Blue background lighting in instrument cluster

[boofdogg]

For all those who already have the pleasure of owning a Mazda3 , I was wondering how the blue background lighting for the speedometer and tachometer works. A description I read says it comes on as soon as the car doors are opened to help ease the transition to the red lighting. What I'm not sure of is if the blue stays on or gradually fades away after you start driving. I hope it stays on... personally I prefer the blue lighting to the harsh red lighting. My buddy has a golf and **** does the blue lighting look good at night!!!

[Slalom]

hey!
the blue does indeed come on in the gauge pods once the door is open and it remains on with the headlights either on or off but you can barely see it (if at all)during the day... the gauges (numbers/text) are still lite orange tho. So the lighting isnt at all like a VW, the blue is a background glow that casts down on the silver rings around the gauges... theres also a blue ambient light on the centre console underneath the HVAC controls.

Scott

[bluong1]

Here is a highlight from those who have seen the electroluminescent gauges (note, not all trims have this gauge)

There are three active modes:

0) ignition off: all black and numerals can't be seen. Silver trim rings visible.

1) ignition off, door open: silver trim rings will illuminate in soft blue (may not be visible in bright sunlight)

2) ignition on, headlights off: red numerals with silver trim rings.

3) ignition on, headlights on: red numerals with blue trim rings

There are 2 separate dash dimmer buttons. One above your left knee that rolls for adjustment and then another that is placed just to the left of the center speedometer. The "push" button on the right moves the trip meter and the one on the left brings the dash lights to full bright or dimmed. This upper button actually allows you to dim all the other display lights and leave the dash alone if you like. I played with it for a few minutes after reading the post and found a variety of positions for the lights.

So you should know that if you have your headlights on during the day, the wrong setting on the upper button will make your dash really hard to see.

[boofdogg]

cool... thanks a lot guys!