Daytime running lights on 2022 CX-5 can't be disabled?

[Dash Riproc]

First time poster here, apologies in advance. I know there are posts on this but this makes no sense to me and I'd like to confirm before proceeding.

We bought our daughter a 2022 CX-5 S Select a couple of months ago. She followed us to a restaurant yesterday and I noticed her lights were on even though it was the daytime. I never noticed this before, so I figured either she messed with the switch accidentally or a setting must have gotten changed or something. However, the switch was still on Auto, where as far as I know it's been since she got the car, and when I looked through the Exterior Lighing menus it does not give me an option to switch Daytime Running Lights on and off. The manual indicates that it should be there - am I missing something? This seems like such a simple thing, it's hard to believe Mazda didn't give you an option of turning this on and off.

Am I going to have to go through that whole "press the brake while doing all these switches 10 times in 2 seconds" thing that I've been seeing? Please tell me there's a better way...

Thanks!

 

[N7turbo]

Am I going to have to go through that whole "press the brake while doing all these switches 10 times in 2 seconds" thing that I've been seeing? Please tell me there's a better way...

Yup, do the procedure if you want control of the lights. It was my first "mod"

 

[Dash Riproc]

Yup, do the procedure if you want control of the lights. It was my first "mod"

Well that's just ridiculous. Why isn't this option in the menus like the manual says? Am I looking at the wrong manual or did they not have this for 2022? (I'm looking online here https://owners-manual.mazda.com/support/en/mzdc/mazdaconnect_pdf_v1/vehicles.pdf )

I'll grab her actual manual from the glove box when she gets home and see what it says.

 

[N7turbo]

It's in the menu in my ND3 MX-5, but it's never been for the CX-5 cars. Not sure about the other models.

 

[Dash Riproc]

This is bizarre. My wife has a 2024 CX-5, I've never noticed the DRL's to be on on her vehicle, and I just checked and there's no option to disable hers, either.

I see CX-5's on the road all the time and have never noticed them to have DRL's.

I'm missing something.

 

[N7turbo]

The main headlight bulb is the DRL on Mazdas. It confused me at first, too.

 

[HyFlyer]

Just a curiosity to those who want to eliminate the DRL .... Why?

Is it just fear of expensive repair/replacement of headlamps going bad from the extra use?

 

[Dash Riproc]

Just a curiosity to those who want to eliminate the DRL .... Why?

Is it just fear of expensive repair/replacement of headlamps going bad from the extra use?

That's part of it but mainly, I just don't like them. I don't think they're necessary and I think the car looks better with them off. I want to be able to decide for myself whether to have them on or not and I don't know why that should be a hard thing to do.

But I'm also very curious why I don't see them on every other CX-5 I meet on the road. I understand if you switch your headlights all the way to "OFF" they won't turn on, but I assume everybody or almost everybody keeps their switch at "AUTO" all the time. Maybe not? I keep thinking I'm missing something obvious.

 

[N7turbo]

Just a curiosity to those who want to eliminate the DRL .... Why?

Is it just fear of expensive repair/replacement of headlamps going bad from the extra use?

That and:

1. There are times I want to avoid shining my headlamps into people's windows and doors
2. There are times I want to avoid shining my headlamps in a neighborhood with a Xmas light display
3. I just prefer the way the 22+ CX-5 looks without them on during the daytime. I just drive with the LED accents.

But I'm also very curious why I don't see them on every other CX-5 I meet on the road. I understand if you switch your headlights all the way to "OFF" they won't turn on, but I assume everybody keeps the switch at "AUTO" all the time. Maybe not? I keep thinking I'm missing something obvious.

The answer is that all CX-5s 2017+ have automatic daytime running lamps when exceeding ~5 mph. The DRL is the main headlight bulb, and they cannot be disabled with the light switch. Don't ask me why Mazda did this.

 

[Dash Riproc]

The main headlight bulb is the DRL on Mazdas. It confused me at first, too.

