P5 Headlight Replacement Help

[moneyaddyct]

Hey guys,
I noticed my driver's side headlight was out, so I bought one at the auto parts store to replace it. I've read through my owner's manual and some posts on this forum and I'm still having problems. My problem is: I still cannot seem to disconnect the white plastic attachment from the bulb. I've tried pulling, I've tried squeezing and pulling--it won't come off. My view isn't obstructed or anything as there's no black rubber piece blocking my view (Mazda lost the rubber piece the last time I had a bulb replaced.) So instead of having them replace the bulb again and pay $70, I wanted to do it myself. Any ideas/tips on how to remove the plastic connector? Thanks!

[JoshP5]

One of mine is on pretty tight, too. Try coaxing it off with channel-lock pliers. Sometimes I intimidate stubborn parts with aggressive posturing and threatening language, too. :)

[moneyaddyct]

Good idea. I don't have any channel lock pliers but I could go get some. I was thinking either a) trying to dislodge the white connector from the bulb with a flathead screwdriver or b) use needle-nose pliers to manipulate the clip and worry about removing the white cap after I remove the bulb. Any of those seem viable?

[FSCatalyst]

Use a flatblade to sort of pry it out but make sure you are pressing onto the tabs first to 'unlock' it from the connectors. Its just stuck on really good....just don't break shit. haha

[pasadena_commut]

I still cannot seem to disconnect the white plastic attachment from the bulb. I've tried pulling, I've tried squeezing and pulling--it won't come off.

If you have to use significant force tape up the glass part of the bulb really well first. This is the sort of situation where sudden violent motions of the part being exorcised can occur, which in this instance could easily result in a shattered bulb.

Edit: Note, only tape the blown bulb - you don't even want to touch the glass on the new one.

[02Silver2.0]

I went through that ordeal last night. My drivers headlight went out and I was going to pick up a pair of Sylvania Silverstars. Before i do that though, I was trying to remove them an did after some coaxing and jabbing (while trying not to be a hack). The white connector plugs into another connector which is a grey or black plastic and in turn has the bulb plugged into the other side. These two pieces are held in by the wire assembly int he housing. (Getting it off for the first time is a mission, but after the first run it gets easyer). After I just replaced the same bulb to see how hard it was and I had a hard time with getting the bulb in the socket and the wire bracket back in place without touching the bulb with the housing. It didn't work out too well. Are we required to remove the housing to change bulbs, or is there a method I don't know of. Any assistance is much appreciated.

Thanks

[xtrememps]

First I would undo the spring clip and take the whole thing out together.

Then fiddle with it. Just be careful because I had so much trouble with one it ended up breaking the ends of the plastic so I just cut it off and soldered a new connector on there.

Don't forget to use dialectic/electric grease when you put your new bulbs in so you won't ever have to deal with this again.

[JoshP5]

That's a good idea with the dielectric grease!

You don't have to remove the housing to change the bulbs.

[xtrememps]

No I just meant take out the bulb along with the white connector so it's easier to work with instead of trying to pull off the connector while it's still in the housing like some people try to do.

[JoshP5]

No worries, man. I know what you meant. :)

I was responding to 02Silver2.0 when I mentioned the headlight housing.

[02Silver2.0]

Thanks bud, I was doing a test run before F*#%*ing up a good set of Silver Star's. I want to install the low, high beams and foglights. Before I do the fogs, i am going to have to replace my housings. One is cracked and water gets in, so it's killing the bulbs. The thing is that they are really sandblasted, so if I don't replace both, it will stick out like a sore thumb.

[P-Funk!]

uh, the silverstars [tm] will give you a new opportunity to show this new skill-set every 6 months. sigh.