ChristInBen

Hi guys,

Any body experience this issue:

Lately when I lower my handbrake, one of the daylight running lamps don't work, and it's always the left one. This only happens 1 out of 10 times. 9 times out of 10, lowering the handbrake pops on both daylight running lamps. This must be a loose connection somewhere, but do you guys know what can do to fix this. I'm concerned that taking it to Mazda might cause them to want money for something simple!

Thanks and God bless you guys!: )

Ben.

dying_here

both my DRL died on me 2 months ago. took it to the dealer and apparemtly the left one was burnt, they fixed it no charge.

ChristInBen

That's awesome....which dealer do you go to? Cuz it depends on the dealer right? Or is it a warranty fix where all dealers will take care of it?

climacus

Your DRL module is busted. The dealership might put you through a whole song and dance about replacing the headlight bulbs at first. Don't let them charge you a cent for bulb replacement; insist that it is a DRL module problem, and if they want to experiment with changing the bulbs, they can do it at their own cost.

If you are experiencing intermittent headlight cut out and funky behaviour when you release the handbrake, the problem is in the DRL module not the bulbs.

Admiral8

I'm experiencing the same problem. I'm 99.9% sure its my DRL module.
Can anyone tell me where exactly it is located and how to remove/replace it?
I tried searching the DYI, but could not find any info on it.

Thanks in advance.

ChristInBen

Thanks bro, that helps! I am experiencing intermittent daylight running lamp issues, so it probably is the DRL module. I have a few questions though:

1) Is replacing the DRL module covered under warranty, as I have extended warranty?
2) If I have to pay out of pocket and it's not a warranty repair, then is it expensive?
3) If it's expensive, then I won't replace it for a while....will it affect anything else, as in my other HID lamps or anything else?

Thanks and God bless you.

ChristInBen

This would be helpful too. What year is your car dude? Mine is an '05 GT.

Admiral8

Mine is an '04 GT

DarkBrew

My DRL module is intermittent as well. Sometimes good and sometimes only the left light on. This is so common Mazda should be taking care of this even for cars out of warranty.
As long as both your high beams work then your bulbs are fine.

Admiral8

I managed to get the glove box off...but I can't figure out which one is the DRL Module. I've attached a photo. Does anyone know which one it is?

Admiral8

Another angle.

BlueFrenzy

I think the DRL module is the big light blue box in the center of the pic with the two white connectors coming out of the bottom (I'm basing this on the wiring diagram I sent you). The picture in the service manual is misleading/upside down (???) I'll look through the rest of the service manual to double confirm.

What about the black box near the bottom of the pic ... I can't see but does that have two connectors (one large with 16pins and small with 8 pins) coming out of it? And does it have a screw holding it in? If so then that would be more consistent with the service manual

BlueFrenzy

I took another look at my car ... I fairly certain it's the blue box. When you crawl into the foot well and look at it upside down, the blue box has got the large/small connectors and the screw. I think in the service manual, the drawing is an upside down view for RHD cars

nik

I have the same problem, I took apart my DRL module. I think it's one of the relays on the board failing intermittently. There is some source of extreme heat right beside this box in the car, part of the heater core maybe? Either way probably doesn't help the poor module too much.

I've totally given up on ever taking the car to dealers, but anybody have any experience trying to get this replaced at their cost?

Admiral8

Can you confirm if the DRL module is the blue box?

ChristInBen

Yeah I'd like to know that too....can this be a warranty issue? If not, how much would dealers charge to replace this?

nik

Definately the blue box(you can confirm by wire colors in the FSM). I have it sitting here in front of me taken apart. Just gotta get around to testing it.

DarkBrew

Pictures please?

Admiral8

I just replaced mine. Friggin thing is expensive ($122.50)....Here is what it looks like disconnected.

ChristInBen

So that means no warranty? Did you do it yourself? If so, are there any instructions to take the glove box off and do this?

BlueFrenzy

ChristInBen ... to take the glove box off is very easy. Instructions are in the DIY on changing the cabin filter. Basically you feel for the latch on the right side of the box --> push it to the right. Then you squeeze both sides of the glove box walls together and it should come off. Look at the DIY --> pics are worth a thousand words.

To take the DRL module off ... crawl upside down into the footwell ... you will see a screw in the silver harness (as pictured in Admiral8's #19 post). Unscrew that and the module should slide out. Undo the two connectors and you are done.

ChristInBen

Thanks dude, I'll go check out the DIY's. God bless you.

philsbluerx8

mazda quoted me 250 bux for replacing DRL module. stupid price!!

nik

To shed some more light on this problem, i finally got around to checking my DRL relays. The way the system is intended to work, is that in DRL mode, your two high beam bulbs are put in series, giving half capacity. This is accomplished by two relays in the module. When you request high beams, the relays power off and the two bulbs are now in parallel giving full output. Anyways, one of these two relays failed on mine, and the symptoms were as followed:

-Correct high beam operation
-When DRL should be on, only one side lit (LH) and lit at full brightness (not DRL brightness)

The solution would be to replace the malfunctioning relay.

I'll make another post and show you guys my proposed wiring diagram, as well as which relay was affected.

WarpFactor

Nik,
Just wondering if you've had the time to post a follow up to this? If not, could you let me know what the part number was for the bad relay? Where did you buy it, and approximately how much did it cost?

Thanks.