# How do you change a headlight bulb? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [March 11, 2008, 11:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-do-you-change-a-headlight-bulb/11700 "2008-03-11T23:16:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![head\_gasket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@head\_gasket](https://community.cartalk.com/u/head_gasket)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2008, 11:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-do-you-change-a-headlight-bulb/11700/1 "2008-03-11T23:16:15Z")
I have a 2004 Mazda 3. The manual says to bring it to a dealer to change the bulb. This can’t be right. But I can’t figure it out and I don’t want to break something. I have changed many headlight bulbs before, but this one is different. ---
**Author:** ![cappy208](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cappy208/32/31_2.png) [@cappy208](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cappy208)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2008, 11:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-do-you-change-a-headlight-bulb/11700/2 "2008-03-11T23:28:54Z")
check this out for info. [http://www.mazdaclub.net/mz3ws/esicont/en/srvc/html/node\_S01\_1263.html](http://www.mazdaclub.net/mz3ws/esicont/en/srvc/html/node_S01_1263.html) it sounds like this is a labor intensive job, but not necessarily needing to be done by the dealer. you may want to save the link as a favorite for further info for your car. ---
**Author:** ![head\_gasket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@head\_gasket](https://community.cartalk.com/u/head_gasket)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2008, 11:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-do-you-change-a-headlight-bulb/11700/3 "2008-03-11T23:42:33Z")
Wow, thanks for that link. should be very helpful!!! ---
**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 12:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-do-you-change-a-headlight-bulb/11700/4 "2008-03-12T00:01:50Z")
The link you got from cappy208 shows two different headlight types. The normal halogen bulbs are simple to replace, but the HID bulbs look like a nightmare. Does you car have High Intensity Discharge headlights or stand halogen lights? ---
**Author:** ![head\_gasket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@head\_gasket](https://community.cartalk.com/u/head_gasket)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 12:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-do-you-change-a-headlight-bulb/11700/5 "2008-03-12T00:12:24Z")
Don’t know. the manual lists both types as replacement choices. the wire connection looks like the halogen model but not sure if I should count on that diagram to figure that out. ---
**Author:** ![meaneyedcatz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/meaneyedcatz/32/692_2.png) [@meaneyedcatz](https://community.cartalk.com/u/meaneyedcatz)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 1:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-do-you-change-a-headlight-bulb/11700/6 "2008-03-12T01:05:22Z")
I have never had one of these in my shop but most h/lamp bulbs insert from the rear of the composite housing. There might be flat plastic clips that hold the housing in, if so pull those and remove the entire housing. Run the VIN in the Mazda dealer parts dept and they might be able to tell you if you have HID lamps. HID lamps should be connected to a metal circuit box, if it is they most likely HID ---
**Author:** ![cappy208](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cappy208/32/31_2.png) [@cappy208](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cappy208)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 1:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-do-you-change-a-headlight-bulb/11700/7 "2008-03-12T01:57:03Z")
i would think the VIN number and a call to the dealer would figure out which type of lights you have. do you still have the window sticker for the car when you bought it? that would have the info too. (unless you are not the original owner, and don’t knwo if it was upgraded.) ---
**Author:** ![meaneyedcatz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/meaneyedcatz/32/692_2.png) [@meaneyedcatz](https://community.cartalk.com/u/meaneyedcatz)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 2:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-do-you-change-a-headlight-bulb/11700/8 "2008-03-12T02:47:44Z")
You would think the vin would do it, you are correct. On Saabs they do not, kinda lame