How To: Change glovebox light

vilmaxima · Oct 3, 2010

I bought the car and the light was already burnt out so I wanted to switch it. Here are the instructions:

Tools needed:
12V #161 bulb
Starhead screwdriver or 8mm socket

1. Open your glovebox. We want to remove the silver strip above the glovebox. There is a cut out, right where my hand is in the picture. Start popping it out towards the LEFT. There is a hook on the right end which slides out to the left(see picture).

2. Remove the two brown bolts at the top of the glovebox. Use a starhead screwdriver or 8mm socket.

3. Once those two bolts are removed pull the glovebox towards you. I put my knee under the glovebox to support it and to keep it from falling down.

4. Now you have access to the bulb. You do not have to remove that screw. Pull on the socket and it should come right out.

5. Take out the old bulb(#161), install the new one(#161) and put everything back together.

dracuger · Dec 5, 2010

thank you for this, my bulb just went out, and was looking to do this my self... does anyone know of and maybe led mods for glovebox? i wouldn't mind playing around with this and do something nice

vilmaxima · Dec 8, 2010

It can be done, but since this light is NOT an LED, it will require a resistor for each LED. You can buy ones already pre-fabricated with resistors, or make them yourself. Not too sure of the info on here about that.

zerocrash · Dec 20, 2010

Thanks for the writeup, I put a LED in there and it seem to work just fine... according to other threads I've found they don't need a resistor or anything....(hopefully).

I found it easier to just unscrew the plastic holding the bulb socket and that that out, or many I just have slippery fingers, but it was a bitch and a half to pull out.

Also, to get the glovebox out, I ended up having to pull out the plastic piece that's on the right of the glovebox, the part that runs down to the floor of the cars that's flush to the door when the doors closed...

channelv · Dec 29, 2010

I put a LED in there as well and it looks great. It will never burn out again, and also I cut some aluminum foil behind the bulb to act as a reflector to shine the line better. VERY happy with it

tien113 · Mar 14, 2015

where do you buy a LED for glove box? what type of LED is it?

Cab0oze · Mar 14, 2015

Standard 194 size bulb
https://www.superbrightleds.com/cat...lacement-bulbs/vehicle/2008-mazda-3-with+hid+headlamps-map+light/36-67-52-8069/

I'm not sure how big you can go and still have it fit, if you want to be sure then you'll have to check how much space there is. Post your results back here as well please!
I would guess:
WLED-WHP6
or
WLED-xHP5
Depending on how much you want to spend vs. brightness.

JKat · Mar 23, 2016

here you say to use a "194" bulb but earlier in the thread it says to use a "161"?

ziegs2020 · Mar 23, 2016

161 and 194 have the same base.

161 is a lower wattage bulb compared to 194.

If you stick with leds bulbs, wattage from a 194 should not matter.

JKat · Mar 23, 2016

Thanks!

How To: Change glovebox light

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