License Plate Lights Stopped Working (Even New Ones)

[MyOldMazda]

Hello kind folks. My son is driving my 2010 Mazda 3. He got pulled over for no license plate lights. He replaced the bulbs at Auto Zone, but the new ones don't work either. I checked many fuses for a busted fuse as the manual didn't seem to specify the exact fuse for this issue - but no busted fuse was found. What could be going on here? This car has never given us issues. It has always been a champ.

 

[wlong01]

I know this is a stupid question - but did he turn the lights on after he replaced the bulbs?

Check the socket where the bulb screws in, make sure there's no corrosion. You can test the circuit to see if there's any voltage going to the light to the light.

 

[MyOldMazda]

I know this is a stupid question - but did he turn the lights on after he replaced the bulbs?

Check the socket where the bulb screws in, make sure there's no corrosion. You can test the circuit to see if there's any voltage going to the light to the light.

Yes, we turned the lights on. And no question is stupid, especially given how dumb I feel for not being able to solve this as of yet. Testing the circuit seems like a good step.

Not sure if this helps but when we turned on the lights we could see the lights covered in a red lens were on. These were the taillights that wrap around the side edges of the trunk frame. Below these are lights covered in a clear lens. Those did not appear to be on either. This made me think it was a fuse that served these lights and the license plate lights.

 

[wlong01]

Yes, we turned the lights on. And no question is stupid, especially given how dumb I feel for not being able to solve this as of yet. Testing the circuit seems like a good step.

Not sure if this helps but when we turned on the lights we could see the lights covered in a red lens were on. These were the taillights that wrap around the side edges of the trunk frame. Below these are lights covered in a clear lens. Those did not appear to be on either. This made me think it was a fuse that served these lights and the license plate lights.

The clear ones are when you put it in reverse, backup lights.

 

[wlong01]

Another point - are you sure they're the correct bulbs? Maybe check with Mazda parts dept.