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Kia Forte Vanity Mirror Light Bulb Replacement Guide
How to change a burnt out vanity mirror light bulb above the sun visor in a 1st generation 2010 to 2013 Kia Forte.

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2013 Forte Sun Visor
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Vanity Mirror Light Housing
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Gently Pry Out Near Switch
This automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the first generation (2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013) Kia Forte in changing a burnt out vanity mirror light bulb located above the sun visor in the headliner.

Owners of other Kia or Hyundai vehicles such as the Optima, Cadenza, K900, Sorento, Sportage, Sedona, Soul, Elantra, Veloster, Sonata, Azera, Tucson, Santa Fe, Genesis, Cerato, Spectra, Accent, Sephia, i20, i30, i40 and Equus may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful.

A replacement "festoon" or "fuse" style bulb is part number DE3175 (31mm in length) from manufacturers such as Sylvania, GE, Eiko and PIAA.

You may also be able to use the slightly larger # 6418 (35mm), 6423 (36mm), 6411 (41mm) or a compatible LED unit.

The only tool needed to change the bulb is a small flathead screwdriver used to pry out the light housing.



 
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Pull Out Light Housing
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Pull Back Metal Contact
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Old Bulb Removed
To prevent from scratching the plastic surfaces, you may choose to cover the tip of your screwdriver with a thin micro fiber cloth.

Insert the blade of the small flathead screwdriver in between the light housing and the headliner at the side edge near the "On/Off" rocker switch.

Gently pry out the light housing and remove it from the headliner.

An optional step is to press the release tab on the black plastic electrical connector and slide it off the end of the housing.

If the old bulb was recently turned on, be careful since it might still be hot enough to burn your fingers.

Pull back the metal electrical contact to release the old bulb from the socket.

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Old # DE 3175 Festoon
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Insert New DE3175 Bulb
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Re-Insert Wires First
Insert a new # DE3175 festoon style bulb in to the socket. You can also use a brighter LED bulb.

You might also be able to use the slightly larger 6418 (35mm), 6423 (36mm) or 6411 (41mm) bulbs by bending back the metal electrical contacts.

If you disconnected the power plug, push it back in to place on to the metal contacts.

First re-insert the wires and electrical connector back in to the opening in the headliner.

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Gently Pop In Retaining Clip
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Light Housing Replaced
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Test New Vanity Light Bulb
Gently pop in the metal retaining clip on the other side of the light housing.

Test the new vanity mirror light bulb by moving the "On/Off" rocker switch to the "On" position.

For more, check out my other 2010-2013 Kia Forte DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides.
 

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