I have a question for you guys--but first, I need to scream "ARE THEY F&**$%G NUTS!!??!!" I just called Koeppel Nissan around here and asked them how much it would cost to install a set of factory foglights and theys aid "$260"-- and I said--what? the lights themselves from Courtesy is only $165 plus shipping....
I honestly don't think it is rocket science...Has anyone ordered the factory foglights and installed them? The light switch stalk comes with the set of lights, correct? Jeez---freaking Nissan--talk about a rip off---if anyone has any instructions, that would be great...

thanks,

Brian

Brian -

I did it myself, and it only took me 20 minutes tops.

Yes, you get a new stalk with a set of lights from courtesy.

Go ahead and do it your self. All you need is a screwdriver and a utility knife to cut the plastic "bar" off the bumper.

Cheston has instructions at http://www.maximadriver.com under the how2 section.

Good luck!

BUt afterwards, to aim teh foglamps, you'll need to park the car on level ground and remove the cowling underneath the bumper cover. This will give you access to the screw behind the foglamp housing. Otherwise, you'd have to look at the pattern, remove the foglamp, turn the screw a bit, re-install it and check the pattern again.

:

Thanks EJ,

I looked at Chestons instructions--which are from the factory manual--very helpful...I'd apprecaite it. by the way, does anyone know if the harness which holds the fog light on each side need to have screw holes created with a drill or those holes where the screw go (holding the light bracket) is already there?) I haven't felt them before-- I will holler at you guys if I have any questions

thanks

and to think that the stinking Nissan guy wants 260 to install that--what the heck--what a rip off...with everything that is already set up--it is more or less of a plug and fit it in.

Well I installed mine myself, although it didn't take me 20 minutes. More like an hour and a half maybe. You have to take apart the steering column cover and replace the signal light stalk (included). The instructions included with the kit are just photocopies from the factory manual.

Overall, it's not a difficult job. You have to:

1) Replace signal light stalk with new one
2) Cut the plastic fins off the foglight hole in the bumper
3) Disconnect + battery cable
4) Install foglight relay
5) Plug in fogs
6) Mount fogs
7) Test it out

On my car they where already there. No drilling required.

One thing to be careful of...take your time cutting the pieces out of the bumper...you don't want to scratch it!

Good luck.

Make sure that Courtesy sent you the fuse realy for the fog lamps. I never got mine and used the fuse for "Horn #2" whatever that is! Besides that, it is not that difficult.

And you've still having trouble...we can meet up and I'll be glad to help out.

Just drop e-mail.

Guys, I just want to thank you all for your helpful tips and comments--love to catch up with all of you one day.

Albert,

thanks so much man-- I definetely will need some assistance with the dash I think I can handle the mounting. I just haven't had a chance to go out to look at the car and study the mounting points. I have to order the kit from Courtesy --so I think I am going to do it today.
I'll drop you an email--what part of Queens are you in? I am in Woodside.

thanks again--

Brian

Hey, I just want

I might not be in NYC this weekend...when I am...I'm in Flushing.

Let me see if I can make it easier for you to work on the dash. Do you have a fax machine at work? I have the service manual and the install instructions.

It is easy but it does take some time to do. I would say allot yourself 2 hours for the install. I have done mine and Nickstam's so far and they were both simple. Just as an FYI courtesy almost always leaves something out of the package. Go over it with a fine toothed comb and make sure all the piece are in the box. You don't want to get halfway through the install and notice pieces missing. Both Nickstam's kit and my own were messed up. They forgot my light stalk so they fedex'd it to me next day.

Humaras... If you have not ordered it yet. I would suggest that you check out Vester Nissan in N.C. cause Doug recently priced the foglight setup from them due to some recommendations on the mailing list and they were cheaper than Courtesy. Mention Maxima.org of course. If i can help any more let me know. If Albert isn't around to help with the install I would be more than happy to. You just have to bring the car to me.

Delio, ALbert,

thanks for everything.
Albert--I printed the pages from Cheston's site, which he scanned off the Factory Manual (I believe). I read through those and they seem to be pretty step-by-step...but of course, when I am working on it, It could look different. *heheh* ANd there is no rush, I doubt that I will get to it this weekend, maybe around Thanksgiving weekend or the weekend afterwards--but I am going to call Vester Nissan also...Courtesy priced it at $165 +9 bucks shipping.

