My brain hurts now.

 

maximachad

your stock bulbs are 45/65W I think.

When you use an overwattage bulb, you run more current through the stock factory wiring harness. The harness was designed for stock wattage. Also, overwattage bulbs are hotter.

You run the risk of melting your stock harness connector or ruining the wires and that sucks!
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?threadid=90111

A harness upgrade is kinda like a "relay" circuit ... you add some extra wires in and draw power directly from the battery to power your bulbs. The extra wires are bigger gauge, so they can handle the extra current. The connectors on the harness upgrade can also withstand the higher temps, so they don't melt.

OF course, SOME harness upgrades are ultra crappy, they actually melt too. Do a search and look for some brands people use and whether they've had problems or now.

 

.....the way this usually works is, you ask a question and people give you answers. This is most efficient when the question is thought out and asked with a reasonable degree of clarity. More importantly when a question is answered, it is pretty much YOUR job to READ IT, not ask it again in the same thread. People on this forum already Go nutz over people posting threads that have already been discussed in the past, but being your a NEWBIE, I don't see the big deal if there are people willing to answer these questions (definately gives me something to do when Im bored) HOWEVER, I don't see that even happening if despite all these answers you continue to ask the same question. Thats shows you haven't taken the time to read responces to your own post....not good. I understand your new, and from looks of it, new to the Forum format as a whole, so just take this as a little friendly advice. The responceses you've recieved thus far have not been nearly as bad as I've seen in the past, perhaps your "newbie" status is keeping most of the predators at bay, but under the current circumstances that won't be for long. Think about what you want to say before you write it, focus on the topic of your thread, read responces you recieve. The vultures and circling and this point, I couldn't blame them for closing in

 

Haha. I bet you sorta regret answering his questions now. When I answer someone's questions, I feel sorta obliagated to answer all the follow up questions also. Which in this case is a never ending black hole of incoherent blabber.

I bet "use the damn search feature" doesn't seem so rude now huh? hehe

 

Hey, different strokes for different folks. When I was a newbie, the approach that use currently for questions would have been Much welcomed and Appreciated, so I still see nothing wrong with people asking questions that have already been asked, but when the whole thing gets redundant (in the same thread at that)"use the dam search" becomes quite adequete. Maxima.org is an exhaustible source of information and ideas for our cars, and I try to make sure that "newbies" see that, but I will admit, there is a definate limit to such kindness.

 

This is a gosh darn circus act!

 

wait a minute, no one has answered this question...Capitone, what are u talking about? My question was that the special light that someone mentioned earlier was "supposedly" good enough for manufacturer harness's because they say they won't melt them. So I was asking you guys IF, in that case, would u still recommend me getting a new harness? I know i'm asking a lot but i just gotta get adjusted to this whole 'search' thing....i've been in forums before but not one swhere u search for information...so just give me time to adapt....please??

*hopes they feel sorrow*

*so he can make them go crazy wit more questions...buhahahah*

joking

 

Any bulb with a higher wattage than stock would require you to upgrade your harness. I know people who have used higher wattage bulbs on a stock harness with no problems and I have seen stock harnesses go up in smoke. Better safe than sorry, thats what my mama always told me.

 

Going all out would be to get real HID's but it doesn't seem like you wanna shell out too much cash
Well, for under $75 (the amount mentioned; you wish to spend) you can get Xenon bulbs (Gives it a HID look, but there is an obvious difference between real HID's and Xenon) you wanted and a 9004 heavy duty wire harness. Many bulbs will say they won't melt your wire but they don't say that the bulb itself will burn out fairly quick. Save yourself the trouble, get a pair of Xenon for like $20-30 and get yourself the harness for like $20 (seen them as low as $9 on eBay) while your at it. I had the Hiper Ind. 100/130W Xenon and they were about the closest thing to HID's I've seen but it was a shame they burnt out in a month without the harness. I hope this answers all your questions. Much of the answers are already given to you from the other members, you just gotta take the time to slowly read the info we have taken the time to write

 

I was just wondering what the stock wattage was?

Also, I have the wannabe Xenon bulbs on my Max(can't remember the brand), but the wattage is 55/65w. I got them installed last summer and no problems so far... will I have to get a new harness or am I safe as it is?

Thanks in advance...

 

Thats stock wattage. They will be ok with the stock harness.

 

I just wonna say that anyone who thinks ANY Xenon buld looks like ANY HID system needs to change their brand of crack!!! That's like comparing a Speak N' Spell to a PC....THEY'RE NOT EVEN CLOSE!!!!

Hey, Clee....can you post that pic again....

 

I agree ... line up a car with "xenon" bulbs and a car with an HID kit and the car with the "xenon" bulbs will so embarrassed that he'll go crying home to mommy!



Oh... and what pic? This one?

 

perfect for the ? that were being constantly asked

 

Why is this God-forsaken thread still going? (Besides the fact that people like me keep posting on it?)

 

actually clee it should be

write this post not "read this post"


hey guyz hes new, leave him alone!


btw, some hid does not come with high beam.

 

 

So does anybody know if HID headlights are available for 4th gen models? How much they cost?
Anybody know if they draw a hell of a lot more amperage than stock halogens?

(The new lamp setup on the 2002 MAXIMA is awesome).

 

Not only are HIDs way brighter than normal headlights, but they are more efficient, too. The standard Maxima lights use 55/65 watts. HIDs generally use 35 watts, and produce way more light.


One caveat; HIDs are more efficient . . . once they get warm, like 3 minutes or so. They are based on flourescent lamp technology, so they need a helluva voltage to get started, like 25,000 volts. That's what the ballast is for, just like the flourescents. Once warm though, its 35 watts from then on.

DW

 

Interesting. So you have wait like three minutes for HID's to warm up (sort of knew that). So what sort of light do you get while these puppies are warming up? Are you left in the dark, or is there light, just not intense. Guess thats where fogs can come in.....a little extra light till the HID's kick in

 

I once saw an audi going the other way, and just as I looked at it, he turned on his HIDs. It looks really cool when they turn on, they flicker/spark to life (like a robot that has been energized) and then a second later they settle into their regular light beam. Since it just turned on, the light is there but not so bright. Like bright parking lights at first. As he drives along they get brighter and brighter.

The warmup period is no issue at all. I am still extremely envious of HID technology, damn 5th genners

I'll wait a while until the OSRAM kit for 4th gens comes down in price, then maybe I'll get them.

DW

 

 

I saw the deal. I'll wait a little while longer. Not that much income to dispose of

DW