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Accessing the Infotainment Diagnostics Menu

209K views 68 replies 22 participants last post by  akramsherif9  
#1 · (Edited)
Accessing the Infotainment Diagnostics Menu - and other Special Key Combinations

Not sure if anyone else has mentioned this elsewhere, but I went to my dealership today and one of the technicians taught me a cool trick.

Diagnostics Menu
Hold: Music + Favorites + Pwr/Mute
Continue holding until the Diagnostics menu comes up.
CAUTION: Do this at a standstill, it is easier to hit all 3 buttons using 2 hands.

You can use the Commander Nob and rotate through all the different options, there are 38 of them numbered between 1 and 99.

Use at your own risk though, if you don't know what you are doing, I suggest all you do is just scroll through seeing what all the options are without selecting them. This is your warning. I will not and cannot help you if you screw your car up.

I have attached some additional pictures on the topic of the Diagnostics Menu below.

EDIT:
To bring up/access the CPU/MEM/VIP Overlay in the corner of your Infotainment screen:
Press & Hold: Music + Back + Pwr/Mute
Continue holding until the Diagnostics menu comes up.
CAUTION: Do this at a standstill, it is easier to hit all 3 buttons using 2 hands.

EDIT:
This is the menu that they go to in order to update the Infotainment system. I forget which option in the menu directly relates to the menu, but I was warned not to mess with that option. I assume that selecting it without an update USB plugged in could mess up your infotainment, maybe wipe it, I have no idea, that is why I'm not going to be messing with things much.

There are some nifty options though that will output information about your car to you though.
 

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#6 ·
^ A series of tests for various components of the IFS. Displaying versions and serial numbers. Didn't find any option setting... Ah well, perhaps one day will menu 99 allow us to field update the firmware .

View attachment 56522
Hello Pop or WandererTJ,

Would you care to explain the button combination to access the menu?

Do you have to hold the buttons simultaneously or in a sequence?

I have tried a couple of times without success. Maybe I´m not using the right combination. I´m curious to see the info.

Thanks.
 
#14 ·
In my experience with computers .. I can say with certainty, that as "new releases" are deployed, and "updates" are applied.. OS/Program grows larger, and more processing power/memory/storage is required! it doesn't matter if its a laptop.. phone,, or "infotainment system" at some point the HARDWARE has to be upgraded or the "system" becomes to slow to use. (with PC's WINDOWS is a good example.. windows xp was good..and had its "minimum requirements" but as it was improved (and renamed windows 7) those requirements became more than the hardware could handle, so new pc's were required. Its an Endless loop.. and is cause for worry on our Mazdas!! (Im sure mazda isn't going to put a new infotainment system in my car.. the cost would be to high. They'll mark it as obsolete and force me to upgrade on my own....or buy a new car..
something to seriously consider when buying any type of vehicle such as this.

with the 3 year warranty.. I wonder if the "life cycle" of the computer in my NEW car is only 3 years.. :-O
 
#15 ·
I don't think it's entirely accurate to compare a known resource hogging OS (windows) to a known less resources hogging Linux.

Don't get me wrong, the principal you share is valid, just maybe a poor example. The more you want a device to do, the more efficient the components need to be. You also need to take into account the differences between the hardware of a PC/Laptop and the ITS, and then the expected demand of that hardware. You wouldn't expect to find SLI graphics in the ITS, nor FSB rates of 1600Htz, or a need for SATA 3 transfer rates. So the hardware configuration is somewhat relative to the tasks expected.

I would expect (and hope) the ITS linux would have been compiled specifically, resulting in a somewhat more *lean* running system, aimed at achieving the given task as effectively as possible on a given hardware spec. As such, as efficient as linux is, the hardware should be able to cope with updates for a while, being that there are few possibilities for bloat, unlike on Window's PC's/laptops.
 
#16 ·
my 2cents: Working in the computer industry for many years, with a bit of experience in programming.. It is not necessary for the OS/Program to grow larger and require more power. This is how things conventionally are done since computers/hardware in mainstream systems can handle it. BUT back in the day of lets say MSDOS, the programs were written efficiently, not quickly. Many programs are written lazily due to time constraints and no need to get every ounce of efficient use of the hardware that is available. Now take this with what it is worth. I am not saying that better hardware wouldn't help, it definitely would. But the root is at the software app developer to write the programs to use what hardware is available efficiently. I think the software that Mazda is employing with the new 3's is not written with the best code, and could definitely use the hardware and resources better.

ok, ok let me get off my soapbox.
 
