Please help (Mazda 3 Headlights)
 

I just got a 2004 Mazda 3 and when I got it the right headlight was out. The dealership said they would give me an "IOU" for the headlight and then turned around and said they would just give me money off my bill. I went to get the headlight fixed and they said it takes the High Density bulbs which are $137. I bought the bulb and had it installed and the light still didnt work. The guy said it was the HID Headlight module. I know nothing about cars and the guy cant find what hes looking for. Is the headlight module a part in the headlight or do I have to buy a whole new headlight? If anyone has any suggestions please let me know, anything can help at this point. Ive been without a headlight for 3 months.

Well the dealership should replace it, since it can't pass inspection with just one headlight working. There should be someone like the better business buereau or something to complain to, maybe a chamber of commerce. If nothing else they had to give you some kind of vehicle inspection, or maybe it was still good from the last year (depending on your state you may not need any inspection), but the DMV would be interested if they gave you a passing inspection with a dead headlight.

Waiting 3 months is not acceptable - it is a serious safety concern.

The module they are talking about replacing is the lamp ballast, I don't know where it is on the car, it may be in the headlight but it has to be very close to the light in any case. This module shouldn't burn out though, unless the old light had a catastrophic failure - in which case you may need a new headlight (whole assembly, reflector etc...) since there could also be damage inside from a lamp explosion.

BTW, the ballast will cost a lot more than the $137 bulb - you need to pressure the dealer to replace it ASAP.

2004 Mazda 3's didn't have HID headlights to beging with.
http://www.edmunds.com/used/2004/maz.../standard.html
If they're there, than the previous owner must have installed them.
Otherwise a Halogen bulb shouldn't cost more than $10 at your local Kragen.

HID lamps are similar to flourescent lights in that they use a lamp and a ballast. The ballast provides the power to the lamp and is what ignites it. It's likely that the ballast is what's causing the problem on your car.

The way to figure out if this is the problem is to remove the lights from the car and swap your bulbs to the other headlight.... or swap the ballast from the working side to the non-working side. If the problem is corrected then it's the ballast. If not then the problem lies somewhere else in the system. The ballast is mounted to the bottom of the headlight. You have to remove the bumper cover to remove the headlights (a matter of less than 10 minutes)

HIDs were available for the 3 in '04 as a combined package with TPMS. This continued in '05, and in '06 they were changed to be only available on the GT model. (about US models only).

Hope that helps.

reposted at https://www.mazda3club.com/mazda-service-info-111/mazda-3-hid-headlight-module-54395/

I stand corrected. I guess Edmunds isn't always correct. Thanks