Turning lights off using car keys

[QBA]

Hi

I used to have Mazda protege back on the day and I paid some guy to change the wiring on the car, so when I turn off the engine, the lights will go automatically off even if I left them on.

I'm don't usually leave my lights on and my Mazda3 2008.5 have a sound that alert me if this is occurring, but I truly missed the peace of mind I used to have after I did this to my old protege. Is like getting rid off one less thing I need to check when exiting the car.

I want to do this to my new Mazda 3 but I'm afraid that by tempering with the electrical system, I may end up creating new electrical issues that may start to occur in the future as a consequence of this.

Should I just take my car to a shop and do it, because is such a simple hack that it shouldn’t be not future electrical troubles as result of this?

Have you guys ever heard of this being done to a Mazda3?

How much could this hack cost?

Thanks

Alex

[Xerox]

The 3 (at least the Canadian models) has an 'auto' setting for headlight/parking lights. Why not just use that?
If you have a Canadian model and you were unaware of that feature, perhaps you should read over the owners manual.

[QBA]

Thanks Xerox,

Mine does it as well, as just never use it because I feel that some how the light sensor may don't turn on by it self as is getting dark and I may get a ticket or it may consume battery power while the car is off.

I guess is part of lack of understanding on how that feature really works, as you mentioned (I will go over the manual), but because I experienced the lights automatically going off as I remove the car key on my old car, I know is a worry free and 100% guaranty alternative.

[x_o_k_x]

Auto feature always works end never lets you down, but for wiring im not sure how to do it and havent seen other people do it, maybe someone knows..

[Jeff-TheBiz]

So you are saying you trust someone else wiring rather than the designed system by Mazda Canada to keep your lights off while the keys are not in the ignition?

Just trying to understand your logic in this.

[aris]

I just leave mine in the auto postion and never had any problems....my bro has a 99 chevy z71 and his lights come on when it gets dark out and he never had a problem with it not working or it staying on...and he has had his truck for over 8 years...i don't think you have anything to worrie about

[Wild Weasel]

So you are saying you trust someone else wiring rather than the designed system by Mazda Canada to keep your lights off while the keys are not in the ignition?

Just trying to understand your logic in this.

It sounds to me like he doesn't trust the auto system to turn the lights on at the appropriate time. Obviously there's no issues with them turning off.

Only thing I wish the auto lights did would be to turn them on any time the wipers come on. That's about the only time I use the switch.

[QBA]

Thanks guys for the replies,

TheBiz I do understand my logic of trusting some one else that is not from Mazda but who may know what is doing, because I did it on the past right after I bought the protoge. I drove the protoge around for 4 years and the lights were always off as I exit the car without any worries.

After reading the answers on the forum I went out for my Saturday shores and every time I was getting off the car with the lights switch on the middle step or the dot symbol. The car started to beep like it usually does when I leave the lights on.

Maybe I'm using the wrong feature on my Mazda 3 lights switch. How do I get that automatic light off feature to work?

Thanks

Alex

[aris]

Thanks guys for the replies,

TheBiz I do understand my logic of trusting some one else that is not from Mazda but who may know what is doing, because I did it on the past right after I bought the protoge. I drove the protoge around for 4 years and the lights were always off as I exit the car without any worries.

After reading the answers on the forum I went out for my Saturday shores and every time I was getting off the car with the lights switch on the middle step or the dot symbol. The car started to beep like it usually does when I leave the lights on.

Maybe I'm using the wrong feature on my Mazda 3 lights switch. How do I get that automatic light off feature to work?

Thanks

Alex

put the arrow on the switch to piont on the the auto position...

[Xerox]

W O W

Taken straight form the owner's manual:

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p101/planetxerox/mazda3_auto_light_control.jpg

[QBA]

lol omg thanks a lot guys, specially Xerox for his hard work to get that info posted.

After looking at the owner's manual info that Xerox posted, I understand now that it must had been a misunderstanding on my part. :bang

That same day I went to pick up the new car, I asked the Mazda sales man, if the Mazda mechanics will do that lights hack for me and he told me that the feature was already built in the car, I could swear that the man told me that by putting the light switch where the dot or circle was I will be turning that feature on.