#17 ·
I'm probably older than you since my first coding in college was machine language for mainframes and we entered all data with cards or paper tape. That code was much more efficient than MSDOS routines or Fortran, or COBOL. I would never want to go back to those days because the programming effort was humongous. With the declining cost of CPU power and memory, the thrust of programming has changed from efficiency to functionality. Subroutines and libraries are inherently inefficient but speed up programming dramatically and utilized the collected works of others.

You can always write better code, but there is a declining benefit to perfecting it. It is far cheaper and easier and faster to put in a faster processor and more memory. From what I can determine, the processing power and memory in the Mazda CPU is adequate for its purpose. It is slow because of I/O routines and the time it takes to check other systems. Have you ever noticed how slow a Garmin GPS unit boots? Or your Android phone? Turn your phone completely off and then turn it on and time it.

So think about what your Infotainment unit must do to boot up. It has to identify everything attached, negotiate communications protocols, check car systems, find the satellites for the Nav, and because the audio is never really off, it must tune in the station. As with most OS's, there is background activity while multiprocessing is occurring.

Compared to similar devices, like your phone or standalone GPS, the infotainment system does a superior job of booting up and the code seems fairly efficient. Do you really disagree?
 
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#18 ·
The example i used is something i think most can relate to.. but it applies to all hardware/software. I could have used a blackberry with its different os versions and hardware.. but the majority probably dont use blackberry. Samsung... apple.. its all the same when put into perspective.
Yes..windows is a hogg..but only because its constantly upgraded. Which is the same for the infotainment system in its current state..
When developers start using opencar, and apps hit the matket..you have to wonder how the hardware is going to hold up.
Tbh: I currently have no Idea what the processor is , how much memory or the type/size of the storage system is that was put in the 2014 Mazda 3. If anyone knows..im sure it will co.e to be a very usefull post.
 
#20 ·
Windows is a hog not because it is constantly upgraded -- so is linux and android -- but because it is the OS of business and must maintain compatibility with some very old programs. I run several computers in my house with Windows, Linux, and iOS. I can tell you that with the processors I have, Windows is every bit as responsive as the other alternatives. The paradigm has changed because of Moore's Law and the cost of processing power and memory.
 
#23 ·
Dinosaur's maybe, but not *unfit for purpose* just because there is an updated, faster standard.

Some factories still use computers/robotic equipment running windows 3.x or MSdos 6.x simply because they do the job with the intended result. And from that, in conclusion you have 20 year old software running on 20 year old tech, still doing the job they did 20 years ago.

Just because something is newer, it's not necessarily applicable to a given application.
 
#22 ·
Rvoll.. i agree for the most part..
it just goes back to the day when 640k was LOTS of memory (you probably remember that saying as well as i do)
Technology, and its requirements change every day.. and there has to be a point where you upgrade your hardware to keep up with the times...
without knowing exactly "whats under the hood" of my infotainment system..all i can say is, i HOPE Mazda prepared my car for tomorrow with regards to what i have today (yes..i am concerned)
 
#29 ·
Interesting, looked through it a bit, a few screens that interested me. Mentioned DVD test, and DTV test.... I'm wondering if my CD player will play DVDs.... about to search through the service manual to find out what these do....

Here are pictures of the screens I think are of interest:

Image


Image


Image


Image


Image


Would be cool to see what kinda speaker test that "Speaker Cyclic Test" is... help tune the speakers?

I posted the DVD test enabled and disabled, as well as DTV enable and disable.... not sure what these do or why they are seperate tests.... gunna look through the service manual....

Would be cool if there was a way to allow me to use the DVD player or something.... or TV as well, dunno how Id get a signal, will our antennas get a "Digital TV" or something? if thats what "DTV" means.... hmmm gunna look around in the manual.:detective:
 
#30 ·
Would be cool if there was a way to allow me to use the DVD player or something.... or TV as well, dunno how Id get a signal, will our antennas get a "Digital TV" or something? if thats what "DTV" means.... hmmm gunna look around in the manual.:detective:
Looks like a i need a new manual from the manufacturer, the service manual is missing info on the DVD, and it says the DTV stuff is for manufacturer only.... maybe a different countries manual would have the DVD thing....

