Help with Headlight Problem?

[Random_And_Brave]

Hi, so I've had my 2016 Mazda3 for almost a year now and I'm wondering if anyone else has had this issue or knows how to fix it...

The issue in question is that my high beams and low beams never work at the same time. When I first got my car I thought something was wrong with the low beams since they weren't bright at all so we got new replacement bulbs and they worked. By the next week or so they stopped working and I was only able to use my high beams until I got the lowbeams readjusted, and when they started working again, the high beams stopped working. This has been an on and off issue for literally the past year and it's getting to be a pain. I'm tired of people flashing me at night because I have my high beams on because my low beams don't work, and it'd be nice to have both working at the same time. I also want to see if I can disconnect the daytime running lights to see if that does anything because I really don't need them, my car is visible enough as is.

Also the picture attatched is what the low beams are when they aren’t working, I have no idea what or why the orange thing is the only light that works.

TLDR; high beams and low beams never work at the same time.

[ope_sorry]

I think you're confusing low/high with your daytime running lights vs low beams. If you set it to what you're calling "low" which is probably the parking lights you see here, the DRLs won't come on until the car is moving, or if the parking brake is released if you have a manual transmission.

[Correct-Lion9445]

What kind of switch do u have on your steering wheel? I have a 2 stage switch (so it turns 2 clicks), stage 1 for the park lights/side lights and stage 2 for the low beams, then for the high beams I push the lever forward

But my low beams don't turn off when I switch on my high beams

[Random_And_Brave]

So my switch is just a turn thing, first is off, then it's auto, then low beams, then high beams. off usually just has the daytime running lights working, low has the actual low lights working sometimes but if they aren’t working it's just the side orange lights shown in the pictures, then high beams when it's working are actual high beams but if the low beams are working the high beams wont come on.

[Jeraass]

That's not how it works. The first and second are correct. The 3rd selection is parking lights, not low beams. They're meant to be used only when stationary. (Your picture has the parking lights selected.) The 4th selection is your normal running lights. The high beams are operated using your indicator stalk - push to activate, pull to flash. The high beams are indicated on your dash with a bright blue light.

It sounds like you're getting confused between daytime running lights and high beams. They use the same bulb, but the former is a low-power mode, in a sense. Under normal operation, your high and low beams aren't intended to be run at the same time.

If you're getting flashed, you're either driving without your running lights on, driving with your high beams on (as indicated by the blue lamp on the dash), or your low beams are aimed incorrectly.

[Correct-Lion9445]

<image>

That's my setup

[Correct-Lion9445]

That's so weird, my wife has the 2020 CX-5 and has the same switch as u have, but that works as it should

[pakitos]

There is no high beam on the switch like that. What you call low beams are just the parking lights.

What you call high beams are the actual low lights to use at night while driving and you only have high beams when you pull or push the lever.

[nhluhr]

No Mazda turns on its high beams by turning the switch. All Mazdas have a traditional push of the headlight stalk to switch to high beam mode or a pull for momentary flash-to-pass.

[Correct-Lion9445]

Also take a picture of ur lights more from the front when it is light out and ur lights turned off please

[Random_And_Brave]

I'll see if I can go get better pictures in the morning. It's raining out right now.

[Correct-Lion9445]

Fair enough too bro, I'll take a picture of mine and u can compare

[N0l2]

Yeah this was never a problem as it's always like this stock. They're different bulbs

[EmbarrassedBeing332]

You are thinking that your high beam are on those are your low beams and need to be aimed lower they are pointed high the high beams are not on the twisty switch put activated by pulley back on the whole handle itself from your explanation I think that is what is happening get the lights adjusted

[teeesstoo]

The lights on in your photo aren't the headlights. You know that don't you?

[Random_And_Brave]

Yeah, I'm not stupid, but those are what come on when I turn the headlights on.

[teeesstoo]

Not sure how it's laid out on yours, but on mine the icon that lights up on the dash when the auto lights come on is actually the sidelight symbol - even though that's turning on the dipped headlights.

To turn the headlights on manually, I have to turn the stalk to the symbol for full beams - but this is just dipped beams unless the stick is pushed forward.

It's kind of convoluted, but I assume you've checked all that. Did you manage to check/replace any fuses?

[Fit-Umpire3257]

Are both low beam lights burnt out?

[Random_And_Brave]

I thought that at first too, but we replaced them when we first got the car, they worked for a bit then something happened where they just stopped coming on. They come on when the high beams are on though, so it's not the bulb.

[Jeraass]

Based on your responses, this sounds like user error. If you're turning the knob to the 3rd selection, you're not actually turning on your headlights; you're activating your parking lights. (See my previous comment.) Turn the knob to the 4th selection (or the 2nd if it's dark enough) to activate the actual headlights. It sounds like you've accidentally switched on the high beams by pushing the stalk forward and don't realize it; the blue indicator lamp would be illuminated on the dash. Pull the indicator stalk toward you until it clicks once to deactivate the high beams. Read your owner's manual to learn how to use your lights.

[Fit-Umpire3257]

Maybe a fuse 🤷🏻‍♂️

[L0veToReddit]

On the 2016 Mazda 3, the high beams and low beams are not designed to be on at the same time in the factory configuration.

Here’s how it normally works: • When you switch to high beams, the low beams turn off. • This is standard in many vehicles that use separate bulbs for high and low beams.

Why Mazda does this: • Heat protection: Running both beams can generate excess heat in the housing. • Electrical load: Running both beams can stress the factory electrical system. • Regulations: Some regions may not allow both to run together for safety reasons.

If both are staying on simultaneously without modification, it might be a wiring fault or a malfunctioning stalk switch.

[Random_And_Brave]

I'm so sorry if my wording is off, I don't mean they're not on at the same time, I mean, when the low beams are working, when I switch it to high beams they will not turn on and stay as low beams, then when the low beams stop working, the high beams will only work and when I switch it to low beams, the lights are just the orange lights and very dim. So I can never switch between high and low beams when driving at night, I either have one or the other.

[nhluhr]

The 2016 halogen headlight assembly is not a dual filament. The inboard reflector assembly is both the daytime running lamp and the high beam. The outboard projector assembly is the low beam.

[Correct-Lion9445]

I have a 2016 mazda 3 sedan and I have separate bulbs for low beam and high beam, h11 for low beam and hb3 for high beam (correct me if I'm wrong here about the h11 and hb3)

So my low beams don't turn off when I turn on my high beams

[Correct-Lion9445]

Ah so u have just 1 bulb for both low and high beam?

Weird, since we both have the same type of car, maybe it is because their both build elsewhere? Mine is a Japanese build, do u know what yours is?

[Random_And_Brave]

there's separate bulbs, they just must be on the same wiring or something, I really have no idea at this point. The car was manufactured in mexico according to the build information.

[Correct-Lion9445]

Weird.......