Unser

sorry the images are so big, but if they were blurry when small and now you can print them clearly.
I like the lites a lot, you can look under "footwell Lites" thread for some info you might want to read.
Good luck

Genom

Hey unser, your pretty close to me. Could I swing by sometime this week after work and check them out?

Unser

sure, look in your P/M

stormchase13

Interesting that the 1st instruction for the ops check is to DISCONNECT the negative battery cable.

my10ae

Thanks Unser for the pics and info. I ordered up my lights this afternoon from the dealer.

boothguy

Mazda always tells you to disconnect the negative cable whenever you're going to be working on the electrial system. They don't want you crying to them if you zap the ECU.

I like my footwell lights as well, but wish they stayed on longer than about 3 sec after closing the driver's door.

The one thing I'd advise people installing the kit themselves is that there are TWO wires in the bundle that are blue/red. Disconnecting the 54-pin plug and identifying the correct one will make sure your footwell lights work the first time.

Zoom2X

I had this problem also and re-wired mine to trigger off the courtesy lights. Now my foot lights come on when the courtesy lights do, including when I use the key fob to unlock the door. They turn off about 8 seconds after the courtesy lights go out.

boothguy

Zoom2X: pray tell how this is accomplished? Sounds like the right answer to make this okay accessory really worthwhile.

Zoom2X

Just above the 54 pin connector that the instuctions have you connect in to is a bundle of wires leading to the door connector. The bundle can be identified by the fact that it is perpindicular to the other wiring bundles in that area and it lines up with the door wiring bundle conduit (black rubber tube between the body and the door). In this bundle of wires locate the DARK green wire with the black stripe. (There is also a light green wire with a black stripe in same bundle, so be sure you have the dark green one). Connect the black wire with the blue stipe from the foot light timer to this wire instead of where the instuctions tell you to.

boothguy

And the Mazda timer from the footwell light kit stays in the loop?

Zoom2X

Yes it does, it turns out the foot lights about 8 seconds after the courtesy lights go out. I thought about just wiring the foot lights in parallel with the courtesy lights but I was concerned about the addtional load on the keyless entry module which controls the courtesy lights, also it would be bit more work to do it. Changing the timer trigger wire connection was easier.

MacMan

Ladies and Gentlemen please contact MazdaNA and your dealer about these problematic footwell lights.

I have been following this post as I also have the same problems with the footwell lights as has been described here. I chose not to rewire them but to have Mazda fix them.

I have contacted MazdaNA about this problem. My dealer has had my car in the shop three times now and unable to find the cause of the problem (they admit they don't work right). I am scheduled for my fourth repair visit next week.

My dealer actually pulled the defective footwell unit from my car and connected it to a battery on a table, and they work correctly. So there is something in the car electronics that is preventing these footwell lights from working correctly when installed in the RX-8.

Everyone who has this problem needs to contact MazdaNA and get your car into your dealer for repair. According to my local Mazda dealer, I am the only owner on file to complain and have repair status concerning the footwell lights.

If these units are defective, we need to let Mazda know about it and have Mazda fix them or recall them. Something is definitely wrong with the electronics here.

One person (me) on file is not going to cause Mazda to look at this matter seriously.

I think part of the problem with owners of these footwell lights is that they aren't quite sure how these lights should operate when working correctly.

boothguy

Z2X: just to be sure I'm reading you correctly, I'd be changing the blue/red tap to the dark green/black wire in the different wire bundle, right?

MM: difference in philosophy here. In the first place, I installed this kit myself, which takes the dealer straight off the hook. Second place, I try to save my communiques with MNAO for stuff that's a little weightier than the footwell lights. And MNAO is just going to bounce you back to the dealer anyhow.

Zoom2X

BG: Yes that's correct.

MM: I determined what the problem is and contacted MNAO about it. See https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...threadid=17329

MacMan

Mazda is not going to anything about these unless they have feedback from the footwell owners.

