elclip1

My daughter’s 2004 Mazda 3 has got an intermittent problem. The running and dash lights will either not come on when the headlights switch is turned on, or occasionally, while they are on, they will go out.
I’ve checked the fuses and just this week had the combination switch replaced.
Ideas on how to fix or at least diagnose the problem?

Thanks in advance

Drew C

Mine are doing the same thing - did you have any luck? Its not the fuse for me. Sometimes the gauge lights and the running lights turn on, sometimes no. More times than not they wont turn on. I was wondering if it could be some sort of light sensor? (Gauge backlights did not come on during day time ever)

04 Mazda 3, 141k miles

elclip1

Drew

In the end, we decided that it was the "Brain Box" that had the issue. This is the fuse box located under the glove box. I found one on line and swapped it out and that seems to have been the problem.
A word of warning though - the part numbering for thise boxes is confusing as hell and they are very much model specific. I ended up talking to a Mazda service center to have them check the VIN and tell me which one to look for.

Good luck
B