Accessing the light / rain sensor

[Tweedo]

Does anyone know how to remove the little black box on the windshield that houses the rain and light sensor?

I want my lights on all the time. Since I have the GS, I have the white backing on the instrument panel. I find that during the day, when I have my sunglasses on, it's very hard to see the panel. So, I want the panel lit up all the time (even during the day). I'm also going to take apart my instrument panel and replace the LEDs with something brighter (probably blue and white), but that will come later. And I'm well aware that I could just turn my lights on manually, but that defeats the advantage of having auto lights, right?

So, my plan is to access the light and rain sensor, and place a piece of tape over the light sensor. This will make it think it is always night, and the lights will stay on constantly.

I think I might have to remove the headliner to get at the sensor box, but I'm really hoping I don't have to go that far.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to go about doing this? I've had a look around a couple of forums and haven't seen anything on this subject.

Thanks,

[Noisy Crow]

Ummm.... the panel is lit during the day. Why don't you just set the instrument panel light to the highest level? The switch for that is the button between the speedo and tachometer... there's about five levels and pressing the button cycles between them.

But if you REALLY want your lights "on" all the time... why don't you just turn the the stalk switch to "on". Besides which, taping over the sensor will screw up the rain sensor, so not only will the lights be on all the time... so will the wipers.

Actually, my best advice to you is to read the manual that came with your car!


Does anyone know how to remove the little black box on the windshield that houses the rain and light sensor?

I want my lights on all the time. Since I have the GS, I have the white backing on the instrument panel. I find that during the day, when I have my sunglasses on, it's very hard to see the panel. So, I want the panel lit up all the time (even during the day). I'm also going to take apart my instrument panel and replace the LEDs with something brighter (probably blue and white), but that will come later. And I'm well aware that I could just turn my lights on manually, but that defeats the advantage of having auto lights, right?

So, my plan is to access the light and rain sensor, and place a piece of tape over the light sensor. This will make it think it is always night, and the lights will stay on constantly.

I think I might have to remove the headliner to get at the sensor box, but I'm really hoping I don't have to go that far.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to go about doing this? I've had a look around a couple of forums and haven't seen anything on this subject.

Thanks,

[Jeff-TheBiz]

there's about five levels and pressing the button cycles between them.


...on the GT model.

[Noisy Crow]

...on the GT model.

Ah.

Hmmm....didn't know that. (I guess I should read my manual more closesly too!) Looks like we may have to come up with a better solution for him than driving around with the lights on all the time!

[Tweedo]

Thanks for the reply.

I was quite excited when I read in the manual that there was a brightness setting on the instrument panel. Of course, that is only on the GT version (which, as I've seen, most of the people on this forum have anyways!). So that's not an option for me. I have the instrument panel as bright as it will go, but it still does not look like it is on at all during the day.

Like I said, I could just turn the lights on manually, but that kind of defeats the purpose of having auto lights, doesn't it? I really like just being able to turn my lights on and not worry about having to turn them off when I get out of the car. Ya, I know, I'm lazy.

I'm not even sure if my plan will work, cause it will depend on whether the light and rain sensors are actually seperate sensors. If they are a single sensor (which doesn't really makes sense), then my plan falls apart. So I just want to be able to take apart the box and see for myself.

[Noisy Crow]

Okay, I *think* (need to confirm on-car, but this is from the electrical manual for the car) that you can jumper the switched side of the TNS relay (R28) to force the instrument lighting to be on all the time. This relay is controlled by the car microcomputer, and connects the illumination circuit to +12 volts when activated. Forcing the relay to activate will turn on the illumination. There should be no harm in jumpering the switch portion of the relay, but I'm not sure which pins on the relay they are. Actually, tt appears that you need to connect it to switched +12v, otherwise the lights will be on all the time. But jumpering it will let you know whether this will work or not.

Just looked a bit closer... the output of the relay runs through fuse F82. So if you jumper the relay-side of the fuse to +12v the illumination should come on. You can check which is side to use by pulling the fuse and switching the lights on. The side that is at 12v will the one one you want. Note that the tail-lights are also controlled by the same relay, so they will go on as well. If you don't want that... pull the fuse completely and jumper the the OTHER side of the fuse connection to the switched 12v through a 7.5A in-line fuse.

I will look up the light sensor for you as well....

Okay, I only see the one sensor block in the wiring diagram.... four wires though, so you may be in luck. You can remove the cover by prying up the right-hand side using something that won't scratch the paint off the windshield while at the same time pressing down on the split in the middle of the cover. On some cars there is a notch between the two pieces you can use to pry them apart with a tape-covered screwdriver. Once you have the cover off there is a tab on the right side that slides down to release the sensor from the windshield.

[Tweedo]

Thanks for all the great info.

I tried to get at the fusepanel this morning, and I must say, Mazda has stuffed it in the worst place I have ever seen in a car... I'll have to figure out exactly how to jumper the fuse in order to get it done.

Actually, a complete electrical schematic would help greatly. Where did you pick yours up? I went to the dealership (I'm out in London, I bought my car at Probart) and they wanted $125 for the electrical schematic. Is it worth that price, or is there a cheaper place to get one?

Thanks,

[mit-gee-mui]

Actually, a complete electrical schematic would help greatly. Where did you pick yours up? I went to the dealership (I'm out in London, I bought my car at Probart) and they wanted $125 for the electrical schematic. Is it worth that price, or is there a cheaper place to get one?


Are you talking about something in the owner's manual?
If so, here http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showpost.php?p=265628&postcount=1

If not, sorry and I'll go away now....:gone



I haven't tried the link here, so I don't know if it has what you are looking for.
http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=12974&highlight=diagram

[Tweedo]

The only thing that is in the owners manual is the fuse box diagram, and that's only marginally useful. What I'm looking for is the schematics that show how the car is completely wired.

I tried that other link (to directechs.com), but it didn't look like it would work.

[Noisy Crow]

Thanks for all the great info.

I tried to get at the fusepanel this morning, and I must say, Mazda has stuffed it in the worst place I have ever seen in a car... I'll have to figure out exactly how to jumper the fuse in order to get it done.

Actually, a complete electrical schematic would help greatly. Where did you pick yours up? I went to the dealership (I'm out in London, I bought my car at Probart) and they wanted $125 for the electrical schematic. Is it worth that price, or is there a cheaper place to get one?

Thanks,

I picked mine up at Mazda of Toronto. And yeah, I cost me about $125 plus tax. But given what I paid for the car, it's a small price to pay to help ensure I don't really foul something up when I am tapping into the electrical system.

F82 is in the Passenger Junction Box, which under the passenger dash. I'm not sure where you can pickup a switched+12 on that side... F43 is the for the cigar lighter, you could use that. It's also in PJB as well.