Electrical Issues & Mirror

[pHase1]

I have searched the tread a found nothing on this subject, but is anyone else having the same issue?

I work nights, so I notice this when I am either driving to or from in the dark:

1. Every ~32 second, my electrical system will send out two pulses (noticable in the headlights) where they will dim twice.

2. The passanger mirror. If you notice on the drivers (or mine) the mirror matches up perfectly, but on the passanger, it is almost pulled too far forward. With the mirror adjusted, I am at the outermost point of adjustment.

I took the car into the dealership over the weekend and they applied the new flash to it. Which 90% fixed the hesitation problem, still noticable, but livable and they told me the electrical tested fine and the flash has fixed it. Driving to work this evening, i still noticed the lights dimming.

They also told me that all MSP mirrors are like that, nothing they can do.

Thanks for any help in this manner.

 

[NEED4SPEED]

Guess what... its your air conditioning! I too noticed this and have counted the time in between. When i have my air on and have my windows rolled down, and the car at a stand still, about every 30 seconds or so i hear this "pssst" sound. Probably from the compressor or some hose. But when i have my lights on and the air on, they seem to both do thier thing at the same time (lights dim at the same time the "pssst" sound happens).

Test it out and let me know.

 

[MazdaDryvr]

I have the same issue with the passenger mirror. But it seems to be that way on most proteges of all types. My P5 had the same thing, the mirror housing doesnt line up properly with the mount.

 

[JDuncan]

My lights are doing the two pulse thing too. Has there been any resolution to this? It isn't the AC because I am not even running it. I also seem to have a noticeable difference in light output between idle and light throttle, but my alternator tests ok.

Switch overheating somewhere? Anyone?

 

[mazdaRX]

mine does the same thing, i am taking mine in next week to have it looked at, it also revs and drops during electical <surges>, if you will, if i am idle at stop. when i turn on rear defroster i hear a snap like a small static shock, never used the a/c in the car. maybe something isn't grounded right, we shall find out

 

[1sty]

I believe all the proteges do it atleast my P5 does and my MP3 did before the HO alternator. THe factory ECU actualy regulates the alternator so I alsways assumed the flickering was the ECu altering the alternators output.

 

[JDuncan]

I dunno. It started doing it on my car around 900ish miles and has gotten progressively worse. I'm at 1200 now and if you have had your car doing it the way mine is, I can't believe you just overlook it. It is almost like the lights are turning off and on twice. It drives me crazy!!!!!11

Anywho, I guess I will have to wait until whatever it is breaks because the dealer will probably play dumb.

 

[Tex]

Same thing here, except I don't notice the two pulse thing. My lights only dim once, and it's an almost instantaneous thing. Just a flicker when the cooling fan comes on. I had it tested at the dealer, and they said the fans were drawing the correct amps. Like JDuncan, I'll live with it 'till something breaks, then get the dealer to fix it.

 

[BremertonMSP]

Same thing here, except I don't notice the two pulse thing. My lights only dim once, and it's an almost instantaneous thing. Just a flicker when the cooling fan comes on. I had it tested at the dealer, and they said the fans were drawing the correct amps. Like JDuncan, I'll live with it 'till something breaks, then get the dealer to fix it.

It's the initial rush of current that loads the electrical system down when the fans first kick on. I've hated this problem from day one of owning the car. It was also present on my P5 when I owned that car. I just never understood why they cycle the fans while the car is in motion.

It would have been nice if Mazda would have upgraded the alternator on the MSP since they put a more powerful then stock stereo system in it.

I have noticed one benefit of this problem though. At the drag races, I will turn the interior fan on with the selector in the defrost position. This will kick the two engine compartment fans on, and cool the IC down. I turn the interior fan off just before turning the second staging light on. I think it helps with heat soak while waiting to race.

 

[1sty]

THe MSp system does nothing to load the alternator down. It barley pulls any juice at all.

If anything the alternators voltage regulator needs to be better controled by the ECU to stop kicking off or the trigger more output more unoticably.

 

[mspdfreak]

I talked to an electrician about this problem. He thinks it's not the alternator itself, but the wires being of too small a gauge. He said he ran into the same problem on a house. Everytime the A/C kicked on, all the lights in the house would flicker because the cable coming from the pole was too small for the current demand. So maybe when the fans kick in on our cars, the current draw is more than that size wire can conduct efficiently. Just a thought.