allows access to your car’s control modules and their adaptation channels. By adjusting specific channels within the Body Control Module (BCM), you can enable and customize the “coming home” feature.
A recent discussion on a popular VW/Audi forum highlighted successful “coming home” activation on a Mk7 Golf without a light sensor. This confirms that the feature doesn’t necessarily depend on specific hardware like a rain/light sensor (RLS). The key lies in correctly configuring the appropriate adaptation channels.
Essential Adaptation Channels for Coming Home
Based on data compiled from various Mk7 Golf variants, the following adaptation channels within the BCM are critical for “coming home” functionality:
| Adaptation Channel | Recommended Setting |
|---|---|
| (1) Comfort illumination – Coming Home Verbaustatus | manual/automatic |
| (2) Comfort illumination – Menuesteuerung Coming Home Werkseinstellung | active |
| (3) Comfort illumination – Menueeinstellung Cominghome | 10 s |
| (4) Comfort illumination – Coming Home Leuchten | Low beam |
| (5) Comfort illumination – Coming-home Einschaltereignis | Driver door |
These settings generally ensure that the “coming home” feature is enabled, activated by opening the driver’s door after flashing the high beams, uses the low beam headlights for illumination, and remains active for 10 seconds.
Testing and Fine-Tuning
After implementing these changes using VCDS, test the “coming home” functionality by parking your car, flashing your high beams, locking the vehicle, and exiting. Observe if the low beams illuminate for the set duration. If not, double-check the adaptation channel settings and ensure accurate input.
Considerations for Specific Models
While these guidelines apply to many VW and Skoda models, always consult your vehicle’s specific documentation or online forums dedicated to your model. Slight variations in adaptation channel numbers or settings might exist. For example, tests on a Skoda Octavia 3 without a light sensor revealed that the “coming home” function worked even with fog lights selected, although both low beams and fog lights illuminated instead of just the fog lights.
Conclusion
Enabling the “coming home” feature with VCDS can enhance your vehicle’s convenience and safety. By understanding the function’s requirements, utilizing the correct adaptation channels, and performing thorough testing, you can successfully activate and enjoy the benefits of “coming home” lighting. Remember to research your specific car model for any unique instructions or variations in the process.
