Headlight auto on timing

[GraniteGreyCX7]

Hi all, I have been around this great forum for the past few weeks and learnt alot from all of you. Since then I bought my wife the CX-7 AWD GT w/ Tech on Sept 9.

So here comes my 1st thread...

I've been doing some driving w/ my wife's CX-7 and noticed that the headlight turns on very quickly ( a second or so) when the car is driving under the tree shade, highway overpass, bridges, etc (we have the light control set to AUTO).

Do any of you GT owner w/ HID lights notice that too?

Anyone knows if the dealer can set the sensitivity to something less sensitive?

Appreciate your inputs/ Joe

 

[RaiderMS3]

I have a GT with HIDs as well. Yup, it is dark on the sensor, so it will happen. It is weird though, it can be dark enough when driving to warrant headlights, and they don't come on, so I use the manual mode then.

I like headlights on all the time, as I drive an invisible P5, that can only bee seen on the road when the headlights are on. Thinking of covering the sensor so they will just be on all the time. Dash mat is the thought, not tape, of course.

 

[GraniteGreyCX7]

Thanks Raider for your input. My concern was mainly due to the sensitivity of the light sensor that turn on (and off) the HID lights so quickly and so often, HID draws alot more juice when firing up so I am not sure if this will shorten the bulbs' lifespan.

I would like to have the dealer to reprogram the light sensor for a 20 sec delays if possible, so it won't come on so quickly when I am under a short overpass.

 

[G-Papi]

Since the US versions don't have running lights, and I prefer running lights, I've covered the sensor. Oddly enough, I've found that an old 35mm film canister top fits nicely, and is almose a perfect match for the dash color.

 

[G-Papi]

That way, they're on - off with the ignition switch, all the time with the headlight switch set to auto. No delay, either way.

 

[zentrandi]

that always bothered me when we would go under an over pass on the freeway... so i just shut it off

 

[CX7_Scott]

Same here - My Chrysler (which I just traded-in for my CX-7) had auto lights, but they were "intelligent" where it wasn't just based-on a time-delay - it somehow was a combination of the amount of light reduction and how rapidly it happened. Don't know how to explain it.

The reason I don't want them to "always" be on, is because it effects the brightness of the Nav/Stereo display... it DIMS every time the lights go on and switches to "night" mode (different map colors to reduce illumination in the cockpit at night). It gets hard to read when the lights kick-on.

I don't want to set the display to ALWAYS be daytime, because I do want it to switch at night... so for now, I just deal with it switching periodically - or just shut the lights off alltogether in the daytime.

-scott

 

[GraniteGreyCX7]

My wife took her CX-7 to dealership yesterday and asked to have the auto light sensitivity adjusted but was told by the service mgr that they are not sure if it can be adjusted. My wife then refer to the owner's manual section 5/page 53 stated that the delay can be adjusted, consult your local dealership.

Now the svcs mgr told her he will call Mazda USA to find out if it was a MISPRINT and to find out if there is any procedure to adjust it. I am keeping my hope up.

 

[RaiderMS3]

The service manager told her to do that? WTF, he should do that! What a jerk. Odd, I t seems like my dealer, but you are far away. If you do get the procedures, mind posting them here if we can do it ourselves?

 

[CX7_Scott]

no no - they didn't TELL her to call Mazda... they said THEY would call Mazda to see if it was a misprint... but bottom-line: Not all dealerships are equal. Some are more on-the-ball than others.

I *may* look into doing this too - (the sensitivity adjustment, that is)... not sure how much of a need I have for the auto-lock thing. I guess it might be cool, but not a necessity for me right now.

 

[RaiderMS3]

oooh ok. That is what I read, was rather surprised they would say that. not enough coffee for me!

Hope it is easy. yeah, the dealer I am buying my speed3 from is a night and day difference from the local redneck hick town dealer I have here.

 

[pittkol]

Procedure for setting the Auto Light Sensitivity

Got the following from my Mazda Dealer. It only changes the sensitivity level and which may extend the delay time. If I could only get this procedure to work, I could find out if it fixes the lights coming on every time I pull into the garage. The Mazda dealer said he tried once but couldn't get it to work either.

A couple things in the procedure I need clearification on: What does TNS stand for. I found somewhere that it means "Tail, Number, Side" but I don't know what position that is on the light switch. I assumed the parking lights.

The other clearification I need is the (Flash to pass ON) reference, especially in step one.

So if anyone gets this procedure to work please post how you did it and if it delayed the timing of the auto lights coming on.
Thanks

ps: I'm having trouble attaching the PDF file from work so I will post the file in a seperate post or I'll type the whole thing in later.

 

[GraniteGreyCX7]

Hi Pittkol,

I am interested to see if the procedures will work or not, please post the procedures so I may try out tonight. Thanks.

 

[pittkol]

Procedure from Mazda

see attached

 

[RaiderMS3]

Sweet! I will try it out this weekend!!! If reps worked on this forum, I would give some to you.

 

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[CX7_Scott]

Tried the instructions numerous times... no avail.

Tried different permutations of the directions... if you can call them that. Not sure if they were mis-interpreted, or just not intended for this car, but got zero results.

Oh well... thanks for posting the info.
-scott

 

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[CX7_Scott]

Regardless of what setting - it states that it will *flash* the headlights once or twice to indicate its current "setting". I could not get it to flash at all.

A) The directions are not intended for this vehicle
B) They are for this vehicle, but there is a flaw in the explanation
C) User error - due to poor translation, I may just not be understanding it correctly
D) Insert additional option here

regardless... I cannot get the directions to work for me.
-scott

 

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