DIY - Parking/Running Light LED replacement
 

Tools Used: 1)Flat Head Screwdriver
2)Pliars (not needed if you have extreme grip with your index finger and thumb)

Step 1: Turn the wheels to allow for most room. Driver side turn wheel all the way to the rght and passenger side turn all the way to the left.

Step 2: Use flat head screw driver and carefully slide it under the middle cap and rotate it clockwise and counter clockwise to gently pry it up. Remove the clip and then where the front brumper cover meets the fender there is an opening to pull back the inner fender cover. You don't need to pull it all the way out and I posted a pic of what I did with a flashlight and towell.
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/v...Z/HLEDDIY1.jpg
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/v...Z/HLEDDIY4.jpg

Step 3: The base indicated in the picture needs to be turned counter clockwise ON BOTH SIDES. It is a pain in the... PITA. I used pliars and electrical taped the end of them so they didnt scratch it too bad. Twist counter clockwise and pull out.
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/v...r/HLEDDIY2.jpg
http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/v...Z/HLEDDIY3.jpg

Step 4: Pull out the stock bulb and put in the LED. Before reinserting the lamp turn on the Runninbg Lights to make sure the LED lights up. If not, rotate the bulb. Put the lamp back and rotate clockwise.

NICE DIY....what number are the running lights?

168/194

Most of the "accessory" lights on the Z use the 194 type. I just replaced my map/hatch/LP lights last night and they were all the same.

I tried replacing my bulbs last night and had some serious issues. What year is your car?
I have a 2011 and I have a lower cowling bolted to the front fascia right in front of the tire. I un-bolted the trim pc to loosen the lower edge of the fasica. No help.

Did you remove this trim pc. I have attached a pic

I wasn't able to seperate the wheel liner from the fascia. I know the opening you are referring to where the fascia and the front qtr panel meet. But could only get it to seperate enough to put my finger in there.

I will try to the towel / rag trick to avoid scratching the fascia.

cool i will try this when i get my bulbs

What LEDs did you use? Are them bright enough to use them as DRL?

BTW: Nice DIY! :ughdance:

I'm faced with the same problem. How did the second attempt go for you?

Second attempt was successful. Instead of going from bottom of the wheeliner, you need to start of the top of the wheeliner. There are some push pin that you need to remove and peel the wheeliner. You'll have to pull hard to seperate it from the front fascia. After that it's a breeze.

If you are really struggling, you can remove the wheel for more working room

Trick - what the direction you turn the bulb, it's only a 1/4 turn to have the bulb come out. Don't force if it's not coming, you'll probably turning the wrong direction.

It's easier to start from the top middle where the two liners meet and peel back from there

When I was trying to install the first one (driver's side), I knocked it out of the socket and it fell into the headlight housing. I have no idea how to get it out, so I guess I will leave it. It took me forever to find it. I hoped it dropped somewhere in the engine area, but a couple of days later I saw a corner of it in the housing. Oh well. I don't really feel like buying another set for $20.

Well, just did this in 10 minutes. A couple of things to add to a great DIY:

Wash the area of the front fascia you'll be working around to prevent scratches.

You really don't have to rotate the fastener. Just work the screwdriver under the plastic and gently move it around. Then use the screwdriver to carefully pry up the center portion. A rather narrow screwdriver works best here. Once the center portion pops up a bit, you can easily remove the fastener with your fingers.

I had no trouble at all turning the bulb housing with my fingers, not sure why others did.

As noted, the bulb only works when inserted correctly. Don't go putting everything back before turning on the lights. If the bulb doesn't come on, rotate it 180 degrees.

Careful putting the bulb housing back into the slot. As noted by Proshop01, above, it could be easy to knock the bulb out when re-inserting the housing. And it only goes in one way. A good idea might be to mark the bottom of the housing with a sharpie before you remove it, so you know which way to re-insert it.

anyone here know where i can locate the fuse for this bulb? mine was bad and doesnt work after i plug a bad led! please help!

Besides replacing the parking light with an LED, I also did a amber bulb delete. Looks much cleaner.

Kinda late her but yeah removing that lower cowling is pointless because it is bolted to the belly pan.