Headlight problem

[buliwyf]

My passenger-side headlight. The bulb seems OK. It's appears to be dead, but I wiggle the connector a bit and it turns on. Once it turns on, no amount of wiggling the connector can turn it dead.

However, once I turn the car off (or pull the handbrake while in P), the headlights turn off and once I turn it on again, the passenger side headlight wont turn on. I have to pop-up the trunk and give it a little wiggle again.

Any ideas? Has this happened to anyone here?

 

[sleepwalker]

There's an adapter attached to the plug-end of the headlight bulb. Basically a black or brownish round piece of plastic with two blade-style electrical contacts that the harness plugs onto. This adapter is kinda commonly known for burning up sometimes, creating a situation much like the one you're experiencing. My suggestion: pull the headlight bulb out, pull off the adapter (may be a pretty tight fit, but don't give up, it'll come off) and examine the inside (where the bulb plugs into) for melting, burning, scorching, or corrosion. Replace it if you find any. I think mine was 13 bucks at the dealer, might've been less. Been a couple years now.

 

[Hank3]

The bulb adapter/holder/plug that sleepwalker referred to is here on ebay for $11 shipped:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mazda-Prote...ts=Model:Protege5&hash=item3a89e620bd&vxp=mtr

 

[sleepwalker]

The bulb adapter/holder/plug that sleepwalker referred to is here on ebay for $11 shipped:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mazda-Prote...ts=Model:Protege5&hash=item3a89e620bd&vxp=mtr

Yep! That's the thing. Mine burned/melted on the inside, where the bulb's terminals press into the adapter.

 

[P-Funk!]

Mine was too. I fixed it by cleaning it real good.

 

[p5TO]

I was going through a bulb every couple months and eventually replaced the bulb holder with a cheap ($7 at Canadian Tire) generic plug. I burned through a couple of those and now I'm using quick connects. Quick connects have lasted the longest so far (about a year). I just make sure I put lots of electrical tape around the plugs to make sure the metal spring that secures the bulbs in place don't touch the bulb plugs.