Headlamp bulb failure is unavoidable, but fortunately, replacing a bulb is not a difficult maintenance procedure in Mazda vehicles. The 2002 Mazda 626, Protege and MPV all share a similar headlight setup. All three vehicles use the same bulb types, and the procedure for replacing bulbs is almost exactly the same, except for one minor difference in Mazda 626 models equipped with the 2.5-liter V6 engine. Mazda recommends having your local dealer replace your headlight bulbs, but you can do it yourself and save a little money.
Turn the headlight switch and engine off. Life the hood and support it with the prop rod.
Remove the two 10mm bolts from the plastic coolant reservoir (if you're replacing the passenger-side headlight bulb in a Mazda 626 with the V6 engine). Lift the coolant reservoir up and set it back a few inches--but do not disconnect the hoses. Moving the reservoir allows access to the back of the headlight. (If replacing the driver-side headlight on a 626 with the V6 engine, this is not necessary; nor is it necessary on the other 2002 Mazda 626s.)
Squeeze the sides of the electrical connector attached to the back of the headlight. Pull the connector rearward to unplug it. Twist off the headlight sealing cover to access the headlight bulb.
Unhook the outboard side of the headlight retaining wire; pull the wire back to allow removal of the bulb. Grasp the bulb by its plug; pull it straight back to remove it.
Insert the new bulb. Move the retaining wire back into position. Twist the sealing cover on and attach the connection into the new bulb's plug. Position the plastic coolant reservoir back in place, if moving it was necessary. Tighten the two bolts.
