2010 Mazda 3, 2.5l 6-speed manual, probably Grand Touring package. (HID headlights with AFS, leather seats.)

What is this small ball-joint end attached to my left/driver side lower control arm? The bracket attaching it the the control arm isn’t very beefy so it’s not meant to handle much load. The piece is aluminum and the bushing is plastic/nylon.

Thanks in advnce

 

I would say its the remains of your ride height sensor for the AFS.

 

Thanks Grim. That makes sense, I just wish I could find the other half. Any idea how long the original strut is/was? It probably routes behind the plastic shrouding, right? There’s nothing in the wheel well area.

I also have these wires dangling nearby, coming from behind the plastic:

 

I sugest contacting some Mazda Wreckers for a complete sensor setup plus 6 inches of wiring loom to splice in.

 

Grim_reaper, you were right on the money: AFS ride height sensor assembly. It took a bit of time, but I tracked down a replacement:




Came with complete wiring harness, so no splicing required!

My problem now is fabricating a bracket. Whatever the sensor mounted to seems to be gone and I have no example to go by. I’ve asked for photo assistance in another forum (in the MS3 section since AFS is more prevalent on the Speed 3); zero response. Maybe I’ll start a new thread here too.

 

Well, in the interest of completing the record on this for any future searches, I removed the potentiometer/sensor from the brackets and plugged it into the vehicle harness. That has silenced the blinking dashboard warning light and restored the sideways pointing feature of the AFS headlights. I suppose it means the lights will not adjust for angle of pitch—like 90% of all cars on the road don’t. Or, it’s possible that the rear sensor will signal something that the front sensor doesn’t (because it’s tucked away disconnected) and the lights will briefly angle in a way that’s not needed or desired. I’ll keep a look out for that.

 

After replacing the part, did it require any calibration?