What's this light for?

dmenges · 08-03-2014, 12:48 PM

I've had my 2012 Z for 3 years and never noticed the very small LED in the panel containing the map lights. See the pic. It's at about the 3-o'clock position and stands alone. There is no mention of it in the owners manual. It's probably something stupid, but I'm curious.

Trips · 08-03-2014, 12:50 PM

That is the ambient light led

Limeybastard · 08-03-2014, 10:09 PM

Its on the wrong side also.

justsomeguy · 08-03-2014, 10:35 PM

It's for being able to see the shifter i thinkz

Read T · 08-04-2014, 09:13 AM

It's to see the shifter

Minhtin · 08-04-2014, 04:58 PM

Ambient light. Set the mood for sexy time.

bbenj10 · 08-04-2014, 05:44 PM

Yep it's ambient lighting. Helps to see the shifter and it's reddish orange because that color has less effect on your eyes' adjusted night vision. BMW does the same thing.

Dixnot · 08-04-2014, 06:44 PM

Context clues....

TheBoomSpoon · 08-04-2014, 07:43 PM

I thought it was booger storage, short term

2009 7at touring
AAM 2.5 true dual exhaust
AAM de test pipes
Z1 headers
AAM 2.75 cold air intake r-line
motodyne m370 manifold
whiteline f/r sway bars
swift lowering springs
quaife LSD
Z1 34 row oil cooler
Z1 brake rotor and pad upgrade
Tune via hills garage
best 1/4 12.841 at 108.7mph 3540lbs with me in it

Limeybastard · 08-05-2014, 10:46 PM

LOL at being able to see the shifter comment. I guess I need a light in the footwell to see the brake and gas pedal .

bbenj10 · 08-06-2014, 07:41 PM

I think the idea is so that if you had someone that wasn't used to driving your car (like a valet), they could see where the reverse gear is at when it's dark outside. I'm coming from a M3 and I'm still getting used to reverse being on the opposite side. I'm sure a valet would have the same issue if he'd never driven a 370 before

cobra · 08-06-2014, 09:54 PM

I never notice that, I have a manual, don't know If it's there but I'll chek tonight, eventhough I know where my gears are and no valet will ever touch my car are you kidding !

fuct · 08-11-2014, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cobra

I never notice that, I have a manual, don't know If it's there but I'll chek tonight, eventhough I know where my gears are and no valet will ever touch my car are you kidding !

some places you dont have an option NOT to let the valet take the car. i had to watch a guy literally just back my car into a spot. it was ten feet but he wouldnt let me do it myself.

Zipper 104 · 01-10-2015, 04:24 PM

I arrived at the light being there to supply just enough light to prevent me having to grope around in the dark to locate the map light switches. It gives me a bit of spatial awareness, so to speak. The map switches are just to the left of it. Locate this light, then it's easy to locate the map light switches without diverting your eyes from the road. Simple. That's what I use it for.
It seems so dim I can't see it being adequate to help anyone see the shifter pattern.

104

Kaldaien · 02-05-2015, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zipper 104

I arrived at the light being there to supply just enough light to prevent me having to grope around in the dark to locate the map light switches. It gives me a bit of spatial awareness, so to speak. The map switches are just to the left of it. Locate this light, then it's easy to locate the map light switches without diverting your eyes from the road. Simple. That's what I use it for.
It seems so dim I can't see it being adequate to help anyone see the shifter pattern.

