So I'm getting rid of that lousy factory antenna.......and it's too expensive to have that area painted over so I'm thinking I would like to have it functional in some way. What I want to do is install something like what they have on some GM cars that when it gets dark the lights automatcially come on (not daytime driving lights). I would like to stick the "eye" in the area where the old antenna would be. Anyone done this before? Does anyone know what exactly I would need to buy ?...

 

thats something definately i have not seen done on our cars, as for the type of sensor, it's a type of photo-electric sensor that is even simple to purchase at radioshack, however, the implications of wiring such a project is mostly greek to me, basically, you would need the 'eye', so to speak, to trigger a switch on your headlight ground or positive. something you'd wire directly into your steering colum to turn on your dash backlighting and everything. it's not something mazda has designed for our cars and would take a bit of engineering to do. i mean, i'm pretty sure GM had a development team to create this product, test it, modify it and wire it. here's your first step in this is figuring out how the system works, mainly by researching how GM cars automatically sense daylight versus darkness, maybe even retro-fitting some parts from they're dealership catalog of parts. you might be in way over your head on this issue, but if it's a true desire and you have the money and the time, do the research... not many people here would be able to help you with this system, and if they can, they haven't been reading this post. sorry for the short-commings, but good luck. hope this piece helps you out a little bit.
peace

 

Actually it would be pretty easy. Just have the photoelectric cell trigger a relay that is in parrallel with your headlight switch. Could be done very eaisily unless I'm forgetting something.

 

easy my ***... what happens when you drive at night under street lights or inside a VERY well lit tunnel? yeah.. the lights will flicker... think about the little night lights with the sensors...

 

Ah, I did forget something. You might be able to use a delay of some sort....Then you would have the problem of making sure the lights went off when you turn the car off....Hmmm...seems as if I wasn't thinking very well....

 

that is why you need a computer module... let's not talk about the wiring hell either

 

The automatic headlights come on as soon as the car is placed in drive on my old man's Impala.No they are not the running lights I'm talking about. There is no photo electric cell. There is something on my friend's Tbird super coupe, where there is one of those PECs that lowers the beams if there is an oncoming car. If I'm not mistaken the running lights on his car, like most other cars come on when you release the parking brake.

 

that's DRL retard... it doesn't matter how it's activated.. read what eltonr said... he doesn't want DRLs!

 

Automatic headlights are what it said in the ****** brochure, and they come on when he puts the car into drive. the parking lights and low beams come on.

 

it's still a DRL/100% on headlights if it doesn't "automatically detect" anything

 

wow...easy there, why is everyone so bitter on this site?

Yeah I want something like they have on gm cars....on my father's car he never puts the headlights (or the interior lights) on they come on automatically. The Mazda Running lights don't automatically put the dash lights on..I never really thought of the whole nightlight scenerao where the lights would be coming on and off all the time..I guess the easiest thing would be to take my dad's car apart and see how it works and then hopefully buy the parts for it.........hmmmmmm anyone know any websites that might have info on how the gm version works???? I'll search the internet but if you have come across a good site PM me.

Thanks

 

oh yeah on my fathers's intrigue his daytime running lights are ambers lights like the ones that are in the headlights of the 2000+ progtege. When it gets dark then the headlights automatically turn on and the lights inside the car turn on. when he enters a tunnel or a dark garage then the lights come on too......they seem to work pretty well...I haven't noticed the lights flashing on and off when it's gettting close to dusk.

 

if you want to waste your time/put your effort into making something work so that you can be lazy from turning on the lights then go for it..... get the wiring diagrams for the cars and figure it out from there

 

Try this site

Auto Barn

 

Why the **** do people want auto headlights?!?!?!?! I work at a dealership and I HATE them!

I even disabled my DRL's!