Hi all,

I looked at the bolts holding down my HID's and the head has some weird kind of notch in it for a specialized tool that allows the mechanic to remove the bolt. It's kind of like an indent in the shape of a chef's hat or like a flower or something. I can't describe it too well. The notch is more like an oddly shaped punch out like for a torx driver, but shaped differently. If you have an '03 Maxima you can see what i mean by looking at the bolts yourself. I don't know if they're the smae on earlier models.

Anyway, I was seriously entertaining the idea of removing my own HID's each night and wanted to see how hard it would be to remove them. Well, it would be impossible with the necessary tool or socket that fits the bolt head. Does anyone know where I can get one or even what it's called?

Thanks,

Dan

 

Well TimW has sold some sets of these security bolts. But that still dont stop them from cutting the tabs and still taking the lights.

Taking them off every night may not be that easy, its going to take 15mins to remove everytime and install. Plus it aint as easy at it looks, sometimes you need to do it right otherwise you run the risk of scratching the paint on the bumper while taking it in and out all the time.

Dixit

 

Forgive me for being suspicious but there's something fishy about this request.

IIRC, the 2k3's have the same bolts as the 2k2's and only Tim's set has those special sockets/bolts.

If i'm falsely accusing here, my apologies.

 

Nice after rereading it again, you are right, I posted that MAD early, so yeah something looks highly fishy there.

 

There's nothing fishy here, and here's why...This guy just got a 2003 Max (look at one of the other HID theft threads recently), and he's been posting about what he can do. There were some ideas exchanged, and one of them was removing the headlights when parking the car. So that's why he's posting this thread--nothing wrong in this case, but yeh, without knowing his prev. threads, it does seem odd!

 

Yep, i did read his previous thread but what struck me was his comment on the bolt, which as of the last time i saw a 2003 is just the same plain old bolt we all have (e.g. 2k2's). Unless he bought a 2k3 from some guy who bought Tim's stuff there's just something about the post that rings a bell.

 

Unless he is smart

I've got no idea what you are talking about. Unless Nissan decided to add some security bolts (perhaps the add on kit?) as part of the package on the 2k3?

 

But the way he wrote it he clearly states that he has these security bolts on this HIDs right now. I dont think the dealer put them on, if so this is news to me.

 

Guys, he had the dealer install a security package for him--relax!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!!

 

Happy New Year to you too

Btw, if he did have the package installed then the driver should have been included.

 

Right, we aint trying to make him out to be a punk. Happy New Year to you to buddy.

But he should get the driver, cause then if he takes it to another dealer, he will get screwed if that dealer dont have the driver/head for the bolt.

 

Alright, let me not be his personal attorney! He'll just have to explain himself what he meant. But here's his thread from earlier (seems genuine, I don't know... )
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....hreadid=177389

 

EDIT::: Be advised I wrote the following post at around 2:00 PM EST and tried to send it but the server was busy so I posted it now when I got home. Since then other stuff has happened, but I'll post about it later.:::EDIT

WOW!!!

I go to sleep a nice guy and i wake up as a scheming bulb thief!?!

Just kidding guys.

First, I thank Vito for his undying faith in human nature, and to all others I say I completely understand your skepticism. If you notice how awkwardly I worded the original post, it is because not only could i not adequately describe the bolt head, I also was thinking to myself how silly the whole thing sounded. You might also note the time I wrote the post. It was 4:15 AM in New York. I had been up playing Battlefield 1942 (Yes I'm an IT/Tech/Gamer geek) and finally got around to checking the boards again. So for the record:

Your honor, I plead not guilty by reason of brain fuzziness and being the newbie on a board full of good folks who've suffered cruel losses at the hands of scumbag headlight hteives. I apologize for any confusion I've caused, and if I ever get around to hosting a Maxima.org members party here in Queens, your cars will be safe parked outside my apartment. At least from me.

