Hello everybody,

I'm a relatively new owner of a 2005 Mazda 3 sedan, the one with the 1.6l petrol engine. I bought the car in September last year off a car lot, it was unregistered as it was recently imported from Austria (i'm from Romania), and while i never really given this problem much thought i decided to try and fix it. The issue at hand is the following: the headlights turn on AUTOMATICALLY whenever i start the engine, being unable to turn them off (it's like the switch isn't there) until i turn off the engine, so the headlights stay on all the time, i can however turn them on and off as i like whenever the engine is off (the switch works). Coupled with that is the fact that if the fog lights switch is on the OFF position the car sees it as being ON when the engine is off and the dash makes an annoying sound and flashes whenever i open the door (the dash flashes even with the door closed), so i have to keep the fog lights switch on the ON position when the engine is not running, and i have to turn them off when the engine starts and the lights turn on. Has anybody got an idea what is going on? Could the AUTO lights be an aftermarket mod or from the factory? Is there any way i could fix these issues myself?

 

Auto headlights were a Mazda option that could be ordered with the car or fitted later from a kit by the owner or dealer. e.g. Genuine MAZDA 3 2009 AUTO LIGHTS ON KIT | eBay If you can track down the installation instructions that come with the kit you could uninstall it. Also check that you don't have a dashmat or something else covering the sensor that turns the lights on when it senses it is dark enough. If you have auto lights there may be a leaflet in the owner's manual folder explaining their operation.

 

Sometimes the auto lights sensor is behind the rear view mirror rather than on the dash near the bottom of the windscreen so also check there is nothing hanging on the mirror (no crystals or fluffy dice please) or that the sensor lens is not covered with dirt or grime (clean it with isoprol or similar).

 

Also see Auto On/Off Headlights - The Workshop - OZMAZDA.com - Australian Mazda Owners Car Club/Forum and http://www.ozmazda.com/board/index.p...ff-headlights/ and http://www.mazdone.com/minfo-199.html

 

And Auto Headlight Sensor - Mazda3 Forums : The #1 Mazda 3 Forum .... maybe the windscreen was replaced with one that does not have the automatic sensor.

 

Thing is, the windscreen seems stock, it has the same writing as the other windows on the car (Saint-gobain sekurit). I tried doing the parking lights with ignition ON trick but it didn't work. What bugs me most is the fog light switch that makes the dash beep when i open the drivers' side door. Also, the fog lights turn ON with the parking lights, is it just me or that sounds fishy?

 

There is no light sensor on the windshield, i do have a small nipple on the dash right in the middle but as i understand it that's just a temperature sensor.

 

More likely it's a sunload sensor if you have automatic climate control; if not it is likely for the auto lights. But try covering it as see if the behaviour of the lights changes.


Check the wiring around the fuse box (disconnect battery and unscrew the fuse box and look at its rear) as most of the genuine Mazda kits for auto lights and security alarms etc use fuse jumpers and wiring splices near or on the back of the fuse box. Check for this type of connector as they are often used in these genuine Mazda kits and are notorious for failing: