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Why the Light-On idiot light?

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Old 11-07-2005, 03:31 PM
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Why the Light-On idiot light?

The gauge lighting changes when you turn lights on, so why a separate indicator.

I've think that its distracting to have a benign indicator light in an area that mainly contains lights to show that 'something needs your atterntion'.
Old 11-07-2005, 04:11 PM
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Umm every car I've owned has had a light to show the headlights were on. In fact, I can't remember noticing a car that didn't have a light or some type of indicator.


Maybe I'm mistaken as to what you mean.
________
X_Devochka_X cam

Last edited by dmorales; 09-09-2011 at 02:01 AM.
Old 11-07-2005, 04:18 PM
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Originally Posted by silverau
The gauge lighting changes when you turn lights on, so why a separate indicator.

I've think that its distracting to have a benign indicator light in an area that mainly contains lights to show that 'something needs your atterntion'.
And the guage lighting doesn't always change, depends on how you set it.
Old 11-07-2005, 04:21 PM
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My cheap civic doesn't have an actual indicator light. Well......it is a cheap civic
Old 11-07-2005, 04:24 PM
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He should trade the car in on a "cheap civic"!! Geeez, the things some people complain about.
Old 11-07-2005, 04:45 PM
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It does get kinda annoying seeing the light on the dash
Old 11-07-2005, 04:51 PM
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Indeed - this car has more dummy lights than I've experienced in the past.
Old 11-07-2005, 06:14 PM
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I love that light, actually. I like the dash lights up full, but that means the only way to know the lights are on is via the icon.
Old 11-07-2005, 09:45 PM
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i like the blue/red console light at night. the black/white setup is just too bright for me. but i don't understand why we would need to have a little green light telling us that our lights are on
Old 11-07-2005, 10:02 PM
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I pretty sure that if this light didn't illuminate there would be just as many complaining. The light is in no way "annoying" as some have suggested. Now if it flashed, yes that would be annoying. Once you know it's there and what it's for you can easily just overlook it, especially since most of us frequently use your headlights.

Could be worse. http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=101911

Last edited by tiggerlee; 11-07-2005 at 10:29 PM.
Old 11-07-2005, 11:59 PM
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I drive with lights on most of the time, even at daytime (this is mandatory or at least legal in many countries in Europe). During the day, I turn the dash illumination on because otherwise the gauges are hardly readable. And in this situation, the indicator is useful, because you can check if the lights are on before driving through tunnels etc.
Old 11-08-2005, 01:40 PM
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That light is useful when you are driving during day time. If you see it glow, it means your headlights are on "unnecessarily."

What I do hate is the buzz sound when you open the door when the lights are on. Why can't this car just shut off the lights if the key is off, and the door gets opened. I have this feature in my Solara. I don't think Mazda has figured this one out ever. No Mazda car I've tested does this.
Old 11-08-2005, 02:22 PM
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I would rather have the buzz for keeping the headlights on then the light to tell me they are on
Old 11-08-2005, 02:32 PM
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On other cars, the dash lighs changes colors to indicate that the headlights are switched on. If you have the dash lights set to white lettering when the headlights are on, there's really no way of telling if you switched them on or not.
Old 11-08-2005, 06:51 PM
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Originally Posted by mikeb
I would rather have the buzz for keeping the headlights on then the light to tell me they are on

Here ya go! A cheap and easy mod for those "annoying" dash lights.
Attached Thumbnails Why the Light-On idiot light?-electricaltape.jpg  
Old 11-08-2005, 07:03 PM
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Originally Posted by tiggerlee
Here ya go! A cheap and easy mod for those "annoying" dash lights.
Great for loose bumpers, side mirrors, engine parts, etc etc etc....

Act now and you can get 10 for the price of one!!!!

Old 11-08-2005, 07:23 PM
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Speaking of idiot lights, Mazda MX-6 (93 or so) had a huge *** "Brake" red light on the dash. Every time you step on the brakes, they light up. I got alarmed when I first drove one coz I thought it was telling me there's a problem with the brakes. Now, why would anyone put something like that? That's like putting an indicator light for steering wheel direction. You turn left, the left light flashes. You turn right, the right light flashes. ugh!
Old 11-09-2005, 09:56 AM
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It was foggy this morning on my way to work. Couldn't remember if I turned my lights on or not. Idiot light told me.

I guess I'm just an idiot.
Old 11-09-2005, 10:41 AM
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if it bugs you that much, pop the cluster out and pull the bulb for that light, then it will always be off.

I originaly thought it was for the fog lights, as many cars have an indicator for the fogs (i have the fog light mod so my fogs are on with or without the headlights) but then I found out it was for the headlights....but it doesnt bother me, I judge my speed based on the feel/sound of the engine and knowing what gear im in, as well as looking outside the car, so I rarley look down at the gauges anyway.
Old 11-10-2005, 05:05 PM
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It's probably most useful if you leave for work in the dark, and by the time you've fought traffic for a half-hour and arrived, to remind you that your lights are on. Mind you, since the xenon bulbs are rather bright and annoying (to those who don't have them) in the daytime, it would probably be a good idea to turn them off if you didn't need them.

Or not.
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