# The goddamned headlight retaining clip on my Mazda 3

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goddamned-headlight-retaining-clip-on-my-mazda-3/553748>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [September 14, 2010, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goddamned-headlight-retaining-clip-on-my-mazda-3/553748 "2010-09-14T18:20:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![flight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbce88/32.png) [@flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flight)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goddamned-headlight-retaining-clip-on-my-mazda-3/553748/61 "2014-05-01T03:19:55Z")

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> [@El\_Kabong](#):
>
> I found the same instructions in the owner’s manual for my Nissan Altima. Given that the local dealer quoted $700 for a “tune-up” (that consisted entirely of changing four spark plugs), I believe that I’ll attempt headlight replacement myself when the time comes.

Do you have HID lamps? Most owner’s manuals do not want you to mess with those.

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**Author:** ![akwally1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akwally1/32/3220_2.png) [@akwally1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akwally1)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goddamned-headlight-retaining-clip-on-my-mazda-3/553748/62 "2014-05-01T18:55:56Z")

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> [@control-z](#):
>
> Heh, if you think you’re going to have a better time with Hyundai I seriously doubt it.

I bought my Hyundai Elantra a year before her Ford and it’s still going strong at 105,000 miles. The only thing that’s gone wrong is the alternator died last month.

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**Author:** ![nevadaexile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb8c5e/32.png) [@nevadaexile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevadaexile)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goddamned-headlight-retaining-clip-on-my-mazda-3/553748/63 "2014-05-01T19:04:20Z")

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> [@DCnDC](#):
>
> Just go to a junkyard. Probably only cost you a couple bucks.

This.  
I’m late to the game,OP but salvage yards are your friends.  
And of all the Japanese models which are going to be in them, Mazdas rank among the highest…

Hell…get two while you’re there…

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**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goddamned-headlight-retaining-clip-on-my-mazda-3/553748/64 "2014-05-01T19:22:11Z")

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> [@control-z](#):
>
> Heh, if you think you’re going to have a better time with Hyundai I seriously doubt it.

I’ve owned two Elantras in a row from new for a total of nearly 250,000 miles. One mechanical breakdown in all that time, which was my fault (the first one overheated because I never had the coolant flushed.)

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