- My model of MX-5 is: 2017 ND soft top
- I’m based near: Ribble Valley
- I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: A hand brake issue connected with the lights.
I’m new to the MX-5 having had mine now for just 2 months but, I’ve noticed every time I apply the hand brake, the front daytime running lights extinguish and then light up again when the hand brake is released. Is this normal or perhaps an electrical fault? Incidentally, I tend to leave the lights on ‘auto’ position.
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Someone will probably give a more informed answer than me, but I was facing an ND at traffic lights a couple of weeks ago and noticed that the daytime running lights went out when it was stopped at the red light, then came on again when the lights went green and it moved off, so it would appear that’s what they do.
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Thank you, maybe strange but if that’s the way they were intended at least I know it’s not an electrical fault!
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It’s normal, I don’t know why? But all the modern Mazda’s are the same.
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These are “running” lights, so they extinguish when the handbrake is applied assuming the car is stopped and not “running”. 
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Its perfectly normal,
Handbrake will turn them off, Incidentally they wont turn back on by removing the handbrake but instead when the car starts moving…
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Yup it’s how Mazda decided to interpret the rules for DRLs. It certainly perplexed me when I first noticed the reflections going off and on on the car in front of me!
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You also have rear ones and they also go out, aren’t we lucky!
Joking aside I think having the rear ones as well as the fronts is ‘doing the job properly’.
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I’ve seen somewhere on YouTube an aftermarket gizmo that will keep the DRLs on if that’s your preference.
Regards
Clive
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Truer words never spoken, if there’s lights on the front, there should be lights on the back - I see too many cars about at night with DRL at front and sod nothing on the rear, just begging to be punted up the ■■■■. I’m quite pleased with Mazda’s DRL regulation interpretation, one just has to mindful when at traffic lights with handbrake on you are not displaying any taillights unless the headlamps are on. Very handy for drive-in cinema too, if you are so inclined!
Has this DRL method of operation changed with the ND2 or later models?
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Both our ND1 and ND2 worked the same.
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Not Mazda’s interpretation, those are the rules. All modern cars only have DRLs when actually moving
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I am sure my Volvo ones stay on all the time but I will now have to check that out.
Confucius says ‘Once the seed of doubt has been planted it will continue to grow out of all proportion’ !!!
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It is not the rules, there are many cars were they stay on all the time.
Not the case with the 2019 Insignia. Engine on, DRLs on, front only. Don’t go out unless you put other lights on or turn the engine off. Use of parking brake makes no difference.
Hi
My 2016 Volvo are on all the time the ignition is on.
My 2021 Suzuki are on all the time the ignition is on
My 2019 ND on whilst driving, off when out of gear and hand brake applied
Regards
Clive
Yes this is normal the exact same thing happens with my mx5.
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Mazda 6 2013 yes
MX5 2012 no but no running lights anyway
Wonder if that’s when they changed?
Day time running lights go out when the hand break is applied because you are not moving. If you wish them to stay on then disconnect the connection to the hand beak
Although this would work it would also cause a permanent warning light on the dash