I wonder if anyone have an idea of my problem. My lights are very very low,when i start the car they go on good strenght for a split second then they go down to very low(barely enough to drive when it is dark). It is the same when i turn on full beam,it kind of blink on to good strength a split second,then go back to poor,onøy a little better then on low beam. The high beam now is mayby up to how low beam shold be and low beam are almost nothing.The Auto works *** it shuold,it turn on and off lights *** it should but when it put on the light its the same,one good blink and bom,its very weak.It is the same if i take it off auto funksjon and do it "manually".. I dont know how or when it happend becase i bought the car this spring and only now it start to get darker out notice,probably been that way all the time... Anoyone have any idea?? i guess i have to take on mazda probably but just wanted to ask here first

 

It helps when asking a service question to state at least basics, the year and miles .

 

Yes of course🫣. It is a Mazda 3 2015 modell (i am from Europe so milage is km) It has 167 000 km on it... Sorry i was stressing,forgot to put it in...😂😂

 

The first thing to do is have your battery load tested. The age of the battery is not a factor in this test.
Then make sure all 4 connecting spots of the 2 main cables are clean and secure. all connections are easy to clean and very easily accessible.
Then you need to scan your ECU and look specifically for *permeant DTCs as well any DTCs that are active. *These would not necessary have activated your check engine light. Because of how you described the issue the ECU may be seeing the intermittent problem as non-specific and as you cycle your engine the problem is not always there.

You could have your generator/alternator checked but its less costly to first do what I suggest

 

ok ..Thank you very much for answer.. I am not a "do it your self guy" at all, so i think i must call Mazda and get an appointment..again.I dont think it is the battery becase i just changed that and the problem was also there before i changed it is,exactly the same. I changed the battery becase i-stop startet to blink now and then and they said my battery was old,it fixed that problem. But the lights have been like this all the time,i have notice it blinked when i drove in to tunnels but i was thinking it was just the automatic funksjon who was like that when shifted the light. It is now when it gets dark out i see it just goes really weak to... well i hope i dont need a new ECU or something,i get really scared when you talk of those,arent those EXPENSIVE?? There is one thing i forgot to say,dont know if it is important but we can see the last owner had some kind of extra light on the car.We see the mounts is still there and a wire who clearly had been used for that. Now i start to get scared,that eiter he had that becase it was very expensive to fix the light OR they have done something wrong.. I guess i just must take in to Mazda and find out...

 

with a 2015 you are better off if you live in the USA to locate a service shop that employee an ASE. You know they will have one because there will be signage on their building and likely will advertise having one.
The basic diagnostic time for electrical issues is 1 hour. This only is if there was NO modification to your electrical system. If they have a current Certified Automotive Diagnostic Technician is experienced (that's how they must show prof before testing) can at least narrow down or just find the problem. Remember I only said find the problem The service to correct or repair it is subject to what it is and the basic labor hour rate for the problem. Many dealerships do not even have a Mazda factory trained mechanic so labor diagnostic time can vary.
You can also use if in the USA the BBB to find a good, rated service shop. But I would still recommend to verify that they are ASE approved.

At this point it does not suggest and ECU itself to be a problem.

I might add I was very clear about the battery and the cables regardless of when it was installed. You would be surprised how many new batteries do not pass a basic load test.

If an electrical part like lights were added as you suspect then I would locate the spliced or added wires because you may have a grounding problem.

 

Yes i got that about the battery and i know you are right,i have noticed that it is very important to get the right one on this cars. This is why i got from the dealership where the car was sold new and pay ca 380 Euro for it. It is an original Mazda battery,but i will still pass on to them what you said,i know they can test them becase that is why they changed the old battery(who was not a mazda battery by the way) *** they told me. About the mecanics,this the best place i can go over here so i have to trust them,it is the certified Mazda dealership. I myselfis kind of "out of my league" here so it is hard for you to explaine to me those technical things(thank you for trying anyway,i know it probably must be a little frustating). I was kind of hoping there might be a solution like "just push those buttons and you get better light" kind of thingt(a little joke there but you know) But i will still tell them what you said about the ECU and battery and all that,in fact i will actually print it out and bring it when i deliver the car. It cant hurt. I am more like in that Seinfeld joke,i open the bonnet and hope there will a big red button turned off that i can just switch back he he he ..... But seriously i am a littlebit worried about the car,this is my first Mazda and it has been a few things with the electrik,i got many tire pressure warnings who just dissapered then the i-stop startet to blink and now this thing, so i just hope it is not some underlaying problem somwhere who kind of "mess with everything" I am a little surprised becase it is not usual on Mazda *** i have understood it.I must have been unlucky with this one But i will keep the faith becase i absolutly love the car in it self,love to drive it,it is just a great car.,i have had Toyota,Honda,Bmw,Opel,Volvo,VW and all those but think this my favorit to drive. I will update you on what they find out down there but knowing theme it will probably be around three weeks before they can look at it,i will call them on monday.. I could call other garages who i know can take it in sooner but they are not mazda dealer so i will wait longer AND pay moore he he he... It is probably worth it...

 

So you are in Norway? Always wanted to visit that beautiful country.

I understand about your thoughts and sorry I was so technical. I should be less technical at times. It’s a little different on a forum. With customers I smile and then we will find the problem,I will give you a call to let you know what it is and how much. They ok the service and then I instruct my Techs what they need to do precisely. Most of the time I print out the exact service steps so there are no mistakes. After they complete the service I follow up by meticulously double checking the work. There are always 2 signatures on the completed work, the Tech and mine. When the customer arrives to pick up their vehicle , I show them the parts replaced in a box so they can take them if they want. We always go for a short test ride and then they sign and pay for the service.
On a forum I do the best I can at guessing resolves based on the information given by members. And it’s all about assumptions and best guess.
ButI don’t enjoy when my help solves or helps resolve the problems

 

You defenatly should vist sometime.And i will agree with you Norway it is nice NOW,however we are going into winter and it is going to bee just awfull,i have to tell you a secret:i really hate it here in the winter. It is going to be cold,snow and dark from now going forward,i just turned on my heat a few days ago,we are at ca 0 degrees now and it is just going to drop down to -15 to -25"ish at worst and it is going to go on until April..Every morning the car is like a block of ice,under a pyle of snow usually..That is when you find out if the car battery is of good quality or not he he....I am SO not looking forward to the next 6 months my friend. And i will say that had i been in US i know exactly where i would take my car for repair,you have been very helpful,i ask tecnical questions and of course i will get tecnical answers.I only hope you are here for a long time becase it is probably not long before i get more trouble(knowing how unlucky i am with my cars he he he).. I will say it is very nice talking to you,to bad this is not a chat-forum,i could go on

 

Ok thanks I will remember come during the summer.. HA!
Not going anywhere.
I have a mile long list of projects yet done and till coming up with ideas for more. So at least as I own my Mazda I am not going anywhere.