Right. I guess on some models the DRL's are the LED's. This one isn't, it's the actual headlights. (2022 S Select).

My wife has a 2024 Premium Plus, hers might have the LED's. I need to check that. If I had to choose I'd rather that be the DRL's but ultimately I'd rather just be able to deactivate them if I want.

That and:

1. There are times I want to avoid shining my headlamps into people's windows and doors
2. There are times I want to avoid shining my headlamps in a neighborhood with a Xmas light display
3. I just prefer the way the 22+ CX-5 looks without them on during the daytime. I just drive with the LED accents.

The answer is that all CX-5s 2017+ have automatic daytime running lamps when exceeding ~5 mph. The DRL is the main headlight bulb, and they cannot be disabled with the light switch. Don't ask me why Mazda did this.

I mispoke - I reread the manual and the DRL's go off when you turn the headlight switch to "ON". Well duh, now your headlights are on.

So how is everybody else driving around without their DRL's on? I know all these people didn't do that "10 steps in 5 seconds while the brake's on" thing.

 

[RedBaron]

So how is everybody else driving around without their DRL's on? I know all these people didn't do that "10 steps in 5 seconds while the brake's on" thing.

I think you are just not seeing them.

 

[Conrad 16.5]

The obviously superior 2016.5 CX-5 does not use the main headlights as DRL's, instead, there's a dedicated bulb for this. No worries about using up your bulb life.

DRL's are a safety feature and personally, I like them.

Being a motorcyclist, ANYTHING that increases your conspicuity is a good thing. If the DRL's prevent even ONE person from pulling out in front of you, or turning in front of you, it's a good thing and well worth whatever perceived inconvenience they may cause you.

 

[Mazdiod2]

So how is everybody else driving around without their DRL's on? I know all these people didn't do that "10 steps in 5 seconds while the brake's on" thing.

That's what I did.

 

[cz5gt]

that was the very first thing I did too on my 2018 and then on the 2022. Stupid design for DRL.
If it gets on the dark side outside, headlights are set to most sensitive auto mode and turn on automatically.

 

[Dash Riproc]

I think you are just not seeing them.

You are right and I stand corrected. I was out running errands this morning and paying close attention to every Mazda I saw, CX-5 or otherwise, and they all had the DRL's on. I have no idea why I never noticed it before, I could have sworn I never saw one with DRL's on.

Still don't like them, still wish I could easily disable them. Oh well.

 

[N7turbo]

I really like the look of the 22+ with DRLs off.

 

[Dash Riproc]

I really like the look of the 22+ with DRLs off.

View attachment 331500

That does look light years better (pun intended). How do you get that? Is it parking lights for certain models or is there a setting? We have a 22 S Select and a 24 Premium Plus.

 

[hsdejong]

Some insights:

Daytime running lamp - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[N7turbo]

That does look light years better (pun intended). How do you get that? Is it parking lights for certain models or is there a setting? We have a 22 S Select and a 24 Premium Plus.

Yup, Parking mode on Premium and above trims.

 

[Moonlighter]

Europe mandated DRL’s on all new cars back in 2011.

Japan and Canada also mandated them on all new cars some time ago. Australia is currently considering the issue but as it stands, if the car is fitted with them, then they must be used here.

Believe it or not there has actually been research that was published in an reputable journal in 2023 that found that they reduced daytime multi-vehicle crash risk by around 9% and during dawn and dusk and periods of poor light (heavy rain etc) that figure increased to around 20%. This safety benefit is attributed to improving the visibility of vehicles running DRL’s.

Summary and link can be found here:

https://www.monash.edu/muarc/news-and-events/articles/muarc-research-highlights-the-potential-safety-benefits-of-mandating-daytime-running-lights-for-new-vehicles

One would think that anything that helps reduce the chances of an accident would be welcomed with open arms. Multiply that x 5 when new inexperienced drivers are concerned as they are over represented in accident stats.