Automotive Electronic Display Gone Glitchy - Gremlins?
June 9, 2024 3:06 PM Subscribe
I'm trying to diagnose why my car's touch screen has been losing it's mind lately, and need brainy or experienced people to help me figure it out. Bonus for figuring out how to make it stop.
I drive a 2016 Mazda CX5. It has screen display to work navigation, music, communication, etc. User interface can be touchscreen, voice commands or physical dials. Over the last month or so, every so often while I'm driving (not interacting with the display) it will beep as if it's getting a voice command, then the screen will flash - usually to the nav screen, and then it will somehow change the display's brightness setting to "night" instead of "auto" which is then so dim that I can't see anything in the daylight. The first time it happened I had to watch a youtube video to learn how to change it back to "auto" in the settings. But now I'm an expert at the because it's happened 8-10 times.
Now that it's a pattern, I've noticed that it's happened multiple times at two particular intersections. My town has recently upgraded its "smart" traffic lights in some locations. My working theory is that the new traffic light technology is somehow talking to my car's technology and telling my car to make it so rekrap can't see her display any more. Can someone more knowledgeable about this kind of tech tell me if that's even possible? And if it is, is there any way I can tell my car not to listen to those mischievous traffic light controllers? Or is there another theory that explains this annoying glitch?
I drive a 2016 Mazda CX5. It has screen display to work navigation, music, communication, etc. User interface can be touchscreen, voice commands or physical dials. Over the last month or so, every so often while I'm driving (not interacting with the display) it will beep as if it's getting a voice command, then the screen will flash - usually to the nav screen, and then it will somehow change the display's brightness setting to "night" instead of "auto" which is then so dim that I can't see anything in the daylight. The first time it happened I had to watch a youtube video to learn how to change it back to "auto" in the settings. But now I'm an expert at the because it's happened 8-10 times.
Now that it's a pattern, I've noticed that it's happened multiple times at two particular intersections. My town has recently upgraded its "smart" traffic lights in some locations. My working theory is that the new traffic light technology is somehow talking to my car's technology and telling my car to make it so rekrap can't see her display any more. Can someone more knowledgeable about this kind of tech tell me if that's even possible? And if it is, is there any way I can tell my car not to listen to those mischievous traffic light controllers? Or is there another theory that explains this annoying glitch?
Best answer: There was a known defect in those touchscreens, and there was a recall. It has been extended.
Call a Mazda dealer and see what you can do to get it fixed.
posted by JoeZydeco at 5:02 AM on June 10 [1 favorite]
Call a Mazda dealer and see what you can do to get it fixed.
posted by JoeZydeco at 5:02 AM on June 10 [1 favorite]
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posted by kschang at 8:32 PM on June 9