If you rewire them, that's fine. However, the footwell directions specify the proper procedure for operation, per Mazda.

Lets look at recent history here, the alarm shock sensor.

Mazda got an earful from both owners and service personnel about this devise and they pulled it. I was one of them to inform Mazda of the problem.

All I'm saying is if Mazda hears no complaints, then they have to assume everything is fine, which as evidenced here in this posting, is not quite reality.

My concern is if Mazda can't get a $100 electronic part working correctly, I may need to question if the $2000 NAV will follow.

Killerking1964

I posted pics on the general discussion board..........here's a link to one of them
http://www.dotphoto.com/SAN7/86/C5/1...E8229A54F8.jpg

RX8Z

Macman,

I am curious in what your problem is with the nitelights. Is the fact that it doesnt stay on long enough? I didnt have time to read all the posts, what exactly did you complain to the dealer about..?

Thanks

Zamen

www.openroadhonda.com
Sales/Leasing Consultant

MacMan

As I mentioned previously, I will be taking the RX-8 for the 4th time concerning these lights.

What has the dealer and Mazda Tech support stumped is that when you open the passenger door, the lights work correctly 100% of the time.

The problem lies when opening the driver's door.

There are three different failures here when opening the driver's door:

1. the lights never come on.

or

2. the lights come on and quickly fade off (usually within 2-3 seconds, and even before you enter the car and close the door).

or

3. lights come on and when you close the door, they fade off within 5 seconds (they are suppose to fade off in 10 seconds).

Again, the passenger door works 100% accurately every-time and the driver's door fails 100%, exhibiting one of the three failures as described.

I'll let everyone know the final results once Mazda figures it out.

RX8Z

Macman

please contact me, for I work for Honda/Mazda..

I would like to know what your dealership states. My guys here are inquiring headquartes about it, because according to the instructions included there should be no issues

However, as I am reading many of the posts, I can see that theres alot more issues than ever. Problem is , we have to find out exactly where the problems lies in

If the dealer installs, then we can safely assure that its the unit. If its instaleld by the user, then there is room for error in the wiring

Please pm me or let me know hwo i can contact you, I would like to get to the bottom of this myself

Z

MacMan

RX8Z

Check your PM for contact info

adrian-1

Just installed the "night lights". Decided to wire it to the courtesy lights like Zoom2x described and it works fine. They turn off 10secs after the courtesy lights.
Not very bright. I'd describe the intensity maybe alittle brighter than the lgiht by the key hole. Took a few pictures for those interested in buying them. That's my sock on the right side. Couldn't get any clear pics.

MacMan

It took four visits to my Mazda service department, and it appears they have figured out how to wire these lights to operate correctly.

The dealer bypassed the wiring harness under the dash completely and installed new wires running from the door switches directly to the night light timing unit. They did this for both driver and passenger doors and required removing the door panels for the wire.

Time will tell but in the short-term they are now working correctly after nearly five months of frustration.

Zoom2X

So do your headlight on and key in ignition warnings work properly now? They should only sound when you open the drivers door, not when you open the passenger door.

To test them, turn on the headlights and open the drivers door. You should get a warning buzzer. Now close the drivers door and open the passenger door. You shouldn't get a buzzer. Perform the same test for the key in ignition

RX-Nut

Sorry for the dredge of an old post but I have an issue...

I just got my lights installed and the timing always seem to change. Are they supposed to stay on for as long as the doors are open? Then when a door closes, they should go out after 10 secs?

What's the correct functionality for these lights?

Atreyu

Actually it may be even better to wiring them to the fog lights since I can have the night lights on whenever I like by turing on the fog lights. I can have them on whenever the car is idled or switched off as long as the fog lights are on without have the headlights on at the same time. Niccce when someone special is on the passenger's side.

Don't know if it works if fog lights are not installed tho. I suppose it'd be ok.

So how are the fog light wires identified?