Heading for home yesterday I had a couple chase me down in a Scion Tc to tell me I had a Brake Light out. So today I head to the auto parts store, pop the trunk to gain access to the bulb, twist the bulb fixture out of the lens -- there is no bulb !

Confused for 1/2 a second, I look outside the car into the lens & viola, there she is, loose as a goose at the bottom of the lens.

I take the bulb out of the other side out to match up the correct one in the store. So now I have a bulb sitting in the bottom of the lens. These bulbs just snap into the fixture, so I guess after 30,000+ miles it just vibrated itself free?

No tellin how I'm gonna get the bulb outta there without taking the entire lens assembly off....

 

a screwdriver with some double stick tape...

 

Not sure how big the opening is but when I had this happen with my running light bulb, I bought one of those flexible claw things from Murray's and was able to grab it and pull it out.

 

I had this same problem. I used a flexible claw to fish the old bulb out (not easy).

Warning, I ended up having to bend a couple of the metal contacts in the socket to tighten the grip on the bulb. Otherwise the bulb will just vibrate out and you get to go fishing again (no easier the second time).

 

Take it to the dealer.....warranty covers bulbs :D

 

It's happened to me twice already. I also bent the metal clips of the socket that holds the bulb to make it hold the bulb tighter - after it happened the second time. It hasn't come out again after I did that. I used a bendable straw with some chewing gum to get it out. It wasn't too difficult.

 

Add another one. Today I discovered that the bulb for my driver-side brake light fell out and into the lense.

I considered getting Mazda to fix it under warranty, but I had to go to work and I couldn't afford the time. I bought a new bulb and put it in. The old bulb is still in the lense.

It wasn't easy for me to change the bulb. The manual says to remove 4 pushpins. I only found three. I don't have good fingernails and struggled with a stubborn one. Even after I removed them, I couldn't see a way to get the felt liner fully out of the way. It looks like its all one piece.

 

should i bother with designing and manufacturing a flexible gripper thing for things like this?

 

why not just unbolt the housing and just tip the bulb out?

 

I've had it happen a few times. I removed the light assembly the first time, and used a tool which I've forgotten the name of..., has a plunger with gripping prongs, you can pick stuff up in tight places...

it's easier to get the lining away if you pull out one or two clips on the opposite side.

 

If this happened to me, i would pick up the whole car and shake it. That should work.... i think i can do it....

 

Thanks for the reminder.

Been 6 months and the bulb is still in there. Will probably just use some sticky tape on a hanger to get it out.