hidden personalization features

[xtrailman]

All modern cars have DRL's. They are required. Some are LED, some are ffilament. In the US I've never noticed that Audi DRL's are any more visible than most others.



My CX-5 came with LED DRL's. I believe it's part of the Tech package. I do not think they are anymore visible than the non-Tech DRL's but they do consume less wattage (and thus less drag on the generator).

Xtrailman, have you made the leap into a new CX-5 yet?

Still waiting for a Mazda fix to the rising oil level, as i want a diesel.

Maybe the UK sport version has Led DDL's, but as they sell the Led strips that fit the bumper as an accessory, i assumed they weren't.

I'm getting myself into a corner though by waiting as my car now needs new tyres, a service, and MOT, so it looks like at least the middle of next year before i change, assuming i buy tyres etc.

Unless Mazda come up with a quick fix.

One advantage to waiting is the discount is now up to 2k for the sport manual 175.

 

[Gio26NJ]

My CX-5 came with LED DRL's. I believe it's part of the Tech package. I do not think they are anymore visible than the non-Tech DRL's but they do consume less wattage (and thus less drag on the generator)

Mike, are you sure your Tech came with LED DRL? The reason I'm asking is because I have the GT with Tech as well and mine had regular sylvania filament bulbs in the DRL housing. I bought white LED bulbs to replace those and they look great.

 

[Barnstaple boy]

I'm not surprised that you chaps in the US try to disable the DRL's if you have to put up with a dimmed headlight! In the UK we have the pretty LED running lights like Audi and BMW etc. I think they look quite sharp. LED DRL Upgrade kits for older cars are all the thing here at the moment to make an older car appear to be a more recent model. I've seen quite a few "Jack the lads" driving around trying to look the business in elderly hatchbacks with add on LED DRL's. Are the LED type DRL's available in the US?

 

[jtsimaras]

I think you're talking about the diagnostics screen, someone had posted how to get in there too lazy to search now. I wouldn't mess with anything in there though if there actually is any type of setting you can change.

Screen comes up but what codes do you enter?

 

[MikeM.]

Mike, are you sure your Tech came with LED DRL? The reason I'm asking is because I have the GT with Tech as well and mine had regular sylvania filament bulbs in the DRL housing. I bought white LED bulbs to replace those and they look great.

Actually, I'm not. I've been trying to get a look at the DRL's while turned on but it's tough - DRL's turn off if the car is in Park or the handbrake is applied. I based my comment on the manual specifications which says the DRL's are 60W with standard headlights and 13W with xenon fusion headlights - I assumed the 13W lights must be LED's but it looks like that's probably a bad assumption based upon your experience.

 

[jtsimaras]

If every car had to have DRL's in the US it would sure add up to a lot of extra fuel and reduced longevity of electronics.
Here is an interesting article:
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/fuel-economy/drl-gas-consumption1.htm

 

[Barnstaple boy]

The LED DRL's consume even less than that!

 

[ta240]

" You could get some low-beam headlights capable of 160 watts per vehicle, or you could opt for the more economical LED-based lamps that use only 16 watts per vehicle"

Those are some mighty bright "low" beams at 80 watts per bulb. They have a valid point about using 'more' fuel but as so often happens the numbers they use aren't right and are skewed in the direction they want the results to go. Most actual DRLs use the high beams on partial power or a different much lower power bulb. Real DRLs aren't the same as driving around with your low beams on, and someone writing an article on it should know that.

The owners manual lists our DRLs for models with HID lights at 13 watts for a total of 26. And the other models use the high beams at partial power, not sure what the wattage is on that, but it is definitely not the full 60 of the high beams. Yes, that still takes power and still draws on the alternator but far less than their imaginary 160 watt DRLs.

I don't hear anyone complaining that they shouldn't put an external amplifier in the audio system because it will take extra gas. Giving people something else to blame gas usage on rather then their driving habits is a mistake to me. If you could convince people that every time they brake hard they are wasting gas then you could save way more than cutting out DRLs would do. The common driver doesn't understand that their brakes simply turn the energy created by burning gas into heat on the rotors.

 

[mazdachris]

If every car had to have DRL's in the US it would sure add up to a lot of extra fuel and reduced longevity of electronics.
Here is an interesting article:
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/fuel-economy/drl-gas-consumption1.htm

Interesting read. I think it would serve the worlds oil crisis if the Ford F 150 or other pick up trucks did not sell so well.

Drls are law in Canada. I for one, prefer it. Silver is a bad color to see oncoming on a gray day. IMO.

 

[jtsimaras]

Interesting read. I think it would serve the worlds oil crisis if the Ford F 150 or other pick up trucks did not sell so well.

