Gomez

Only a few things annoy me about the 8, the oil pressure idiot gauge, lack of telescopic steering wheel, annoying cupholder placement and the inability to put a milk crate in the boot are up there. I can't do anything about those things, maybe Mazda will address those issues in the RX-9.

The door open chime, I did do something about. I like to occasionally run the stereo with the door open....not an unreasonable thing to ask, surely? The drivers door activates the chime when the key is in the ignition and the door is open. The key needs to be in the ignition to run the stereo, unfortunately. My XR8 Falcon allows me to run the stereo for an hour without the key in the ignition (Holden do the same with the Commode, apparently...). Why Mazda don't have this feature is beyond me.

Okay, I could remove the instrument cluster and kill the chime.....but then the redline beeper and headlight on warning would not work. Turned out there was an easier way, anyway.
There is a two wire connector on the ignition switch that sends a signal to the keyless control module when a key is inserted. I disconnected this and tied it back to prevent any annoying rattles!

Disconnecting this connector does a few things.....it stops the door open chime (hooray), it prevents the interior/mirror lights coming on when the key is removed from the ignition (this still happens when a door is opened, so no big deal), and removes the signal that disables the remote key fob....ie you can now lock the doors with the fob while the key is in the ignition (Edit: in Acc and Lock only...). If you have an alarm installed, it may affect its arming in some way, too.

Pics attached......

Gomez

There is a lower steering column cover that just clips out to allow easy access. The shroud over the ignition switch is easily removed with 3 screws to be undone from beneath.....here you see I have left the lower half of the shroud dangling by the key illumination wiring.....make sure you disconnect and tie back the connector with the blue and pink wires! You can see it dangling down here and in the above picture.......Reassemble, and you're done!

Gomez

All too easy.........now I tried to get the stereo to run without the key by shorting out the accessory relay contacts with the relay removed. This worked, but the clock was permanently illuminated, even with the stereo off and key out. Doing this also permanently powered the cigarette lighter and accessory socket....no bad thing IMO. If I can suss out a way to remove the backlighting power from the clock/info display, I'll be home and hosed!
The relay is this one where the tip of the key is....

Gomez.

guy321

Nice work!

Also, There's a single red/white wire running down the sright side of the car to the switch on the door.

You could have spliced a switch into that wire and then you could easily turn the door chime on and off, along with the lights.

Hymee

iTrader: (1)

Well done Gomez!

That is a top quality technical post.

Cheers,
Hymee.

PS - All my Mazda's, starting with a '92 323 Astina SP have had this somewhat annoying trait. At least my Commodore was smart enough to turn the headlights off when I got out, instead of just complaining about it like the '8. But then again, the Commodore had an absolutely pathetic horn. At least the '8s horn sounds like it has some *****.

Gomez

Hey Man, who let you out of the Lounge!!!

Yeah, the thought passed through my mind, but that idea involved too much work...and I am an inherently lazy individual:p
This way the lights still work when the door is open, which is handy, unless your doing surveillance.........
Morticia is still faithfull, so her boyfriend tells me anyway.....

guy321

Well, I haven't done it.. I don't like the lights on tho, so that's a + for me lol.. I haven't done it because I'm lazy too, but I'd want to have a switch to disable both sides and I didn't want to go under the dash and find the wire for the other side...

Great post tho.. atleast now there's options for people to do it either way..

Sometimes my posts are informative!!

Shouldn't this be in DIY anyway ?

guy321

THis is how I currently disable the chime and lights..

:D

Lock & Load

Gomez

Nice job , however the easiest way to stop the door chime is to remove right hand side rear aluminium door skin and disconnect it .
( simple and quick , just be carefull not to brake rear door clips )

cheers
michael

Hymee

iTrader: (1)

Gomez,

Why don't you duplicate into the DIY forum, and add to your international acclaim. I don't think I have enough powers to move it there.

Cheers,
Hymee.

Gomez

Done.....!

Gomez

Michael, I didn't open up the rear door, but the wiring diagrams show only the one signal going back to the control module, so I would lose all interior (and external mirror) light function with the drivers door open. At night, to have these working is handy......guy321's idea would overcome that problem, but as I said, his idea is too much hard work!!

BVD

Nice post Gomez, and nice pics too.

Being a bit of a bushie at heart, I have my own somewhat more low tech solution for convincing the car that the door is shut.

It’s a fine example of Australian country craftsmanship, which conforms to the Australian Standard for modified sticks – which if memory serves, is AS12345WTF

(BTW, I think this is my first sticky post. )

Gomez

BVD, that's a pisser.....!

Where can I buy one of those sticks?

Gomez.

Lock & Load

BVD

You could have a real OZ winning RX8 aftermarket product there , from what i have seen on this forum the Americans will buy anything for their RX8 , HOWEVER YOU WILL HAVE TO POST DYNO BEFORE AND AFTER FIGURES .HE HE HE HA .

cheers
michael

BVD

Gomez,

Gum Tree Enterprises are the sole agent.

Fortunately, they are bound to have a branch near you.. :D


Michael,

Good point about the American market - it's a perfect accessory to keep in your trunk....

Cheers,

Chris
(sorry about all the terribel puns, and I haven't even had a drink yet tonight. )

Hymee

iTrader: (1)

ROFLMAO!

Great posts guys. Tree-mendous

I love it. The US guys probably woodn't even get it anyway! Hehehehe.

Cheers,
Hymee.

takahashi

Back to the original idea... Stevie Gomez... can I ask... WHY do you do that?

I always forgot to take the key out ... so the chime is useful

sco

ROTFLMAO. You lot are BARKing mad.

Gomez

Taka....the seed for this idea was planted in my mind just after I got the car. I was out in the boonies and I opened the doors to play some CD's. The chime drove me crazy. This is my first Mazda and it's the only car I have had with a door/key chime. With my roots grounded in Ford country, and never having had a key reminder, I never forget to remove my key.

The chime had to go......

Gomez.

Lock & Load

Taka

Quirky car for quirky people .j/k

cheers
michael

Gomez

Try this on for quirky! I use the car for the daily commute which is 30 odd kays each way. I have a favorite pair of Oakley sandshoes I wear when I drive the 8......they are lightweight, comfy, and I get a good feel of what the car is doing through my feet when I have them on. Anyway, when I get to work, I park and get my work shoes out from behind the drivers seat. I then sit on the sill and change shoes with both right hand doors open, stereo on so i can hear the last bit of "Radar Love" on MMM, key in ign, engine off.

THATS WHY THE CHIME HAD TO GO!!!!

Lock & Load

Gomez

No need to justify your behaviour , we accept you the way you are , he he he .

I mostly drive barefoot or socks, keep sandals / shoes/runners in boot , alight car then proceed to put on footwear only if i possitibily have to .

Gomez you are a good candidate for car jacking spending all that time with both doors open putting on your shoes listening to music .

cheers
michael

Gomez

L&L, you sure you don't live in Nimbin?!!

Lock & Load

Some of my best suppliers do .ha ha ha .

Gomez the weather here has been around 24 average way to hot for shoes , also i dont have the need to impress anyone , so i dress like a yobbo.

My feet are liberated .

cheers
michael