How to replace or change the side marker covers

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FrankoLaMoya
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Does anyone know how to replace the side marker covers and where to find clear OEM replacement or clear universal side marker cover? Mine are orange, but I want them clear... Thanks in advance for your help peeps!
2012 Suzuki Kizashi Sport iAWD CVT ''Kaijū'' (Black pearl metallic)

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quickzilverfox
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Joined: Fri Jun 11, 2010 6:21 am
Location: Houston, TX

I upgraded my hi & low beams to HID this weekend and had a look at the side turn indicators while I was at it. They are not difficult to get out, but once you remove the clear plastic housing from the chrome trim, it looks like that is as far as you can go without breaking the clear plastic top off the white plastic base to get at the bulb. I think you could probably put it back together with some superglue, but I didn't feel like risking breaking it and having to order a new one.
2010 Azure Gray Metallic AWD Kizashi SLS
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KuroNekko
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quickzilverfox wrote:I upgraded my hi & low beams to HID this weekend and had a look at the side turn indicators while I was at it. They are not difficult to get out, but once you remove the clear plastic housing from the chrome trim, it looks like that is as far as you can go without breaking the clear plastic top off the white plastic base to get at the bulb. I think you could probably put it back together with some superglue, but I didn't feel like risking breaking it and having to order a new one.
I think he's talking about the side markers which are the orange reflector/lights on the sides of the front bumper, not part of the headlight. The ones in the headlight are turn signal bulbs. The side markers serve a different purpose and illuminate orange to show the front side of the car when lights are on. Most cars integrate the turn signal with the side marker (these models use a two-filament bulb), but the Kizashi has position bulbs instead which can only be seen from the front. This is why Suzuki had to install side markers in markets that require them by law (the US).

The Kizashi was a car designed for the global market and I see a lot of JDM trends in the design. In Japan, side markers are not required and JDM Kizashis don't have them. The Kizashi also features position bulbs (those tiny bulbs under the high beam bulbs which are actually NOT the DRLs) which are popular and useful in Japan, but almost have no use in the US due to different driving etiquette regarding headlights.
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS 6MT (Black)
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Ronzuki
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Location: Lancaster County, PA

FrankoLaMoya wrote:Does anyone know how to replace the side marker covers and where to find clear OEM replacement or clear universal side marker cover? Mine are orange, but I want them clear... Thanks in advance for your help peeps!
The front side markers are a complete assembly. If the bulb goes out, you're replacing the entire thing, lens and all. If your lens is broken, you'll need to obtain the entire assembly I would imagine. A member on here had successfully, and painstakingly, disassembled one and replaced a burned out bulb. He did a very nice write-up on removal, replacement and installation. It is probably in the how-to section somewhere.
Ron

2010 Kizashi GTS, CVT, iAWD (3/10 build date)
2011 SX4 Premium Hatch, CVT, iAWD (12/10 build date)
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bootymac
Posts: 1602
Joined: Fri Jul 19, 2013 1:04 am

Ronzuki wrote:
FrankoLaMoya wrote:Does anyone know how to replace the side marker covers and where to find clear OEM replacement or clear universal side marker cover? Mine are orange, but I want them clear... Thanks in advance for your help peeps!
The front side markers are a complete assembly. If the bulb goes out, you're replacing the entire thing, lens and all. If your lens is broken, you'll need to obtain the entire assembly I would imagine. A member on here had successfully, and painstakingly, disassembled one and replaced a burned out bulb. He did a very nice write-up on removal, replacement and installation. It is probably in the how-to section somewhere.
Wow, I had no idea the side markers were a complete unit. I assumed they were simply housings for the bulb to plug into
fasteddie
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed Mar 27, 2013 4:00 pm
Location: Long Island, New York

earlier this year I replaced a left front side marker assembly on a 2012 SLS. The bulb/socket is definitely removable from the main assembly.
quickzilverfox
Posts: 7
Joined: Fri Jun 11, 2010 6:21 am
Location: Houston, TX

KuroNekko wrote:
quickzilverfox wrote:I upgraded my hi & low beams to HID this weekend and had a look at the side turn indicators while I was at it. They are not difficult to get out, but once you remove the clear plastic housing from the chrome trim, it looks like that is as far as you can go without breaking the clear plastic top off the white plastic base to get at the bulb. I think you could probably put it back together with some superglue, but I didn't feel like risking breaking it and having to order a new one.
I think he's talking about the side markers which are the orange reflector/lights on the sides of the front bumper, not part of the headlight. The ones in the headlight are turn signal bulbs. The side markers serve a different purpose and illuminate orange to show the front side of the car when lights are on. Most cars integrate the turn signal with the side marker (these models use a two-filament bulb), but the Kizashi has position bulbs instead which can only be seen from the front. This is why Suzuki had to install side markers in markets that require them by law (the US).

