Fender Side marker light
 

Well I've had my 2009 RX-8 for about 4 years now. No major issues. Just mods and new tires.

About two weeks ago I noticed the passenger side fender signal light bulb went out.

Well you can't replace the little bulb inside as the light is sealed. So I had to buy a whole new assembly. MSRP is like $40!

After I ordered the part - the next week the other side went out! DOH! Mazda sure knows how to build the bulbs really well that they go out at roughly the same time!

So another $40 for the other side.

Now I run my side markers "old skool", I hooked them up to parking lights so they stay on whenever my lights are on and they blink alternately with the turn signals so I'm sure I have less life than the rest of the S2s. But funny thing is I did this to my GF Mazda3 and she's had her car longer and still on the original bulbs.

Now that I have a bad set, I'm going to try to see if you can take them apart with a razor blade or maybe putting them in a oven like a headlight assembly?

It is actually made by STANLEY...;)

Yeah I think you might be able to heat or blade them apart.....PITA

At least the cheap round plastic side flashers on MX-5 used on the Aussie and Europe (not USA) has the normal replaceable globe.

Let us know how you get on with your S2 side flasher repair..

Thanks! Didn't know they were made by Stanley!

Haven't done the driver side replacement yet - now that my #2 Project Miata is running, the RX-8 has now been regulated to occasional use.

So thought I'd just help in case someone else has to replace theirs.

You are supposed to be able to slide the lens assembly towards the rear of the car from the outside and it's supposed to pop out. Well I couldn't get them to slide back enough no matter how hard I tried and it felt like I was going to break something.

So to make it easier this is what I did. First, I jacked up the front just enough to make the tire droop down a bit. Then turned the steering wheel all the way over in on direction. Next reach up and remove three of the fender liner clips. Then pull back the fender liner and reach your hand inside and then you'll find you have much more surface area to push the lens assembly backwards a lot more easily and the lens assembly will pop right out.

The part numbers are:
F189-51-130D Driver side
F189-51-120D Passenger side