104

Seems ridiculous to even need to see the shift gate in the first place. If you have to look at the stick while the map lights are off to figure out the pattern then you should not be on a public road

08-03-2014, 12:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
Trips Administrator Join Date: May 2009 Location: Disneyland, Ca Posts: 8,732 Drives: 🔰 Rep Power: 10	That is the ambient light led cdoxp800, fuct, shika805 and 5 others like this. __________________

08-04-2014, 09:13 AM	#5 (permalink)
Read T A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2012 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 1,046 Drives: 11 Nissan 370z BC 6M Rep Power: 19	It's to see the shifter __________________ 2011 Nissan 370z Black Cherry Sport Pkg - Daily Driver, , 1960 Morgan +4 fun car, 1986 BMW 325ES, 1998 M3 and 1996 Spec Miata - Race Cars SUPPORT TEAM WINSOME RACING - WRL, CHUMP, LEMONS

08-04-2014, 04:58 PM	#6 (permalink)
Minhtin Base Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Ca Posts: 99 Drives: 14 370z Nismo PW Rep Power: 12	Ambient light. Set the mood for sexy time. cdoxp800, fuct, shika805 and 5 others like this.

08-04-2014, 05:44 PM	#7 (permalink)
bbenj10 Base Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 36 Drives: '14 370z MB w/ 6MT Rep Power: 11	Yep it's ambient lighting. Helps to see the shifter and it's reddish orange because that color has less effect on your eyes' adjusted night vision. BMW does the same thing. Riptide67 likes this.

08-05-2014, 10:46 PM	#10 (permalink)
Limeybastard A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: FL and London UK. Posts: 1,514 Drives: 2014 370Z Sport. Rep Power: 18	LOL at being able to see the shifter comment. I guess I need a light in the footwell to see the brake and gas pedal . jaybulls and JAFAMAN like this.

08-03-2014, 10:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
Limeybastard A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: FL and London UK. Posts: 1,514 Drives: 2014 370Z Sport. Rep Power: 18	Its on the wrong side also.

08-03-2014, 10:35 PM	#4 (permalink)
justsomeguy Base Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: louisiana Posts: 96 Drives: 2014 370z 6MT Rep Power: 12	It's for being able to see the shifter i thinkz

08-04-2014, 06:44 PM	#8 (permalink)
Dixnot Base Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: bedford Posts: 76 Drives: 09 Banana Rep Power: 13	Context clues....

08-04-2014, 07:43 PM	#9 (permalink)
TheBoomSpoon Base Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 223 Drives: 2009 370z 7at Rep Power: 12	I thought it was booger storage, short term 2009 7at touring AAM 2.5 true dual exhaust AAM de test pipes Z1 headers AAM 2.75 cold air intake r-line motodyne m370 manifold whiteline f/r sway bars swift lowering springs quaife LSD Z1 34 row oil cooler Z1 brake rotor and pad upgrade Tune via hills garage best 1/4 12.841 at 108.7mph 3540lbs with me in it

08-06-2014, 07:41 PM	#11 (permalink)
bbenj10 Base Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 36 Drives: '14 370z MB w/ 6MT Rep Power: 11	I think the idea is so that if you had someone that wasn't used to driving your car (like a valet), they could see where the reverse gear is at when it's dark outside. I'm coming from a M3 and I'm still getting used to reverse being on the opposite side. I'm sure a valet would have the same issue if he'd never driven a 370 before

08-06-2014, 09:54 PM	#12 (permalink)
cobra Base Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Georgetown, Ontario Posts: 121 Drives: 2014 Blue 370Z M6 Rep Power: 12	I never notice that, I have a manual, don't know If it's there but I'll chek tonight, eventhough I know where my gears are and no valet will ever touch my car are you kidding ! jaybulls likes this.

01-10-2015, 04:24 PM	#14 (permalink)
Zipper 104 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Canada's Wet Coast Posts: 480 Drives: '13 PW/Frost/Spt/AT Rep Power: 11	I figured I arrived at the light being there to supply just enough light to prevent me having to grope around in the dark to locate the map light switches. It gives me a bit of spatial awareness, so to speak. The map switches are just to the left of it. Locate this light, then it's easy to locate the map light switches without diverting your eyes from the road. Simple. That's what I use it for. It seems so dim I can't see it being adequate to help anyone see the shifter pattern. 104 Kaldaien likes this.

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