How to change a lightbulb in a Mazda 3

"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland) 03/10/2018 at 21:22 • Filed to: None

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15

1. Unplug light bulb

2. Remove rubber boot

3. Fuck with retaining clip, get frustrated and undo the screw (this will come back to haunt me later)

4. Remove bulb from housing and bulb holder

5. Put bulb in bulb holder and try to put back in headlight assembly

6. Realize you can’t see shit and hands are two times too big

7. Disconnect coolant and power steering reservoirs and shove to the side

8. Use phone camera to try to figure out what is going on

9. Screw retaining clip back in place

10. Align light bulb properly

11. Fuck with retaining clip for 15 minutes

12. Finally get retaining clip set in position

13. Put the other stuff back where it came from

14. Hope I never have to do this again

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 03/10/2018 at 21:41

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Sounds like the PITA method required to change the rear license plate bulbs on my Accent...

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/i-changed-my-rear-license-plate-bulbs-on-friday-1773010379

Chariotoflove > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 03/10/2018 at 21:41

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You forgot the last step: drink heavily. That one never fails me.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 03/10/2018 at 21:58

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Obligatory “changing the headlights on a GMT400 Yukon” photo.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 03/10/2018 at 22:32

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Oh hell no.

boxrocket > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 03/10/2018 at 23:24

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That’s not so bad. Many modern cars require taking off the front bumper cover and removing the headlamp housing to do a simple bulb swap.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 03/10/2018 at 23:31

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Yeah, these may be the worst to change headlights I’ve ever encountered. Worse, people can’t ever do it right so after the first burns they all go bad quickly afterward (someone really skilled can do it in like 2 minutes flawlessly, but nobody that doesn’t work as a Mazda tech is really skilled).

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 03/10/2018 at 23:49

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This is my second time doing this. I was able to do this one in about half the time. It would be easier if my hands were much smaller.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 03/11/2018 at 00:02

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I’ve done it like 3-4 times. It gets easier, but never easy. Do you get them in without touching the bulb against the sides?

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 03/11/2018 at 00:24

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All the sides were touched between bulb and the plastic holder. The other one I did two years ago and it’s still fine... crossing fingers now...

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 03/11/2018 at 00:31

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Keep them that way. I’ve never seen them last more than a couple winter seasons after a swap... The first one I did (the first one done right since her first bulb went out, because prior to that neither was clipped in properly) only made it to the third winter.

JDMatt > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 03/11/2018 at 01:04

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at least you finished the job! I messed around with the retaining clip for 30 minutes before giving up and taking it to a shop.

Khalbali > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 03/11/2018 at 05:39

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2nd gen Mazda 6 you have to go in through the wheel well and reach up and then still fuck with the same clips and shit. I always struggled with cx7s too even though it’s basically the same as the 3 just maybe a little less clearance. It was my Achilles heel as an otherwise decent (maybe? I hope) Mazda tech.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 03/11/2018 at 09:59

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That’s crazy. I would not bother if it was that difficult.

Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW! > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 03/11/2018 at 11:23

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Lol my mom’s 2008 Nissan Altima says take car to dealership for headlight bulb replacement in the owner’s manual. A quick Google search revealed that you go in through the inner fender to change it. I am familiar with this because Subaru Outback.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 03/11/2018 at 13:02

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I enjoy tinkering with my car...haven’t done anything major and mechanical yet, but the LED bulbs were part of a bit of a cosmetic upgrade. Some new wheels, or at least maybe trying to repaint my current summer alloys is next in the cards, and I wouldn’t mind a short-throw shifter either as the rare Canada-only Accent SR models of my generation came with them from the factory. :)