So I tested a few times and I didn't bother to check that section of the owner manual because I though it was very clear that he had mentioned the circle. Well every time I tried the cirlcle step the car kept beeping at me when I was leaving the car, and I was thinking this may be some cool feature with sensors to turn the lights on and off automatically, but if I have to keep turning the lights off every time I leave the car, this is not what I'm looking for. :bang

Thanks a lot guys for don't giving up helping me understand that I was using the wrong light switch step :bana2:bana

Tonight I have to go to the airport to pick up the father in law, that is returning from a trip to the U.S and i will test the right feature this time and keep you guys posted.

Alex :chuckle

[QBA]

I just came back from a drive and my Mazda 3 2008.5 doesn't have the "Auto" option on my light switch.

So I guess the sales man didn't know what he was talking about when he said that my card had that feature, so I guess that is why he end up pointing to the wrong thing, because it was never there. :loco

So back to square one, I have to pay some one to hack it for me like I did with my old protoge.

[S.F.W.]

I'm pretty sure all 3's have that feature. It should be at the top of the light dial.

[QBA]

I guess I will double check tonight on my way to the airport, but looked pretty closely today and the "Auto" wasn't there

[mazdathree]

The autolight function comes as an option. If you look at the manual, there are 2 types of switches "Type A (without AUTO position)" and "Type B (with AUTO postion)". Im not sure if this is the same for 2008.5 version but it was in the 2005 version.

[QBA]

Thanks mazdathree,

I guess that explained why I couldn't find the Lights "Auto" option on my car.

I guess I have to call the dealer and ask them how much will it cost to ad that option to my car vs how much will it cost for some one else to hack the lights cables for me.

[mazdathree]

your welcome QBA. Goodluck.

[Noisy Crow]

If you want to install an over-ride, the cleanest way would be to connect the inputs (coil side) of a couple of relays between switched power and ground. Use the relays to interrupt the headlight and TNS (running light) wires from the headlight switch to the body computer.

I am suggesting this rather than interrupting the the head-light relays directly as this way the daytime running lights, four-way flashers etc. will all work correctly.

Headlight: B/G wire running to pin AS on J-03 on the Passenger Junction Box
TNS: B/W wire running to pin I on J-02 on the Passenger Junction Box

[Noisy Crow]

I guess I have to call the dealer and ask them how much will it cost to ad that option to my car

Probably only involves replacing the stalk with the headlight switch. However, at a guess: 2-hours labour @ $80/hour plus $200+ for the part.

Using relays: $10 for the relays and maybe $30-$40 to have someone put them in (should take less than ½ hour for anyone familiar with car alarm installation etc.) Any of our sponsors that do that sort of work should be able to do it for you: Audio Heaven, Selective Sound, Lockdown... etc.

[Jeff-TheBiz]

GX does not come with automatic lights. the GS and GT do.

For your GX, do you hack and then go and slap out your salesperson for not knowing a thing about what he/she sold you.

[QBA]

Thanks guys,

Thanks Noisy Crow you saved me having to call the dealer and checking prices. I will go back to Selective Sound, is a little far for me but they did a hell of a job installing my sound system and specially the head unit on the place where the ashtray was, without having to remove the cigarett lighter section.

TheBiz I bought my car in down town Mazda and this is the 3rd incident I have with them. First they told me something about the Mazda ipod adapter that it wasn't true and I had ask for my money back, thank god I find out before the part had arrive for pick up. The other incident was about the fact that the person in charged of sales told me that I couldn't order a cruise control with a silver panel. Later on by calling other dealers, I find out that it was possible to order that particular part I wanted. So since the part had not arrive either, I went back to ask for my money back and order the part I wanted all along. When I got to the dealer the part had arrive that day and the guy that made the mistake told me that I couldn't get my money back because my part was already there. That lead to a heated argument and they asked me to leave or they were going to call the cops on me. I tried to talk to the manager and he wasn't there, so I went back the next day to talk to him and finally I got the part I wanted all along.

I guess this is enough for me and I don't plan to go there even to change my oil, the down side is that is less than a 5 minutes drive from my place.

Guys what Mazda dealer close to downtown should I go for to do oil changes and all that?

[Noisy Crow]

Thanks Noisy Crow you saved me having to call the dealer and checking prices.

Keep in mind the amounts I qutoed were "gut feel" -- if you PM Joe at Mazda of Toronto or Andrew at Oakville Mazda they can give you the actual cost of the the part. But honestly, I can't see it being any less than $200 -- even basic plastic parts are $25-$30.