Here is a list from the manual:

Image


Image


It also mentions the speaker test, and gives more detail, it says that all it does is play sound from each speaker in a certain order to be sure they all work..... meh....

Gotta keep digging or find a better manual...
 
#33 · (Edited)
1) I'm still wondering if anyone has figured out how to bring up the CPU/MEM/VIP Overlay.
I have a feeling that the Diagnostics Menu 'might' not be the only special menu we can access, but I could be wrong.
If we haven't already figured this out, I will try and remember to ask my service techs if they know how to bring it up when I go in to get my wheel bearing replaced.


2) I ran the Radio Test Mode (Sub) last night, and I was quite amused at the sound that it used for testing. It was nice and bass-y but just seemed like a unique song to use.

I'm not sure why it is listed as "CAUTION: Do not operate because item is for manufacturer use."

You could change the output frequency of the test song with the commander nob while the test was going on which was cool.


3)
Thanks @Dimes2Dope. May I ask which manual is this coming from? Service Manual or "for dealer only" other one?
I have to ask the same thing! I'm pretty sure it is the service manual though.
I didn't see this at all as I read through my entire driver's manual while bookmarking all the juicy pages ;)
@Dimes2Dope, Is there any chance you could make a pdf scan of the whole book and upload it to Scribd or something? That would be amazing to have and it would be very appreciated.


4) @Dimes2Dope, on Post #29 of this thread ( Permalink = http://mazda3revolution.com/forums/...dio-electronics/54722-accessing-infotainment-diagnostics-menu-3.html#post803946 ) you posted several images that I cannot get to show up, not sure if it is just me since the pics in your other posts are working. Just thought I should mention it to see if you can fix it. I can't stand not having valuable/nifty information when it is so close to my fingertips!!! XD
 
#47 · (Edited)
I stumbled upon this thread just now: http://mazda3revolution.com/forums/.../forums/2014-mazda-3-skyactiv-audio-electronics/55626-can-someone-else-try.html

The thread states that you can reboot the system by holding (for 10 seconds): Return + Nav + Pwr/Mute
It also states that Fav + Nav + Pwr/Mute does the same.

This has got me thinking that there is a pattern to the button combinations.
Pwr/Mute is the base for all the combinations, from there, you add a 2nd button which pertains to certain functions and the 3rd button which pertains to a very specific item, such as the Diagnostics Menu.

Pwr/Mute + Music are the base to the service tools which are accessed by pressing a 3rd button:
+ Favorites = Diagnostics Menu
+ Back/Return = CPU/MEM/VIP Overlay
+ Home = ?

Pwr/Mute + Nav are the base to the system reboot key combinations which is activated by pressing a 3rd button:
+ Favorites = System Reboot
+ Back/Return = System Reboot
+ Home = ?
I have a slight feeling that the two different options for the rebooting the system might to different things, but I'm not sure since I haven't tested them. BUT I would guess that one simply reboots the car while the other does a factory reset.

I am not sure if adding +Home to either of the above does anything, which means that the following might be a 3rd set of options, or it could just be nothing at all.

Pwr/Mute + Home = ?
+ Favorites = ?
+ Back/Return = ?

If you look at the buttons around the commander nob, it kinda makes sense that Home would be a 3rd set of menus.
Music = A, Home = B, NAV = C
Back/Return = 1, Commander Nob = X, Favorites = 2
Pwr/Mute = Alt Function

So this leads us to having:
Alt + A-1 & A-2
Alt + B-1 & B-2
Alt + C-1 & C-2

This is all just hypothetical since I'm sitting in my office, but it is worth looking into.


I could have it reversed, it could be 1, 2, & 3 across the top and the two sides are A & B.

The Konami code just has to do something in this car. Please Mazda. PLEASE.......
 
#52 ·
So I can confirm that the reboot combo works, at least one of them (Star + Nav + Mute), I didnt have the time to check the other one.

My service tech (the main one, not the one that showed me how to access the menu) seemed really alarmed at the fact that I knew how to bring it up and that I shouldnt be messing with it at all. I suppose I should have told him that I have the service manual now and that I know which options I should use with caution. But still, everyone, please remember to be cautious. You can mess up your system, and he made it sound like option 99 wasnt the only option that could do it.

Id also like to report that when I activated the video test, the only way to get out of it was to turn the car off. Usong the reboot key combo might work but I didnt know it at the time.