Author Archives: ssh16

Hacking Mazda Forward Sensing Camera (FSC)

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Mazda MX-5 2016 GT has advanced safety features, like Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS ) and adaptive High Beam Control (HBC).

Here is  the Mazda document, showing how it works.  This is the manual for Mazda 6, but MX-5 is identical.

I’m not sure about the value of having LDWS on a sport car, like MX-5. It often produces false alerts which is quite annoying.  Disabling this feature by turning it off will show up as a yellow warning light, which is also annoying. I’ve not had a chance to test the HBC feature yet. So, I was thinking to turn this camera into a dash cam, by hacking it or even replacing the whole PCB. Continue reading →

FasTrak

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FasTrak device is an RF ID module for paying toll bridges and express lanes in California. Some people are asking, how to mount it in MX-5.  It is recommended to keep it on the wind shield, which is already cramped with Forward Sensing Camera and Rain Sensor. The FasTrak devise is quite big and ugly in my opinion, and it is not necessary to keep it on the wind shield.

Soft top MX-5 is RF transparent, so you can keep RF tag inside the plastic cubby and it will work perfectly.shelf1jpg

Check fuel! Reminder

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MX-5 2016 does not make any sounds when warning lights come out, as other cars do.

I have to commute every day 70 miles roundtrip. Not paying attention to the fuel gauge at the beginning of my commute, the yellow warning light sometimes sneaks up on me; at times while on the freeway … This is especially annoying during busy “stop and go” traffic, on the way back home. Continue reading →