Drls are law in Canada. I for one, prefer it. Silver is a bad color to see oncoming on a gray day. IMO.

Would agree silver sucks in fog and overcast conditions......not sure why the CX5 did not come with LED's running the high beams on half power still consumes near 60 watts.... and switching them out for LED's is not an option as most of us need high beams that work. The CX5 came with great tech stuff but not hear as for DRL's...

 

[SayNoToPistons]

The new Mazda6 will come with LED DRL's. Of course Mazda won't bang out R&D costs for the first Kodo design production car (CX-5), especially with their target sales price that beats main streamers such as the Rav4 and CRV. Look for it in the mid-life cycle refresh.

 

[MikeM.]

Would agree silver sucks in fog and overcast conditions......not sure why the CX5 did not come with LED's running the high beams on half power still consumes near 60 watts.... and switching them out for LED's is not an option as most of us need high beams that work. The CX5 came with great tech stuff but not hear as for DRL's...

I believe the lights supplied with the tech package in the US have DRL's that only consume 13W each (per owner's manual).

 

[paris1]

Touring A/C default setting question

So I finally went back to my owner's manual to find out why the A/C comes on when I don't want it to! Sure enuf, there on page 5-5, it states:
"When the mode is set to [face] or [face/floor] with the fan control dial in a position other than 0 and the temperature control dial in the maximum cold position, the air intake selector switches to the recirculated air mode and the A/C turns on automatically. If A/C is not desired, press the A/C switch to turn it off"
Am I the only one who thinks this is just plain wierd and has anyone discovered how to reverse this default setting?

 

[dad of jon]

So I finally went back to my owner's manual to find out why the A/C comes on when I don't want it to! Sure enuf, there on page 5-5, it states:
"When the mode is set to [face] or [face/floor] with the fan control dial in a position other than 0 and the temperature control dial in the maximum cold position, the air intake selector switches to the recirculated air mode and the A/C turns on automatically. If A/C is not desired, press the A/C switch to turn it off"
Am I the only one who thinks this is just plain wierd and has anyone discovered how to reverse this default setting?

that makes no sense but then I have had a (drunk) or two....

 

[msteed]

So I finally went back to my owner's manual to find out why the A/C comes on when I don't want it to! Sure enuf, there on page 5-5, it states:
"When the mode is set to [face] or [face/floor] with the fan control dial in a position other than 0 and the temperature control dial in the maximum cold position, the air intake selector switches to the recirculated air mode and the A/C turns on automatically. If A/C is not desired, press the A/C switch to turn it off"
Am I the only one who thinks this is just plain wierd and has anyone discovered how to reverse this default setting?

This should be a different thread, but yes, forcing the A/C on for defrost is rarely required (or desired) in non-tropical climates. Yet somehow all the auto companies do it. There's gotta be a switch on the selector but I haven't gotten in there to disconnect it yet. That was the fix on my Vibe (aka Toyota).

 

[PSUENGR]

So I finally went back to my owner's manual to find out why the A/C comes on when I don't want it to! Sure enuf, there on page 5-5, it states:
"When the mode is set to [face] or [face/floor] with the fan control dial in a position other than 0 and the temperature control dial in the maximum cold position, the air intake selector switches to the recirculated air mode and the A/C turns on automatically. If A/C is not desired, press the A/C switch to turn it off"
Am I the only one who thinks this is just plain wierd and has anyone discovered how to reverse this default setting?

I would say it is kind of weird, but I for one would like the feature. I very rarely turn the temperature knob to max cold unless it is hot out and I want the AC on. When it is not very hot out and I want cold air I usually open the windows rather than rely on the vent system, especially since the air from the vents always is warmer than the outside air even when turned down all the way. Definitely wish my protege had this feature.

This should be a different thread, but yes, forcing the A/C on for defrost is rarely required (or desired) in non-tropical climates. Yet somehow all the auto companies do it. There's gotta be a switch on the selector but I haven't gotten in there to disconnect it yet. That was the fix on my Vibe (aka Toyota).

A/C is usually required to defrost the windows when it is cold out as it is the only way to dehumidify the air which is what causes the condensation on the windows in the first place. Even in cars where the A/C light doesn't come on when you turn the knob to defrost, the compressor is still running for the purpose I just stated. The only exception to this that I know of is the now defunct VW Phaeton which had an independent humidifier built in which automatically ran whenever the humidity got above some preset point.

 

[paris1]

Uh, sorry guys, but in Northern Calif when one turns on the vent system (no matter what position the dials are in) one expects outside air at whatever temp that is. If I want climate controlled air, I would either turn on the heat or A/C. I don't expect the car to try and second guess my needs. Just does not work for me!