Auto wipers & headlights image

Auto Wipers & Auto Headlights

Enable automatic wipers and headlights using OEM components and coding.

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Overview

Honestly this guide shouldn't of taken as long as it did to complete. As long as you aren't as incompetent about me this is actually quite easy to implement. It is all hardware implementation and the software side doesn't have to be touched unless you were unfortunate enough like me to have the radio only unit (I will explain how to modify the settings without the Mazda Infotainment Display).

Parts

  • BCM Module * Must be from a GT of the same year AND COUNTRY (unsure on RF/ST) * Body Control Module
  • Wiper Stalk * Region dependent but must have auto functions * Wiper Stalk
  • Headlight Stalk * Region dependent but must have auto functions * Headlight Stalk
  • Roof Harness * Find one that includes all your current plugs at minimum + the rain/light sensor plug, in my case it was NA9R-67-130C * Roof Harness
  • Rain and Light Sensor: 8D09H-66-5GO Rain and Light Sensor
  • Rain and Light Sensor Mounting Bracket
  • Rain and Light Sensor Mounting Gel

Tools

  • Screwdriver Screwdriver
  • Plastic Trim Removal Tool Plastic Trim Removal Tool
  • Torx Bit
  • 10mm Socket

Stalks Install

  1. Remove both screws holding in the steering column shroud.

  2. Pull away all plastic shrouding.

  3. Insert a screwdriver into this specific hole and apply pressure. The stalk will pop out and can be pulled away.
    4. Remove Wiper Stalk
  4. Repeat for the other stalk then fit the new auto stalks.

  5. Replace steering column shrouding and screw in.

Roof Harness Install

TO BE COMPLETED

Sensor Install

TO BE COMPLETED

BCM Install

TO BE COMPLETED

Settings Customization (Radio Only Case)

TO BE COMPLETED

Testing

Auto Headlights

To test the auto headlights, park the car under the sun with the headlight stalk set to auto. Then cover the sensor and surrounding area with a plain surface (to not trick the wipers) that does not let light pass through. By covering and uncovering you should see the headlights cycle on and off if working correctly.


Auto Wipers

To test the auto wipers, set the stalk to auto then dribble water over the windshield where the sensor is located. The sensor looks for individual droplets and should activate.

Troubleshooting

Flashing Start/Stop Unit

Unfortunately I ran into this issue myself, there is no way to resolve this and it is caused by the rest of the car not accepting the donor BCM. You will have to revert to your original BCM until this is fixed. In my case it was caused by region, I installed a module from the US. But this can also occur but installing the wrong year or if the unit has some sort of hardware issue. After finding a unit from a 2016 Soft Top GT Manual, the auto functionality started working immediately and the SSU would not flash.


False Activating Wipers and or Headlights

If your wipers are falsely activating, or the headlights are incorrectly staying off/coming on it is most likely one of two things. The first is you are missing the mounting gel, this gel is essential and not optional, without it the sensor cannot correctly see rain or light on the windshield, think of an airgap between an electrical component and a heatsink, it must be making contact in some way, usually thermal paste. The sensor gel is the same concept. The other cause could be a damaged lens, it is very common for second hand sensor to have a scratched up lens, if this lens is too damaged then the unit will not work, polish may be attempted to fix it but unlikely to work. If this is the case the headlights will most likely work while the wipers are faulty.