Bobzda3

Hey Everyone,
I'm attempting to change the low beam bulb on the driver's side of my '04 2.3 hatch and there is what looks like an air duct right behind the connector, leaving almost no room to put the new one in, let alone reattaching the rubber cover and plugging in the harness. Any idea what this "duct" does and whether there's an easier/better way to get my bulb replaced? Thanks for any help you can give!

icspots

Yeah replacing the lamps on the 3 is a PITA, even more so on the driver's side. If you're unable to get enough space another option is to remove the headlamp housing itself. This requires removing the bumper cover. Actually for the HID lamps Mazda's repalcement instructions state the housing has to be removed (not necessary but makes life easier).

It sounds like a lot but removing the cover only takes about 10 minutes. there are about 8 bolts under the front edge of the cover, two plastic anchors on the front of the fender wells, and one bolt behind the fender splash guard holding the top corners. Then there are a few pop clips on either side, two pull out anchors in the center by the grill, and lastly two hooks. Once that's off you can just lower it to the ground and remove the three-four bolts that hold the housing to the car.

If nothing else doing it this way makes dealing with Satan's headlamp retention clip much less stressful.

Bobzda3

Thanks for the suggestion about the bumper cover but I'll only do that IF all else fails!
Do you have any idea what that "air duct" looking thing is right behind the headlight housing on the driver's side? If that were removed I'd have little or no problem!
Thanks again!
Bobza

icspots

I'm not looking at my engine at the moment, but from the location I'd guess it's the resonator box for the air filter.

Bobzda3

I took off my driver's side wheel, removed the inner fender splash guard and found that the intake resonator was damaged. Two of the three mounts were broken off which allowed the resonator to hit the light connector. I removed the resonator and now there's plenty of room to change a light bulb! However, my under body splash cover was removed due to damage this past spring and the hole to the underside of the airbox is open and exposed to the elements. Do I need to worry about snow getting in the airbox this winter? I'd like to get a CAI but probably not until spring unless now might be a good idea. What's all involved in installing one? Thanks for reading and responding!
Bobza3

icspots

The undersplash shield has three pieces IRC. I know for the center one (the one you take off to change the oil) it's held on with about 7 bolts. Mine's currently only held in with four, so I remove three and then swing it out of the way to change the oil. I would assume that the sides pieces come off via multiple bolts as well.

Which one is broken?

Bobzda3

The big middle one shattered after I hit something and I had to remove it. Does it make any difference whether that splash shield is on or not?

I would like to put in a CAI setup - can you suggest a few or places to get one?

Thanks!

Bobzda

icspots

Replacing it would be straight forward, just remove the bolts and put the new one in. How necessary it is depends on who you ask. I'm sure it ads slightly to the aerodynamics of the underside of the car. In theory it also prevents some dirt/etc. from getting thrown up on the engine from the road. It's certainly not going to stop something big and hard from coming up and smacking into the engine so I wouldn't think of it as armor of anykind.

Bobzda3

I am considering getting a new shield as the engine pulleys are down low and with winter nearly here I'm concerned about the snow affecting them.