An Ohio-based mechanic came across a very particular case involving a Mazda. The vehicle seemed bricked, as he was unable to get it out of park, on top of many other annoying malfunctions. Turns out, a headlight was to blame.
The now-viral clip was shared on TikTok by The Mazda Doctor. This man describes himself as a Mazda Master Mechanic and often shares photos and clips of his work, with the occasional meme thrown into the mix.
In this particular case, he was handed over a Mazda that was presenting major issues. The vehicle started, but the main issue was that the gear selector was stuck in park.
Tasked with an arguably confusing vehicle, the man got to work. He found the issue, of course, but it was as unconventional as one can expect.
Multiple Issues Bricking Mazda
@themazdadoctor Hereโs one to confuse the non-car people๐๐ #diagnostic #mechanic #mazda #automotive #carsoftiktok โฌ original sound – ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ง๐โ๏ธ
First off, the Doctor got inside the sedan and showed what was going on. He started the Mazda and then showed the stuck gear selector.
That was far from the only noticeable issue. As soon as the vehicle started, the windshield wipers began wiping uncontrollably. There was no way to turn them off.
The car windows, however, were on the opposite spectrum of the Mazda’s issues. They didn’t work at all, no matter how long the Doctor pressed on the switches.
Scuffed Headlight
Therefore, the Mazda Doctor decided to investigate the cause of the bricking. One spot grabbed his attention the most: the left headlight.
With the camera on hand, he showed that there were a couple of “good-sized scuff marks” on it. In the comments, the Doctor detailed that the headlamp module had shorted out due to water intrusion.
The mechanic, who has seen several issues with other Mazdas in the past, knew exactly what to do. He unplugged the headlight.
Vehicle Fixed!
Immediately after unplugging the headlight, the vehicle magically fixed itself. He could move the gear selector, the windshield wipers were under control, and the windows responded.
The explanation, while bizarre, is pretty simple. The headlights connect directly to the heart of the Mazda’s Controller Area Network (CAN) bus, enabling the vehicle’s devices to communicate with one another without a central host computer.
The bricking was due to a short on the headlight circuit. This caused the CAN bus to be disrupted, leading to issues that resulted in the Mazda ending up at The Maza Doctor’s shop.
“Makes perfect sense,” the Doctor said. One viewer commented, “I hate modern cars.”