# Headlight bulb glued in

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlight-bulb-glued-in/181721>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** mazda3, mazda, headlights\
**Created:** [January 9, 2022, 1:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlight-bulb-glued-in/181721 "2022-01-09T01:50:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Hurin34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e19adc/32.png) [@Hurin34](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Hurin34)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2022, 1:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlight-bulb-glued-in/181721/1 "2022-01-09T01:50:43Z")

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So a year ago or so my headlight had to be glued and hardwired in by a mechanic so I can’t replace my headlight without figuring out how to get it out. It’s been a pain. Image is below.

[[Album] imgur.com ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/9/9/997b4a61a503c5e38cdbacd9408c9a4f5887c674.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/a/nckx64J)

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**Author:** ![It\_s-Me](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/it_s-me/32/12660_2.png) [@It\_s-Me](https://community.cartalk.com/u/It_s-Me)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2022, 1:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlight-bulb-glued-in/181721/2 "2022-01-09T01:54:19Z")

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Gluing and hard wiring would have been a last ditch patch.

Now you’ll need to replace the whole assembly.

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**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2022, 1:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlight-bulb-glued-in/181721/3 "2022-01-09T01:55:58Z")

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Get a replacement headlight assembly from a scrap yard along with the electrical connector so the bulb can be replaced.

Tester

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**Author:** ![NYBo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nybo/32/17281_2.png) [@NYBo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NYBo)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2022, 2:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlight-bulb-glued-in/181721/4 "2022-01-09T02:30:15Z")

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You can try removing the assembly and hitting the bulb with a heat gun. Replacement connectors are readily available for most bulbs.

Oh, and find another mechanic who won’t butcher your car.

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**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2022, 2:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlight-bulb-glued-in/181721/5 "2022-01-09T02:44:08Z")

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The wire retainer for the bulb appears to be damaged, time for a new headlamp assembly.

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**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2022, 6:34am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlight-bulb-glued-in/181721/6 "2022-01-09T06:34:52Z")

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> [@Nevada\_545](#):
>
> The wire retainer for the bulb appears to be damaged, time for a new headlamp assembly.

Seems like that would be the easy way. Either new, after-market, or junk yard as tester suggested. I did buy the connector for mine at NAPA if that is also needed. I think around $5.

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**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2022, 4:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlight-bulb-glued-in/181721/7 "2022-01-09T16:51:07Z")

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What year? A headlight assembly is around $100 for a 2009 Mazda 3 on Rockauto.

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**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2022, 8:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlight-bulb-glued-in/181721/8 "2022-01-09T20:31:52Z")

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> [@texases](#):
>
> A headlight assembly is around $100 for a 2009 Mazda 3 on Rockauto.

I have ordered several mirror units from Rock and the after-market were direct fit and exact match to original. Not necessarily the cheapest offered so read the descriptions depending how fussy you are.