I recently bought the FS2004 Seneca and have been trying to work out where everything is from the rather brief documentation. I would be grateful if somebody could help me out with a few questions:All the reviews of this aircraft refer to separate switches for instrument lights and dome light. I have found the switch for the dome light, but cannot find the switch for the instrument lights. I don't want to have to resort to the default FS keystroke of Shift+L. So where is this switch?

The reviews also say that you can open various doors and baggage area. I have only managed to open the door next to the co-pilot's seat (Shift+E). Which other doors can be opened, and how?

How do I install the wheel chocks and cowl plugs?

How do I get a decent view of the engine control panel, like in the Carenado VC manual? I can only see it from the pilot's seat, and this is very much a side-on view which doesn't allow you to see which switch is which or operate them very easily. How can I get a more front-on view?

My limited understanding of the management of fuel mixture tells me that you lean the mixture as you climb out in conjunction with the EGT value. Is this correct? What sort of EGT should I be aiming for?

Finally, please could somebody tell me how to interpret the performance chart on the pilot's side sun visor?Thanks for your help.

Hi Adrian, the instrument lights are located beside the throttle,prop,mix. two white roller switches one on top of another.the bagage doors can be operated as follows, main door-shift-e rear door-shift-e+2 nose door shift-e+3chocks and plugs are placed when the brakes are set and power is offwhen in cockpit view press A to cycle between panel views. hope that helps!I lack the patience it takes to type long messages so someone will have to chime in on the operation of the mixture.

Hi Adrian, the instrument lights are located beside the throttle,prop,mix. two white roller switches one on top of another.the bagage doors can be operated as follows, main door-shift-e rear door-shift-e+2 nose door shift-e+3chocks and plugs are placed when the brakes are set and power is offwhen in cockpit view press A to cycle between panel views. hope that helps!I lack the patience it takes to type long messages so someone will have to chime in on the operation of the mixture.

Thanks for the reply. I have now found the instrument light switch and managed to get the chocks and plugs installed. However I cannot get any of the other things to work. Opening the main door (Shift-E) is no problem. However if I try Shift-E+2 all I get is the main door opening and the GPS in a pop-up window. It is as if I was pressing Shift-E to open the main door and Shift+2 to get the GPS pop-up. Similarly if I try Shift-E+3 I get the main door opening and a pop-up autopilot window. You say that in cockpit view (I presume you mean virtual cockpit, as there is no other option?) I can press A to cycle through panel views - I have tried this and nothing happens.What is going wrong? Let me reiterate that I have the FS2004 Seneca. Does this make any difference? I know from previous enquiries that for example the alternate air function is not modelled on the FS2004 aircraft, in contrast to the FSX aircraft.Thanks.

Hi Adrian, I am unfamiliar with the fs9 version as I run fsx. There are some differences I'm sure. It won't take long for an fs9 user to be able to help you out. This forum is pretty good that way!Just out of curiosity, are you pressing shift E and then 2? Or pressing shift E and 2 at the same time? Because you need to press shift E and then 2,3,4 ect.

Hi Adrian, I am unfamiliar with the fs9 version as I run fsx. There are some differences I'm sure. It won't take long for an fs9 user to be able to help you out. This forum is pretty good that way!Just out of curiosity, are you pressing shift E and then 2? Or pressing shift E and 2 at the same time? Because you need to press shift E and then 2,3,4 ect.

I'm pressing Shift-E and then 2 etc.Incidentally the screen shots for the FS9 aircraft on the Carenado site show the rest of the doors open, so it must be possible.

you have to be quick on the 2 after pressing shift E! You may want to look at the key assignment as well and see if anything has been changed. Other than that I am at a loss i'm affraid. I am sure an FS9 user will be more help to you. sorry I cant be of more help.

press shift and hold it, then E and then 2, then release shift

press shift and hold it, then E and then 2, then release shift

Tried that, and it's still not working. All I'm getting is the main door opening and the GPS pop-up window. I haven't changed any assignments - this is a relatively recent reinstallation of FS9 on a new computer, and the assigmnents are largely the default ones. Any other suggestions? What about the other issue re scrolling through the cockpit view so that I can get a front-on view of the engine panel?And can anybody advise me on how to interpret and use the performance chart on the back of the sun visor?Thanks.

I no longer use FS9, but I don't recall the Shift+E+number system working on FS9 aircraft doors and such like it does in FSX. I believe other keys had to be programed to open additional items, but again I'm only working from memory here. Even in FSX on my computer, sometimes the additional doors won't open at the end of a flight unless I refresh the aircraft (reset the flight). Don't know why, but I suspect my system can't handle any more. :-)As for the mixture, use the EGT gauge by pulling back on the mixture until it's at it's highest, and then push it forward just a bit. Different pilots will swear by different ways to do this. I do know that the mixture is much more sensitive in FS than on real planes in that it usually has little effect before 5000' feet in the real ones, but in FS9 & X you need to start pulling it back some at 3000'.I don't have my Seneca in this computer but I think the sunvisor reference is just different cruise settings at different altitudes, the same sort of stuff you'd find in the POH on any plane. Experiment with what works best for you.As for seeing around the cockpit, I remember downloading a free add on program to allow me to move around inside the cabin in FS9. That feature is part of FSX.

Then try shift+E, release and 2...All have to happen in a fast order, don't sleep while pressing the keys... :(

Then try shift+E, release and 2...All have to happen in a fast order, don't sleep while pressing the keys... :(

Well I finally managed to get the other doors open. However the only way I could get the Shift+E+2 command to work was by using the invisible gauge found in rcbse-10.zip, which can be found on the usual sites. I have previously been using this to get individual control over multiple engine aircraft, as I have the CH Products Yoke with just 1 throttle lever, 1 propeller lever and 1 mixture lever. I didn't realise it could handle multiple doors too. Apparently some people are never able to open multiple doors without this gauge. I highly recommend it if you have the same problem as me. I would point out that, as Toxin suggested, you have to press Shift+E, then release both keys, and then press 2 within 1 second.As far as getting extra views in my cockpit, I think I'll soon be investing in Active Camera, which unfortunately we now have to pay for.I'm still having trouble interpreting the power settings chart on the sun visor. How do I know whether to choose 45% power, 55%, 65% or 75%? Is it just a matter of preference based on fuel consumption? Or is there a scientific reasoning behind the choice? What would be the most common choice?At the bottom of the chart it states "to maintain constant power, add approx 1% for each 5 degrees C above standard, subtract approx 1% for each 5 degrees C below standard". I presume by "standard" it means ISA (International Standard Atmosphere)? So I'm supposed to add/subtract 1% of what? The power? How do I do that? Or does it mean the manifold pressure? But the manifold pressure isn't measured as a percentage, is it? This really isn't clear, and it just underlines to me that Carenado's documentation of late is rather wanting. I would be really grateful if somebody could bring some sort of clarity for me here. Thanks again.