The Kizashi was a car designed for the global market and I see a lot of JDM trends in the design. In Japan, side markers are not required and JDM Kizashis don't have them. The Kizashi also features position bulbs (those tiny bulbs under the high beam bulbs which are actually NOT the DRLs) which are popular and useful in Japan, but almost have no use in the US due to different driving etiquette regarding headlights.
Actually, he is talking about the side marker bulbs and so was I...as I mentioned, I was working on HID upgrade on my headlights and saw this post, so decided to check out the side marker bulbs as I already had the front bumper off and easier access to the wheel-wells to get at the side marker bulbs from behind. I was wanting to "upgrade" them to stealth bulbs as well, but it is not possible without breaking the clear top off the white base of each side marker assembly...and that is after you carefully remove the chrome bezel from the units.

BTW, the tiny bulbs (5w5 aka 168) in the headlamp assemblies are the parking & DLR lights...they are only on alone in "parking lights" mode, on with the hi-beams at low output in DLR mode and on with lo-beam or hi-beam operation.
2010 Azure Gray Metallic AWD Kizashi SLS
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KuroNekko
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Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2012 5:08 pm
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quickzilverfox wrote: Actually, he is talking about the side marker bulbs and so was I...as I mentioned, I was working on HID upgrade on my headlights and saw this post, so decided to check out the side marker bulbs as I already had the front bumper off and easier access to the wheel-wells to get at the side marker bulbs from behind. I was wanting to "upgrade" them to stealth bulbs as well, but it is not possible without breaking the clear top off the white base of each side marker assembly...and that is after you carefully remove the chrome bezel from the units.

BTW, the tiny bulbs (5w5 aka 168) in the headlamp assemblies are the parking & DLR lights...they are only on alone in "parking lights" mode, on with the hi-beams at low output in DLR mode and on with lo-beam or hi-beam operation.
I really think he is talk about the side markers (the orange reflectors with bulbs in them on the BUMPER) and you are talking about the SIDE TURN SIGNAL which are the orange bulbs in the clear housing on the fenders (originally, I thought you meant the turn signal bulbs INSIDE the headlight.)
For clarification, see picture below.

Also, I am well aware of the tiny position bulbs. In fact, I've replaced mine with PIAA LEDs and did a write-up on it. However, they are NOT DRLs. The DRLs on the Kizashi are the high beam bulbs at lower wattage. Position bulbs exist on the Kizashi because they are used as actual "position bulbs" in Japan.
In Japan, there is an etiquette of turning off your headlights at intersections at night while you wait. The idea is to reduce light pollution and strain on the eyes of other drivers. However, you still need some light to indicate that your car is there (position of the car). Therefore, these "position bulbs" come into play. They illuminate when you turn off your low beams, but keep the switch in the parking mode.

They are somewhat useless here because North American Kizashis have DRLs and the high beams illuminate at low wattage whenever the headlights are not on. In Japan, the Kizashi does not have DRLs so position bulbs have a stand-alone purpose.
You basically can only get the position bulbs to illuminate alone in our NA Kizashis if the handbrake is engaged or the engine is off. This is when the DRLs do not come on, but the other lights can.
See the picture below of my LED position bulbs on without the DRLs. What you see are the tiny position bulbs alone and no other lights on inside the headlight. The DRLs of the high beam bulb are OFF. Notice the side markers are also on. The handbrake was up or the engine was off for the DRL not to be on in this picture.
Attachments
Side marker vs. side-mounted turn signal
Side marker vs. side-mounted turn signal
suzuki-concept-kizashi-turbo-2010-1.jpg (79.76 KiB) Viewed 15476 times
PIAA LED 6000K Position bulbs.
PIAA LED 6000K Position bulbs.
Kizashi headlights 005.jpg (42.99 KiB) Viewed 15476 times
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS 6MT (Black)
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Ronzuki
Posts: 2382
Joined: Wed Nov 17, 2010 5:33 pm
Location: Lancaster County, PA

In my earlier comment I was referring to the fender/side turn signal...amber bulb w/ clear lens.
Ron

2010 Kizashi GTS, CVT, iAWD (3/10 build date)
2011 SX4 Premium Hatch, CVT, iAWD (12/10 build date)
2018 Mazda CX-5 iAWD Touring
2014 Wrangler JKUW (GONE, traded :D :D )
1991 Samurai, 5-Speed, EFI, Soft-Top ( :| sold)
PittsburghJoe
Posts: 95
Joined: Fri Jun 08, 2012 5:55 pm

Hi All,

Interesting reads. I just had a bulb go out on my side marker. I have read through the whole thread but I didn't see where it said how to replace it. I've changed headlight bulbs and am familiar with removing the bumper and think maybe that is the method to get to these side marker bulbs but I've also seen other vehicles that similar fixtures just pop out of the bumper and are held in with pressure. So do I need to drop the bumper or pop it out?

Thanks. I love what you guys do on this board.
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