anybody else have this problem?

[mzd3vr]

I just got a brand new 2004 Mazda 3 from a respectable dealership just a few weeks ago. I have less than 1000 miles on it and suddenly I am getting some bizarre electrical problems.

First, even though the interior lights are set on "Door", they still don't turn off when all the doors are closed. Second, if any of the doors are open and I put the key into the ignition, it will start making a wierd clicking noise instantly, and it doesn't stop (the clicking is the same exact noise it makes when you use the power locks. basically, it seems like it's trying to lock the doors over and over and over again). However, as soon as I close the doors, the clicking will stop.

I have checked all the fuses and there seems to be nothing wrong with them. The wierdest thing I noticed is that none of this happens if the engine is on (the interior lights actually turn on and off the way they're supposed to when it's set on "Door"). I suspect a short somewhere perhaps in the fuse box, but I would really doubt it, considering how new the car is. Besides, I have no idea why it doesn't give me the problems with the door lights if the engine is on, whereas if the engine was off (such as at night, when I exit the car and walk away), the lights just stay on... Any suggestions? Thanks.

 

[KpaBap]

Go back to the dealer.

Common sense is hard to come by these days.

Welcome.

 

[El Ropo]

Umm, i had a similar sort of lighting thing in my '98 Camaro SS. It's a convenience feature, called delayed entry lighting, so you have some light as you leave and enter the car. You should notice that when you unlock your doors with the remote, your interior lights will come on. When you open your door to get out of the car, the interior lights will come on, then about 30 seconds after you get out and close the door, they will gradually fade to off. Be sure to hang around for a minute to see if your lights are turning themselves off. If they are, then there is NO ISSUE.

The locking thing I can't explain, other than make an edumacated guess that it may be related to an alarm system. My 3 doesn't have a factory alarm, but I know many of them are setup nowadays to lock the doors when you either start your car, or put it in drive, etc. There is ALSO a feature on these mazdas that will keep you from locking the door if the door is open. So if your alarm is trying to lock the door, but the door is open, I can see that system getting stuck in a loop so to speak. Alarm says "LOCK", then anti lock out feature says "UNLOCK" cuz a door is open. The result is the same as a kid playing with your door lock button