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View Full Version : Where is my "Hood Pin Switch"?



Vidarious
07-08-2010, 07:27 PM
I am troubleshooting a remote car starter issue and I am running a few tests but I need to double check I am doing it correctly. I need to a 'Automatic Tach Programming' adjustment and one of the steps are as follows:

"2. With the Hood up (ground on the Hood Pin switch line), start the vehicle using the key."

I was simply interpreting this as "Put the hood up and turn on the car" however the programming isn't working. So I am thinking the Hood Pin Switch isn't being grounded. My car is a Mazda 3, 2005, Sedan GX, where is my hood pin switch and what position would be grounded?

In addition, if anyone knows a link or location regarding a HOW TO on removing the drivers side lower dash please toss it in. I think I need to check the cabling on the remote starter but have no idea how to get at it.





For anyone interested my remote car starter issue is as follows.. When the car is turned off for an extended period of time (1 hour plus) and the remote starter is used, the car starts but the starter will keep trying to turn over the engine (so it makes a nasty grinding noise). The remote starter try's this 3 times, each time the car starts fine but I'm guessing the starter doesn't know it has started OK so it keeps trying. However the starter works fine if the car has been on for a while. If I drive home from work (20 mins) and turn off the car then try to start it with the starter it works fine. But when I wake up in the morning to turn it on it does this grinding thing. I've returned the car to the dealer ship that installed the remote started (AutoStart) but they keep saying there is no problem because it works when they test it.

Noisy Crow
07-08-2010, 08:01 PM
Do you have an OEM or after-market remote starter. For the OEM the "hood pin switch" is a tilt sensor secured to the edge of the hood.

As for getting the drivers lower dash off, look here:
http://www.protegefaq.net/BKfootlamp/

McGuyver_3
07-08-2010, 10:50 PM
i have had this issue before on my previous 3 and it turned out that the module itself was garbage

Vidarious
07-09-2010, 06:31 PM
Aighty. I figured out that the hood pin switch is installed so that the automatic remote starter doesn't turn the car on when the hood is up. I tried turning my car on when the hood was up (with the remote started) and it did indeed turn on. This tells me the dealership never installed a hood pin switch. This is also why I can't do the adjustment I think I need.

I had the remote starter installed when I bought the car brand new back in 2005. Think the dealership would do anything for me now if I complained they didn't install the hood pin switch?

Vidarious
07-09-2010, 06:32 PM
Do you have an OEM or after-market remote starter. For the OEM the "hood pin switch" is a tilt sensor secured to the edge of the hood.

As for getting the drivers lower dash off, look here:
http://www.protegefaq.net/BKfootlamp/

It is a after market installed at the dealership. I believe they hired a third party to install it for them. The brand is "Autostart".