A shade over a year (and just under 16,000 miles) into owning my Mazda 3 now, so far so good.

Apart from the sh**e Radio Reception, the i-stop feature having a mind of it's own, and the R/H front Wheel Bearing failing at around 45,000 miles, it's been as good as gold.

Oddly enough, the same Wheel Bearing failed at almost identical mileage on my previous Mazda 3 . . .

Just a couple of thoughts . . .

Front Wipers, they have an 'Auto' setting, where they are controlled purely by the Rain Sensor, and there is no Intermittent Setting, so why is there still a Selector Switch on the Stalk for different Intermittent Wiper timing periods?

Headlights, also have an 'Auto' setting, but they don't come on when it's raining when set to 'Auto'. As any (even half-decent) driver knows, your Headlights should be on when it's raining.
They also (when in Auto) come on sometimes in bright sunlight, so the Dash Lighting dims so much you have to turn the brightness up so the Displays are readable, then when they switch off again, you have to readjust the brightness to suit.

First-World problems of course, but still a little annoying . . .

 

Front Wipers: sensitivity setting?
When the auto function is switched off in the infotainment system, the selector switch controls the intermittent delay setting.

Headlights: auto setting only measures the ambient light, does not take the rain sensor in account.
Although I have read postings where drivers recall that the auto headlight function is also activated in rain, but not in my CX-5.

When you want to temporary override the auto setting for your dash lights, just push on the dash brightness stalk to switch between full and dimmed dashboard lights.

 

I know this sounds sarcastic, but your question is in your owner's manual or at least you should look at your exact features that came with your model and trim and then look in your owner's manual. All else fails you call the dealership you purchased it from and ask them. Or better go to them and have a service or sales rep physically show you in your Mazda how-to's.

While I often get the response that these types of questions are not in the owner's manual, I don't have every owner's manual, but I can state that when a regular service customer pops in (no appointment) I will with them take the time to look through their specific owner's manual and we almost always find the answers there. And the often response is well that book is so large, and I don't understand half what it is in it. I respond... you have to read the ENGLISH portion to understand it. (or Spanish) LOL

 

Thanks for the replies.

It seems the Selector for the Wipers that would normally vary the intermittent timer, adjusts the sensitivity of the 'Auto' setting.
I did wonder if that was the case originally, but I've not noticed any difference when adjusting the Selector, I'll try it again next time we have some rain.

There is no option to turn the Auto Wiper function off in the Dash Menu.

Pushing the Dash Illumination Stalk on mine switches between Trip A ~ Trip B ~ Odometer.

My comment on the Headlights not coming on when the Wipers are 'on', was more of a "I'm surprised they don't" rather than a "How do you remedy it?"

 

My 65 months of Maz 3 ownership has also brought up some things that do annoy me. The dealer is nothing short of useless. Generally, I am aimed at the salesmen who may be good at selling a car but know nothing about the car and certain non-technical issues.

Attempting to speak with a tech is next to impossible they are all too busy to actually deal with a customer question. And the tech mangers behind the front deak are only that, mangers, they know zilch.

As for the wipers, while I don't have a particular issue, I do have a problem with the stalk position. Frequently when exit the car, I manage to tap the stalk and don't know until the next time I start, when the stalk is now set to wipe mode.

My other major, 1st world issue is the white 'printing' on the lights / wiper / HVAC control. Virtually impossible to see in daylight, particularly the HVAC when the sun is bright and the controls are in the shade. Likewise, the lights and wiper stalk, not illuminated so at night, impossible to see what setting you have or want.

 

I doubt that it's impossible to turn off the auto wipers in the settings...
I don’t own a Mazda 3 myself, but isn’t there an option under:
Home screen → Settings → Vehicle Settings → Rain Sensing Wipers → Turn OFF Rain Sensing Wipers?

This should allow you to use the INT mode with manual control.

 

You are correct, you can turn off the Auto function (I missed it originally ), but all that does is take that function away, it doesn't give you the Intermittent function instead.

Still no rain here, I know right? It's the UK after all . . .

I'm happy with how the the Auto function works.

As for Dealerships, in 47+ yrs driving, I've only been into one a handful of times, and that's only when I needed a spare part on the same day, and there was nothing available from any aftermarket supplier locally.

 

To my knowledge, all Mazda 3 models from 2019 onward with a rain sensor also provide a manual interval mode when the sensor is turned off in the infotainment settings.
From your original post, I got the impression that your ownership of 54 weeks started with a new car. But maybe I misunderstood, and the car is from before 2019?

 

I'm getting confused...
According the Mazda 3 manuals the dashboard light intensity **** (even when pressed) only controls the dashboard illumination. Switching between ODO / Trip A / Trip B is done using a different button.

 

It's a 2014 model.
I've never bought a new car, definitely never will!

This is the UK version Dash, you can just about make out the single Stalk is marked Trip 0,0 and has the Dash Illumination symbol next to it as well