Mazda 3 Owners Manual: Replacing Exterior Light Bulbs

Headlights (With xenon fusion headlights)

Low/High beam bulbs

You cannot replace the low/high beam bulbs by yourself. The bulbs must be replaced at an Authorized Mazda Dealer.

Headlights (With halogen headlights)

Low-beam bulbs

1. If you are changing the right bulb, start the engine, turn the steering wheel all the way to the left, and turn off engine.

   If you are changing the left bulb, turn the steering wheel to the right, and turn off engine.

2. Make sure the headlight switch is off.
3. Pull the center of each plastic retainer and remove the retainers.

4. Turn the screw counterclockwise and remove it, and then partially peel back the mudguard.

5. Disconnect the connector from the unit by pressing the tab on the connector with your finger and pulling the connector downward.

6. Turn the socket and bulb assembly to remove it. Carefully remove the bulb from its socket in the reflector by gently pulling it straight backward out of the socket.

7. Install the new bulb in the reverse order of the removal procedure.

High-beam bulbs/Daytime running lights

1. Make sure the ignition is switched off, and the headlight switch is off.
2. Lift the hood.
3. Disconnect the connector from the unit by pressing the tab on the connector with your finger and pulling the connector downward.

4. Turn the socket and bulb assembly to remove it. Carefully remove the bulb from its socket in the reflector by gently pulling it straight backward out of the socket.

5. Install the new bulb in the reverse order of the removal procedure.

Daytime running lights/Parking lights (With xenon fusion headlights)

The LED bulb cannot be replaced as a single unit because it is an integrated unit.

The LED bulb has to be replaced with the unit. We recommend an Authorized Mazda Dealer when the replacement is necessary.

Front turn signal lights, Parking lights/ Front side-marker lights (With halogen headlights), Front side-marker lights (With xenon fusion headlights)

1. If you are changing the right bulb, start the engine, turn the steering wheel all the way to the left, and turn off engine.

   If you are changing the left bulb, turn the steering wheel to the right, and turn off engine.

2. Make sure the headlight switch is off.
3. Pull the center of each plastic retainer and remove the retainers.

4. Turn the screw counterclockwise and remove it, and then partially peel back the mudguard.

5. (Front turn signal lights) Disconnect the connector from the unit by pressing the tab on the connector with your finger and pulling the connector.

6. Turn the socket and bulb assembly counterclockwise and remove it.
7. Disconnect the bulb from the socket.

Front turn signal lights

Parking lights/Front side-marker lights (With halogen headlights), Front side-marker lights (With xenon fusion headlights)

8. Install the new bulb in the reverse order of the removal procedure.

Fog lights *

1. If you are changing the right bulb, start the engine, turn the steering wheel all the way to the left, and turn off engine.

   If you are changing the left bulb, turn the steering wheel to the right, and turn off engine.

2. Make sure the fog light switch is off.
3. Pull the center of each plastic retainer and remove the retainers

4. Turn the screw counterclockwise and remove it, and then partially peel back the mudguard.

5. Disconnect the connector from the unit by pressing the tab on the connector with your finger and pulling the connector downward.

6. Turn the socket and bulb assembly to remove it. Carefully remove the bulb from its socket in the reflector by gently pulling it straight backward out of the socket.

7. Install the new bulb in the reverse order of the removal procedure.

Side turn signal lights * , Brake lights (LED type), Taillights/Rear side-marker lights (LED type), Taillights (Trunk lid side/Liftgate side), High-mount brake light

The LED bulb cannot be replaced as a single unit because it is an integrated unit.

The LED bulb has to be replaced with the unit. We recommend an Authorized Mazda Dealer when the replacement is necessary.

Rear turn signal lights, Brake lights/ Taillights/Rear side-marker lights (Bulb type)

4–Door

1. Make sure the ignition is switched off, and the headlight switch is off.
2. Pull the center of each plastic retainer and remove the retainers.
3. Remove trunk end trim.

4. Pull the center of each plastic retainer and remove the retainers.
5. Peel back the trunk side trim.

6. Turn the socket and bulb assembly counterclockwise and remove it.

Rear turn signal lights

Brake lights/Taillights/Rear sidemarker lights (Bulb type)

7. Disconnect the connector from the unit by pressing the tab on the connector with your finger and pulling the connector.

