accent lighting

[vscusack]

My 2008 GT had blue accent lighting between the map lights and near the door handles. My 2010 GT has the light between the map lights but there is no accent lighting in the door. Is this correct or is there a problem with the accent lighting in my new car?

Thanks

 

[SMARTERONE]

Sorry, but that very nice feature was discontinued in 2011. No more indirect blue lighting, I guess Mazda was trying to cut costs
They also cheapened the electroluminescent gauges in 2011, they are not nearly as bright as my 2009 Mazda CX-9.

 

[table5511]

And now they have gotten rid of lighted window switches too...dumb.

 

[Z-Thrizzle]

That sucks. I think the extra lighting would look great! Has anyone tried updated there late model CX-9 with this? I wonder if it's as simple as swapping parts. Pics would be helpful from those who have to see where the light is located and if the parts are dramatically different.

 

[mainard1]

And now they have gotten rid of lighted window switches too...dumb.

i think i still have a little light on the window switches on the driver side 2010 model

 

[techmonkey]

If someone has pics of the circuit board for the controls, I may be able to give you some instructions. I am assuming they are still using the same circuit board since it would cost more to change it rather than just remove LEDs and resistors from the old one. If the lights are inside the switches themselves, that is a different story.

 

[jk240sx]

Sorry, but that very nice feature was discontinued in 2011. No more indirect blue lighting, I guess Mazda was trying to cut costs
They also cheapened the electroluminescent gauges in 2011, they are not nearly as bright as my 2009 Mazda CX-9.

Is it possible to retrofit with a prior year? My Passat had excellent lighting. I want to switch out the window buttons. Possible?

 

[table5511]

I would say yes. It likely would involve some wiring. My CX-9 has a blue light on each of the 4 doors, and one on the overhead console. You would have to buy door trim panels specific to earlier years, or cut holes in your door panels. The overhead console you would have to switch out for an earlier year. And while you are at it, buy the l.e.d. system out of a Ford Focus that has the button where the color can be changed (like 5 different colors) and illuminates your footwell area.

 

[jk240sx]

Confirmed with the dealer the '10 lighted window switch is plug and play into a '11 or '12. Part# TD1166350. I found it for $160.50 online. I am going to use my insurance hook ups to get a '10 dash cluster. LED's for ambient lighting I can do myself for about $50.00. Thanks

 

[ceric]

jk240sx,
please take a few pictures and post your works here under How-To forum.

 

[jk240sx]

will do. the door switch is easy. peel the door card and replace the switch. i've done LEDs in a few cars and it's real easy. get a 12v source from the headlights and wire up the array. LEDs are easy to work with, you can buy a strand or a base board that you pretty much configure any way you want. I have a dealer buddy who is going to snap a few pics of a 10 GT and I'll work off of that. I confirmed the '10 GT gauge cluster is also plug and play, just need to source it.

 

[denot]

jk240sx,
please take a few pictures and post your works here under How-To forum.

2nd to that. I was surprised that the door light switch only have one light on the latest model...

 

[jk240sx]

really. how cheap is that. redesign a new switch that does less when you already have a switch in stock? bean counters. Not like a cx9 is produced in great quantities like a camry

 

[SMARTERONE]

So, we can switch the '12 guages for the '09 or '10. I have the same car as yours '12 AWD GT Liquid Silver. What a MISTAKE, trading my 2009 AWD GT for this. It seriously feels stripped and I find myself trying to find a way to bring it up to the '09 standards.

I have been trying to trade it back in for the 2009 but would seriously take a $$$ beating. They are only offeriing less than $30,000.00 trade for the 2012 AWD GT with Tech package, DVD entertainment and 1800 miles.

 

[SMARTERONE]

Confirmed with the dealer the '10 lighted window switch is plug and play into a '11 or '12. Part# TD1166350. I found it for $160.50 online. I am going to use my insurance hook ups to get a '10 dash cluster. LED's for ambient lighting I can do myself for about $50.00. Thanks

You will need to source the dash cluster and window switches from the 2009. All of the interior lighting was discontinued in the 2010 models. Would love if you could share pics and basic how to for the ambient lighting which is what I miss the most. I am also trying to source the 09 dash cluster, seems to be a bigger job than anticipated. It has to be set by the dealer or someone with the know how to program it.

 

[table5511]

Good luck fellas. I can see dealers getting all pissy about changing the mileage on a replacement cluster (breaking laws or something like that). I would say they would be hard to find used. www.car-part.com (not to be confused with carpart.com) lists salvage parts all around the country, that is your best bet for a nationwide salvage search.

I'll sell my lighted switches for 1 million dollars if anyone is interested lol.