trbab032886
Member
- :
- 2006 Mazda 3i AT
i know, im probably the lamest person on the forum, but to save my life i cannot figure out how to change the bulbs on my 3...can someone please point me in the right direction, thanks!!!
headlight changes...
- Thread starter trbab032886
- Start date
Well, I don't have a 3 yet so I cannot help you with specifics but I know it can take some time to get a reply and since I'm here I can try and give you some general tips...
the bulbs are usually accessible by opening the hood of your car and looking @ the back of the headlight housing. in rare instances (and usually just with taillights) you have to pull the entire housing out of the car to do so but I imagine this is NOT the case for these headlights. You should see wiring harnesses going to your light housings. Follow them to the housing and there shoud be a plastic plug you twist until it feels released. Then you pull them out. You then have to pull the actual bulb section (usually snapped in place) from the harness and replace with same rated bulb..
Hope this helps a little. ***And do @ your own risk*** If you mess something up it's not my fault. I am just giving my advice without owning a 3...yet
gwai1o
the bulbs are usually accessible by opening the hood of your car and looking @ the back of the headlight housing. in rare instances (and usually just with taillights) you have to pull the entire housing out of the car to do so but I imagine this is NOT the case for these headlights. You should see wiring harnesses going to your light housings. Follow them to the housing and there shoud be a plastic plug you twist until it feels released. Then you pull them out. You then have to pull the actual bulb section (usually snapped in place) from the harness and replace with same rated bulb..
Hope this helps a little. ***And do @ your own risk*** If you mess something up it's not my fault. I am just giving my advice without owning a 3...yet
gwai1o
Just look at the back of the housing and you will see the connector. Unplug it and take the little rubber boot off. Then undo the little metal clip that holds the bulb in. When you get the bulb out of the headlight you will have to take the bulb itself out of an adapter then all you do is put the new one in the adapter and reinstall. I can take pictures if this doesnt make any sense.
trbab032886
Member
- :
- 2006 Mazda 3i AT
thanks alot guys...thats what i am having probs with, that damn rubber boot, i am afraid to pull on it cuz i dont want to permanently mess it up...i know exactly what you are talking about, is it reall as simple as giving it a tug?!?!
trbab032886
Member
- :
- 2006 Mazda 3i AT
by the way gwailo...your car is the sex
trbab032886
Member
- :
- 2006 Mazda 3i AT
its all good, thanks guys
trbab032886
Member
- :
- 2006 Mazda 3i AT
ya i mean i know all the basics, was just unsure whether or not to pull that rubber out
trbab032886
Member
- :
- 2006 Mazda 3i AT
it seems pretty simple, except the left headlight where all the fluid reservoirs and stuff are, that one seems like it would be a huge pain in the ass
ZoomVT said:
Thank you Zoom. I thought I was the ONLY one.
I have changed many halogen bulbs over the last 25 years, H1's, H3's, H4's, all of the 9000 series, but those clips are the biggest pain in the ass I have EVER had to deal with. (enguard)
Ya' can't tell how to get 'em out, and ya' Damn sure can't tell how to get 'em back in there right. 'Longest bulb change I ever had to do w/o having to removing the lamp itself... especially the H7's (lo-beams.)
I was faced with this just the other day. Like a goober, I actually walked down the block to a shop, hijacked a tech, and made him show me how to change a frigging lightbulb.
I knew, theoretically, how to change the bulb: unclip the wires, take the boot off, and then undo that little metal clip holding in the bulb. However, that clip was such a pain that I was positive that I would break it instead of succeeding in the bulb-change.
I knew, theoretically, how to change the bulb: unclip the wires, take the boot off, and then undo that little metal clip holding in the bulb. However, that clip was such a pain that I was positive that I would break it instead of succeeding in the bulb-change.
Dontcha' HATE that!! Perfectly capable, and experienced, but such a bad design....
That's pretty good though... "hijacked a tech." 'Better watch out for the FEDS. I think they're arresting more Americans for dumb s*** these days than doing anything about actual hijackers.