Rear turn signal lights

Brake lights/Taillights/Rear sidemarker lights (Bulb type)

8. Disconnect the bulb by pulling it out.

Rear turn signal lights, Brake lights/ Taillights/Rear side-marker lights (Bulb type)

9. Install the new bulb in the reverse order of the removal procedure.

5–Door

(Left side)

1. Make sure the ignition is switched off, and the headlight switch is off.
2. Remove the cover.

3. Turn the socket and bulb assembly counterclockwise and remove it.

Rear turn signal lights

Brake lights/Taillights/Rear sidemarker lights (Bulb type)

4. Disconnect the connector from the unit by pressing the tab on the connector with your finger and pulling the connector.

Rear turn signal lights

Brake lights/Taillights/Rear sidemarker lights (Bulb type)

5. Disconnect the bulb by pulling it out.

Rear turn signal lights, Brake lights/ Taillights/Rear side-marker lights (Bulb type)

6. Install the new bulb in the reverse order of the removal procedure.
7. Insert the cover tabs and install the cover.

NOTE Verify that the cover is securely installed.

(Right side)

1. Make sure the ignition is switched off, and the headlight switch is off.
2. Turn the knob and remove the cover

3. Turn the wing bolt and jack screw counterclockwise.

4. Remove the jack
5. Turn the socket and bulb assembly counterclockwise and remove it.

Rear turn signal lights

Brake lights/Taillights/Rear sidemarker lights (Bulb type)

6. Disconnect the connector from the unit by pressing the tab on the connector with your finger and pulling the connector.

Rear turn signal lights

Brake lights/Taillights/Rear sidemarker lights (Bulb type)

7. Disconnect the bulb by pulling it out.

Rear turn signal lights, Brake lights/ Taillights/Rear side-marker lights (Bulb type)

8. Install the new bulb.
9. Insert the wing bolt into the jack with the jack screw pointing to the down and turn the wing bolt clockwise to temporarily tighten it.
10. Turn the jack screw in the direction shown in the figure.

11. Turn the wing bolt completely to secure the jack.

NOTE If the jack is not completely secured, it could rattle while driving. Make sure the jack screw is sufficiently tightened.

12. Install the cover in the reverse order of the removal procedure.
13. Insert the cover tabs and install the cover.

NOTE Verify that the cover is securely installed.

Reverse lights

4–Door

1. Make sure the ignition is switched off, and the headlight switch is off.
2. Pull the center of each plastic retainer and remove the retainers.
3. Peel back the trunk lid trim

4. Disconnect the electrical connector from the bulb by pressing the tab on the connector with your finger and pulling the connector.

5. Turn the socket and bulb assembly counterclockwise and remove it.
6. Disconnect the bulb from the socket.

7. Install the new bulb in the reverse order of the removal procedure.

5–Door

1. Make sure the ignition is switched off, and the headlight switch is off.
2. Remove the cover.

3. Disconnect the electrical connector from the bulb by pressing the tab on the connector with your finger and pulling the connector.

4. Turn the socket and bulb assembly counterclockwise and remove it.
5. Disconnect the bulb from the socket.

6. Install the new bulb in the reverse order of the removal procedure.

License plate lights

4–Door

1. Make sure the ignition is switched off, and the headlight switch is off.
2. Pull the center of each plastic retainer and remove the retainers.
3. Peel back the trunk lid trim.

4. Disconnect the connector from the unit by pressing the tab on the connector with your finger and pulling the connector.

5. Turn the socket and bulb assembly counterclockwise and remove it.
6. Disconnect the bulb from the socket

7. Install the new bulb in the reverse order of the removal procedure.

5–Door

1. Make sure the ignition is switched off, and the headlight switch is off.
2. Wrap a flathead screwdriver with a soft cloth to prevent damage to the lens, and then remove the lens by carefully prying on the edge of the lens with a flathead screwdriver.
3. Disconnect the bulb by pulling it out.

4. Install the new bulb in the reverse order of the removal procedure.