I checked the R&R instructions for the headlight stalk... it actually looks fairly straightforward. I had thought the whole combination switch would have to be removed, but the light switch can be removed on it's own. Probably about an hour's work, and the only mechanical work is remove covers to get at the switch. So swapping out the switch is something Selective could do for you.

If you wanted to check the wiring first (to confirm that the wire is there), the wire for Auto is B/P (Black with Pink stripe) going to pin AE on J-04. It probably is there... for example, we know that the wiring for cruise control is in place and all that is required is the steering wheel and brake pedal switches.

[McGuyver_3]

Probably only involves replacing the stalk with the headlight switch. However, at a guess: 2-hours labour @ $80/hour plus $200+ for the part.

Using relays: $10 for the relays and maybe $30-$40 to have someone put them in (should take less than ½ hour for anyone familiar with car alarm installation etc.) Any of our sponsors that do that sort of work should be able to do it for you: Audio Heaven, Selective Sound, Lockdown... etc.


I have added the auto light feature to my car and i had to replace my windshield, roof wiring harness the rain light sensor on the windshield, light switch wiper switch and the passenger junction box. Note that you can probably go to the dealer and have them program the sensor to the PJB so you dont have to get a new one. I was fortunate enough to find a pjb at the wrecker along with all the other parts i needed.

modifying the ligh system to turn off with the car i dont see being a huge issue but it will require hacking the stock wiring which i dont realy agree with

[QBA]

Thanks guys,

Thanks Noisy Crow, I will call those places from work tomorrow and I will ask for the part number and the price plus installation. Plus the idea of taking the part for the guys from selective sound to install it may be a good alternative.

Thanks McGuyver_3, Wow I have to change replace my windshield, roof wiring harness the rain light sensor on the windshield, light switch wiper switch and the passenger junction box? Damn how much work for changing a switch, how much will that cost?

McGuyver_3 when you say that you don't agree with hacking the stock wiring, is this because it may make the car less safe and could be a cause for fire and things like that?

[McGuyver_3]

QBA= windshield with the rainsensor grid on it cost me 300$ (i needed a new windshield anyway my old one cracked) The rain sensor at the dealer i beleive costs +/-200$ the roof harnes last time i quoted it was 500$ +/-the light switch and wiper switch are +/-120 for both The PJB is roughly 2000$ please correct me if i am wrong but i do beleivce you may be able to get it actiwated by the dealer w/o replacing the pjb. these prices are based n dealer prices the last time i quoted them about 2 years ago so pricing may not be as accurate anymore

The thing i mean by hacking the wiring is that in order for all the lights to turn off when the key is off you have to turn off the ambers, the headlights, and the rear lights. I am not sure but i assume that the brake lights will turn off with the ambers. I am sure i could construct something w/o hacking the wiring and just using the fuses but there is a good chance that you will lose functionality of the light switch and your lights will always be on. I will do some more research on that and get back to you i could probably figure something out

[Noisy Crow]

If he uses relays on the two leads that I indicated from the headlight switch the functionality is essentially the same as turning the switch to "off" manually.

[QBA]

Thank guys,

McGuyver_3 base on the price differences and the magnitude of one job vs the simplicity of the other I will definitely going to fallow the tempering with the wires at a shop, rather than going with the Mazda option.

Noisy Crow if I have to change the windshield and all that, I'm not even going to bother calling mazda so I'm just going to call some of the sponsors and if the price is right I will go for it.

[Noisy Crow]

Noisy Crow if I have to change the windshield and all that, I'm not even going to bother calling mazda so I'm just going to call some of the sponsors and if the price is right I will go for it.

The windshield changeout would because of the need to add the sensor that is attached to it. The sensor is used to sense the light so Auto knows when to turn the lights on and off.

[QBA]

Thanks for the explanation Noisy Crow,

I don't really care too much about that feature, I will just drive all the time with the lights on like I usually do any ways. What really matters to me is having the lights turn off automatically as I remove the key from the ignition. :chuckle

[Effin Itai]

GX does not come with automatic lights. the GS and GT do.

For your GX, do you hack and then go and slap out your salesperson for not knowing a thing about what he/she sold you.

LOL! Jeff, are you not rolling off your chair reading this hillarious thread, like I am right now. LOL! Next!