How do you replace parking light on a Mazda MPV?

Answer 1

Headlight & Running / Parking Light (the little clear bulb embedded inside my 2003 MPV's headlight; opposite side of orange turn signal bulb).

The Driver's side is more involved but can easily be done by the least-wrench-savvy. The Key is to do the Passenger Side first; might as well replace both bulbs while you're in there, it's super-easy to reach & will help you understand how it pieces work together.

Tools you'll need are 10mm wrenches (preferably a socket set wrench & open/box-ended wrench) plus a flat head screw driver.

Passenger Side: reach in and grab that long-white plastic stem coming out of the bulb socket. Rotate/twist top toward the grill. It'll pop/release & you can pull it out for easy replacement. Doing the headlight next, you'll want to pinch the sides to detach black clip/wires from bulb connectors, remove the rubber gasket and then disconnect the metal wire clip that holds the headlight bulb in place (hinges on drivers side of the bulb; clips into passenger side). Replacement obviously the reverse of above; you can visualize what's going on by looking into/through the headlight bulb.

Driver Side: "accessibility" is The Difficulty on this side. I unscrewed two screws on grill/bumper so that I could see/reach in there better (not entirely necessary but helpful). I also removed the battery (mounting bar took one screw; and disconnected the Pos..then Neg terminals & pulled out with it's shield.) Next, I needed to remove the top cap of the P.O.S. Vent cap obstructing my work...took off the securement screw and used the flathead screwdriver to push in tab to release that angled piece from the main stem.

Now, you're ready to replace bulbs just as you did the Passenger side...and for running light you can reach in one hand into access crack where grill was screwed into the frame and another hand on back side to assist. Headlight same as Passenger Side, too: pull rubber gasket (marked "top"); unclip the securing wire and observe through headlight.

It also helped to me shinning flashlight into back side because from the front of headlight area I could make everything out.

Finally, two addt'l notes on the headlight bulb: 1. don't handle the bulb with your bare hands (even clean hands have oils) and 2. the three electrical connection pins were positioned in triangle shape with a single pin on top...two other pins were below (just like you found on Passenger Side).

You'll do well; piece of cake. So have chilled malted beverages ready for shop clean up...

~ Mike Socolofsky