I had a fog light bashed in about a year ago. I replaced the unit with the stock nissan unit for about $100. The replacement seems much brighter than the old one, so now it looks like my car is winking. I have tried putting the lamp from the old fog in it and it is still brighter. Has anyone else had this prob? Do i just need to get a new unit for the other fog light? Or do you guys still think it is the bulbs?

was "Uneven Fog Lights" that unclear?

I have no usefull info but I do think your other post was fine, they shouldn't have locked it. But I'm drunk so what do I know??

Yes I agree the other post was perfectly fine.

Back to your topic, did you use a 95-96 foglight as a replacement? Maybe its made differently so its transmitting more light.

Also, you may have to reaim one of them, perhaps one is aimed higher than the other. There are special screws on the foglight assembly that allow you to do that.

agree, check the aim/positioning.....if not that then get out the trusted voltmeter and check the current in the lines.



huh? whats that you say?......no voltmeter you say...tisk, tisk

Possibly the old lense is discolored from age/ or stone chips.........

what it seems to me is that the glass is clearer on the new unit, and that the reflectors in the back are better. i will look at the aiming today too. I will also check the voltage, yes i do have a voltmeter (i am an ECE major, what do you expect!).

my question still is if there were different models of the fog lamp for the 1995-1996 maxs.

nope no diff models.

well, i tried changing the aiming (it is the one screw on the back of the unit right?) and i switched the bulbs, left to right and vice versa, and the passenger side (the one that was broken before) is always brighter. any ideas? if not, i think i need to buy a new driver's side unit, if so, where?

Have you noticed that when you replace one side of your headlight after 7 years, it's always clearer and newer than the one you've had on the other side for 7 years?

Weather & heat I suppose. You might have to replace the other fog housing as well if the voltmeter checks out equal. Before that, I'd suggest you replace BOTH fog bulbs with the same type (new) and see if that makes a world of difference.

i am planning on getting some PIAA xtremes for both the headlight and fog lights.

after very close inspection, the dimmer fog light seems to have dirty mirrors in it, or at least not nearly as smooth and shiny as ther newer one. there is no way do disassemble the unit is there? i think i need to buy a new drivers side (left?) fog lens (if the dif is still noticable after new lights), where do i go for just one? i have seen some kits for like $160-$200 with everything i need and more, and i know that my nissan dealer charged me $200 for the lens when it broke last time. So am i better off getting a kit?

bump

please?

It is possible to disassemble the foglamp, but I wouldn't recommend it. But, unless you've popped bulbs or have a severely cracked lens on the lams, the problem is not that the reflector (the shiny "mirror" inside) inside is dull, but rather the lens (clear glass on the outside) is dull. Road dust and weathering cause this, there's isn't much can do to avoid this. If this is the case, replace the other lamp as well...start fresh with both of them.

You might want to replace the older bulb in that older lamp as well. Halogen bulbs do decrease in performance over time as the tungsten filament oxidizes and reforms as deposits on the inside of the bulb glass.

Finally, check the aim of the lamps. One of the lamps may appear significantly brighter simple because it is aimed higher.

i have checked the bulbs and aiming.

i think the next step is to get the PIAA Xtreme H3s and 9004s and see how those look, and if it is still a no go, get new lenses.

i have the sameproblem dude. i have a 97 max and my passenger side is brighter. i changed and put new bulbs in both and its still brighter. i dontknow what to do either . i just live wit it.

PIAAs aren't all they are cracked up to be.

i know and agree, i just happen to like their light more than nokya, and i have trouble finding other brands that make both 9004 AND H3 locally. I want my headlights and foglights to match.

ok, so i looked REAL close, and apparently, the reflective coating inside the lens is lifting up, so i need a new lens, any one have a good (read: CHEAP) place to get just one 95/96 lens?

hmm, i had a suggestion until you said the coating is coming off. well, i will say it anyway. i did this a while back and it helped... i took both my fog lights out and poured some rubbing alcohol in them and swished it around and let them soak for 10 min or so. rinsed them well and let them dry (hairdryer). then for the lense... i went to Ace hardware and bought some 800-900 grit sandpaper... and some 1200, and i think it was 1700... the finest i could find. i started with the coarsest to get the grime and chips out the best i could... then the 1200 to smooth it out... and then the 1700 to get the even finer scratches and chips out. then i followed up with some fine cut compound...then finally i used some Liquid Glass to put a nice shine and protect it a little. i did the same with my headlights too, but i clayed them first.

I know this post is like 2 months old now but I have noticed this problem. I thought it might be the aiming first off. I was in another car and someone was following me in my car. I got out and looked at it from all angles and it turns out that the replacement is dimmer. How much do the bulbs cost? Whoever it was who had the problem have you worked it out?

it turned out that the reflective foil inside my lens is coming off. My cheap solution that i have not tried yet, is to open up the lens with a heatgun and use chrome spray paint. If that does not work... well... guess i gotta shell out the cash for a new lens.