Delio--where are you located, in the event Albert isn't in town and I run myself into some mishap
Let me know where you are--I could use an instructor to oversee my "technical prowess"

Let me know guys.

Brian

that I called:

Crest Nissan: "Sir, I am not aware that the foglights are sold in a set--they are $138 a piece...and currently we only have one side available..."

my comment--there must be a lot of demand for one side for foglight--and they must be nuts to think I would pay that much for it!!!

South Point Nissan--spoke to David Brunette and said "they are 178.75--includes everything, and I can ship these to you for $5..."

I told them courtesy has it for $165--they don't match prices--oh well...

Vester Nissan in NC..."Sir, we currently don't have any in stock...they would be $220 and it would take 3 working days for us to get it to here and then to you..."

--thanks but no thanks--

I guess the best prices is Courtesy then...

oh well...$165 it is??

Doug was quoted ALOT less by Vester... But anyways I am in Mahopac. About 50 minutes north of NYC. If you need help holler, I am here for you. Actually I will be in NYC On Saturday but you won't have the setup by then.

Del

Sure Delio--are you before or after the Tapanzee bridge? do you have your own shop or do you have a driveway where we can take a look at with this? I am pretty free the weekend after--if You like I can take a drive up to you early in the morning and see what it is...But I think I am going to give it a shot and study it--and see how many screws I need to take out and all...

heheh =)
thanks Delio

Umm you wouldn't cross the Tappan Zee to get to my house. But that depends on how you would be coming up. I just use the driveway for my mods. I'll be more than happy to help if needed.

Del

Del,

thanks again...I'll drop you an email and schedule soemthing if I screw anything up and I will definetely call upon your "expertise".

Laters, Del.

Brian

But be sure to check w/ Albert, cause he may be a closer drive for you. I am more than willing to help though.

Del

No problem, ALbert is closer--and I gotta see what his schedule is like...but maybe I can tackle it on my own--so
Finally got my butt out of work at a decent time and took a look under the front of the car with a flashlight (it gets dark around 4here) and I see the mounting screws available that is already in the steel beam of the front bumper.
And I took a look at the screws of the steering column--
quick question:

When I unscrew the 4 screw on the bottom, everthing will pretty much seperate? and from there, I can just connect the new stalk to replace the old one?
And I have to add in two fuses in the fuse-boxes...
looks pretty straight forward--of course things aren't that straight forward when i *f&*k it up.

Inside the plastic bumper cover, there is foam and a square section steel bumper. There are holes pre-drilled and tacked-in nuts. The foglight kit should come with two (right and left side) black painted brackets. These are the brackets that hold the actual foglamp assemblies. THe package should also come with 10 zinc coated (silver in color) bolts that take a 10mm socket. These two brackets each bolt up to the bottom of the steel bumper with three of the bolts each. The remaining 4 bolts wil be used (in a pair) to secure the foglamps to the brackets.

As for the steering column, you'll be removing a few screws for the plastic trim and also a few screws for the metal kick plate. After this, the four (I think) screws under the column come out and you should able to pry apart the two column halves. A few more screws secure the actual switch stalk. The wiring is all plug and play.

Add the fuses last...my car already had the fuses installed...dunno why. Don't forget the relay too.

do the relays come standard with the kit or is it in the relay box already? If it isn't, I think I might need to go buy one from an autoparts store. I am assuming that it isn't too expensive right?
I will go ahead and order the kit and ask them for a relay--jeezz, I hope courtesy won't charge me for this. But hopefulyl everything will be packaged pretty well and i don't have to go scrounging around for things.

The Relay should be there... but like Albert said, mine happened to be there already. Relays are cheap and the least of your worries though. But I would check to see if you have the relay and if not then specifically mention it to Courtesy. Albert is right on the interior, it is not just the 4 screws, it is a little bit more involved than that.

Del

very careful and try not to break anything
btw, the two wries that the foglamps get power (electricity) from is already there? I just need to pop the hood and look for it--and just drag it down and hook it up to the foglights? This is what the diagraphm from Cheston's site show--so I have to go see where these two power wires are--and I can start working on this.

