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Lighting

Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2018 12:13 pm
by Dogfuzz
Am a little confused--be grateful for one or two quickie replies ( if poss...no link to the dreaded on line manual plse-ta-which -to me-repeats itself then contradicts itself!).
1) Noticed a little green light on the dash last night(it was dark)-flicked the lights on the stalk-the green light went out-and the info screen went from dim to full --what's happening?
2) At first I thought the green light was something to do with the coolant( it seems to be in exactly the same position on the dash as the blue(cold) coolant light--but clearly not.
3) This morning(daylight)--sat in vehicle before starting and the little green light was ON .
Put 2 and 2 together and sussed that one of the rotators on the light stalk was on AUTO ....switched to off and the green light went out.
MY QUESTION-Can someone write me a one or two line answer as to what is happening here-please. What is automatic in terms of headlights coming on or not, should I leave the 2 stalk revolves on auto or one on auto and then other not--or both off? .....
I am of the old school( switch ON for on and OFF for off!!!) and am perfectly capable of deciding whether it is dark or not and compensate accordingly-happy to leave it on auto if that is what Mazda recommend -but would rather not have any green "fully functioning" little lights on the dash if i can help it. As for the info screen--either is fully dimmed in darkness or fully on plse--no piccadilly circus antics if poss?
All easy advice welcome-repeat--have read manual and whilst i can broadly understand it --it don't half keep repeating itself and muddling me( the reader!)
If it's dark or dusk-I want to be able to turn my headlights on--and if it's broad daylight--i like to make the decision to have the lights switched off!.....
Looking forward to being told I am a bit stupid---but would really welcome a guideline finger or 2!

Re: Lighting

Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2018 12:31 pm
by jtonline
Green indicator on instrument cluster is a representation of two lights facing away from each other. When lit it means your sidelights/headlights are on.

Lighting stalk on steering wheel when set to Auto will turn the lights on when the ambient light is below set threshold and off when above.

Auto light level threshold adjustment is in Settings on the Infotainment screen.

When the lights are on, the instrument cluster and infotainment screen illumination is dimmed.

If you don't want to have the Auto on/off lighting don't leave the lighting stalk on Auto, just twist to sidelights or headlights position when you want lights on and off when you want them off.

The inner part of the lighting stalk turns on/off your front/rear fog lights if the headlights are on, and for obvious reasons, doesn't have an auto setting.

Re: Lighting

Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2018 1:15 pm
by Dogfuzz
Amazingly helpful--this needs to be in the manual.10 star reply!
Thanks--great

Re: Lighting

Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2018 1:45 pm
by Strangways
Hi Dogfuzz, as always JT has summed it up perfectly.
Like you, I want to be able to control my lights myself and never have them switched on Auto.
I have relayed this story on here before. When I had my first car with auto lights they decided to switch on as dusk was approaching and a driver in a side turning thought I was indicating for him to pull out. I'm not sure how I managed to avoid hitting him, but needless to say they have never been used since. Only last week I was following another car who had his lights on auto and exactly the same thing happened to him. In my opinion auto lights should be banned.

Re: Lighting

Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2018 9:00 pm
by HouseSpider
When the head lights come on the infotainment screen dims only if you have set it to do so. If you twist the odometer reset switch (the right hand one of the two above the instrument display) you can have either the auto dimming function or have the display remain at a constant brightness. I find it too bright at night so use the dimming setting. It also is an indication of when your head lights come on if set to auto on/off.
Auto on/off also enables the main beam assist if you have that option.

Re: Lighting

Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2018 11:02 am
by HouseSpider
I've noticed that whilst the headlights, DRL, rear lights etc are all LED but the indicator are standard incadecent. Has anyone upgraded these to LED and did you have any problem with the low resistance(CAN?)?