autostick panel lights

[loccusst]

Are the + and - supposed to light up next to the gear selector whith the rest of the instrument and dash lights? Thought maybe it was only if you go into manual but that wasn't the case either. Also is the cigaret/12volt accesory (orange circle around the hole) supposed to illuminate also when the dash lights are on?

 

[+ friction]

Neither light up on my 5.

 

[loccusst]

that seems strange to me, how about anyone else? Why wouldn't the + and - not light up. I think when it gets warmer I might see if there is a way to make them light up.

 

[tttP5]

i guess the figure that u know what up and down is for..... like manuals they don't light up the gear pattern cause I guess you are supposed to know...

buecase it is easy to shift into wrong gear in auto therefore the lighted words?

 

[loccusst]

Actually the autostick has a safety feature that wont let you shift down into the gear at certain rpms for the safety of the engine when using the + and -. I just thought there might be something wrong with the lighting in the gear shift cluster by the shifter.I don't need them to light up. I love the autostick.

I get a kick out of the lighted manual gear shift nobs you can buy. Like you said, you should know the gears.

 

[Micah]

I've said this before, not sure if anyone will ever do it.

I would love to have the Gear indicator permanantly on. So I could drive and watch the tranny go through the gears. Be kinda kewl to see when it downshifts to 4-3-2 or just 4-3 depending on how hard you step on the gas.

just a thought

 

[loccusst]

That would be interesting. I wonder if there is a way to do that?

 

[Micah]

yeah, and that is about as far as it ever gets.

 

[loccusst]

I'm sure you could probably find a module used in rally cars to modify for it. I asume that the way it works in our car has to do with a sensor being triggerd when you select up and a seperate sensor for when you select down, all located down in the console by the selector. These probably tell the ecu what gear you want which relays it to the brain for the transmission. Although maybe its as simple as tricking the numbers on the dash to think the autostick is ingaged all the time. This would be possible if there is a trigor in the column by the selector. Course I'm just guessing.

 

[loccusst]

Now I am wondering if you could install finger triggers like in the rally cars on the backside of the steering wheel. they look like finger pedals. Hmmmmm...... I wonder if my wife would let me do that to her car?

 

[SilvrProtege5NJ]

What bothers me is why couldnt have mazda illuminated the cruise control buttons on the steering wheel? Not like you need it after using it a few times and figuring out what button is what by feel. But, it would have been a nice touch...

 

[loccusst]

While we are at it why doesn't every button light up? If it did it would look like Darth Vaders bathroom. lol

 

[IchBinEinMP5]

How about someone build a 5 speed manual with the paddle shifters behind the wheel? All you need is a few solenoids...

 

[loccusst]

Now that would rock.