Guess, I will go place the order now...*more money spent*

but heck, at least I can see now =) hehe

Ok...this is what i think the kit should contain...make sure when you talk to the Courtesy rep:

1. Two lamps
2. Two brackets
3. Two plastic ball socket retainers (these may be attached the brackets already)
4. 10 hex head bolts
5. One relay
6. Instructions
7. One replacement turnsignal stalk

Fuses are not included, but my car already had them in the fuse panel...

As for the power wires to the foglamps, they will be behind the bumper cover. You may have to reach up in there...which should be no problem after you've cut the two bumper flaps off. The power connectors will be taped with gray or green tape to the harness that goes to the bumper lamps. Cut the tape carefully and pull the connectors down to where the foglamps will be mounted.

I won't be here tomorrow...please e-mail me at ridiculi@hotmail.com if you have more questions.

Good luck.

Good Info Albert--
thank you. I called courtesy and placed the order and I have confirmed with them that the relay is in there and I will go home later and see if I have the fuse in there already--
heheh--I sure will.
hey, next time I see you--lunch on me--

Hey what's up there Albertt...

well, I just got the fedex box from Courtesy. They did a good job packing it in there. It seems that there is a box within the shipping box. And inside this smaller box is all the goodies.
I got:
the relay
the instructions (seems like everything in there from the pictures indicate a 97 model year car)
2 lamps packed seperately and I am assuming that everything else is in there within these little boxes
the turn signal stalk--

alrighty--guess I shall be working on all of this.

I have another question about the steering colum when you take out the screws--the two pieces of the steering column can be pried opened--and I was wondering if the kickplate--knee protecter need to be taken out too. I see the instructions indicating that--but the wires for the stalk doesn't go that far down.

any words again would be great. You free this weekend ALbert? *heheh*

But I do not believe you need to remove the kick panel... I could be wrong though. It is not that difficult to remove and snap back into place when you are done. Good luck with the install. If you need help and Albert isn't around, gimme a shout.

Later,
Del

I'm pretty sure the instructions are right. Remove the kickpanel...it might be an issue with the wiring. Do exactly as the instructions say. Keep your screws separate...don't confuse them. Actually the more difficult procedure is to aim the foglamps once they are installed.

I'll be in NYC tonight and for the whole weekend. E-mail me at ridiculi@hotmail.com if you need my cell phone number so we can arrange to meet up.

I actually took a look at the instructions and studied them. It is exactly the same as what is on Cheston's site. I'll give it a whirl if it doesn't get too cold later. I look att he forecast and it seems that the weekend would warm up some...
But I will start cutting it out and all--and I'll see where I get up to.
Are you around early thanksgiving morning? (sorry to be a pain in the A$$)--but if you are-- let me know...

heheh--

Brian

I'm pretty sure the instructions are right. Remove the kickpanel...it might be an issue with the wiring. Do exactly as the instructions say. Keep your screws separate...don't confuse them. Actually the more difficult procedure is to aim the foglamps once they are installed.

I'll be in NYC tonight and for the whole weekend. E-mail me at ridiculi@hotmail.com if you need my cell phone number so we can arrange to meet up. [/I][/QUOTE]

And don't mind taking a drive to my neck of the woods on thanksgiving morning then I will help you do it. It should take no more than an hour or so between the both of us.

Del

Yes, I will be around. E-mail me.

guys. I think I am going to experiment in a few hours and see how far I get. I will certainly email you guys tonight--to let you know how far I got.
ANd Del, I don't have a bit of problem driving up to you. I just don't want to wake you and your family members up too early for thanksgiving
That goes for you too ALbertt. I feel awfully bad that I need to bother you on TG when you ought to be spending it with family and all.

heheh

hope to see both of you real soon--

Brian

Thanksgiving at my house ain't a big deal. If you need a hand I can spare it in the morning/early afternoon. Albert is around too and he is closer. But I am around if needed.

Del

I got the fogs to work last night--and I just want to thank you two for the assistance offered.

well, I hope to catch the two of you really soon.

=)

Brian

Congrats on the install. I hope all went well. And I hope our advice helped some. I am sure we will meet up at a meet or something soon enough.

Later,
Del