OK, now that I've purged myself I have BIG INFO!!! (Well maybe not THAT big)

If you've read other threads you'll see that I posted about problems when I picked up my car yesterday. The Finance/Warranty manager at the dealership had promised me a security system that included a shock sensor, hood lock and panic button on the fob in addition to the standard Nissan immobilizer stuff (Which is useless to prevent HID theft). When I got there to pick up the car last night at 7:00 PM I banged my hand against the quarter panel, but the alarm didn't go off. After a few more tests of this nature I expressed my dissatisfaction with the alarm's sensitivity. Even hitting the glass didn't work, although i admit i didn't hammer the glass. I popped the hood and lo and behold...no hoodlock. Now I was ****ed. I had gone out of my way to be the courteous and friendly "Hi guys, I'm going to chew you down to a great price just before the New Year beacuse you have to meet your annual quota" customer. But when the dealership promises something, then a deal is a deal regardless how much money they are or are not making. I had been toying with the idea of removing the lights each night. Here in Queens, such an action is not necessarily insane. So i looked at the headlights and saw the crazy bolts i mentioned in my original confession...i mean post. I thought to myself, well those look tough to remove, but the bracket they run through is plastic, and i guess the thieves just rip them out. I thought nothing more of it.


My wife and I went for a little spin in the new wheels and then I returned the car to the dealership for the hoodlock installation and to have the alarm sensitivity increased. i intended to pick up the car today with all its promised accoutrements (sp?).

I called the dealership about half an hour ago (right before i read about my imminent crime spree). The same guy I'd been dealing with was very apologetic in that he had been an idiot last night and forgot that since today is New year's Eve none of their techs are around to work on the car. But HERE'S THE BIG INFO:

he said to me (paraphrase): "I was misinformed about the hood lock. The mechanic I spoke with said the clips were actually clips for the lights." I Immediately thought about what I had seen last night and that these might be the same security bolts that TimW is selling, although I didn't say anything to the guy. The bolts do look like little wheel locks that need a special "key" you attach to the front of a lug wrench to take them off. Now, I wasn't given the "key". But that could be because even the dealership guy didn't know about the security bolts. I will certainly ask for the "key" when I DO pick up mny Maxima on Thursday.

Just so you all know what i'm talking about: On top of each headlight are two black triangualr pieces of strong plastic that mold from what I guess is the headlight housing (I'm a computer geek not a gearhead) and it molds to a rounded point where the bolts go straight down into the plastic and i assume are anchored somewhere. I can see how these would be security bolts if it was a thief's intention to unscrew the lights, but I doubt they'd take the trouble. (Then again, I could be talking out my a$$ since I've never had my HID's stolen. {yet})

the dealership guy (obviously I'm withholding names), said that these clips were new to him and new to Nissan. he even said what I've been reading here, that "this headlight crap is a big problem." I'm by nature a pretty nice and forgiving guy so I said I'm happy about the clips, and I'll pick up the car on Thursday, but i wanted to be sure there was no hoodlock, because if there isn't I was going to have one installed. He said...and this blew my mind..."Find out the brand of hoodlock you want, and if I can get it, I'll take care of it. If I can't get it I'll call you with what is comparable and you let me know if you want that one." i was going to start a whole NISSAN SERVICE POTENTIALLY DOES NOT SUCK thread.

So, there's the whole story. I'm not trying to find a way around HID security or anything. I'm just a simple man trying to get along in this rotten dog eat dog world.::sniff::

I have to go do a couple of things, but I'll check this thread in a couple of hours. If anyone has any questions please post them and I just want everyone to know I'm not offended...::sniff:: or hurt..::sniff:: or anything like that.

ciao for now,

Dan

 

I sit corrected. I apologize for bringing the whole thread into a different light Dan. I also thank you for your consideration and understanding on where i come from based on the statements i have above.

Anyway, was the locks on the HID's similar to this?

 

actually, if I were you and he said "what hoodlock do you want?", I would ask him if you could take it to a real car stereo place. Most dealerships have a local place that installs aftermarket stuff for them, and puts stereos in tradein cars and whatnot.

You not only need a REAL hoodlock (I'm not sure what the new Nissan thing does, but I can promise you those NY/NJ thieves will have it beat in NO time), you need to have the door handle thing looked at too.. Perhaps even disconnect that feature. They dont need to even defeat the hood lock when they can roll your windows down with a screwdriver and reach in without setting off the alarm!!!

 

Absolutely no problem.

I certainly understand where everyone was coming from.

Now, as to your link to the courtesyparts site for the anti-theft device, the answer is no. That looks like a hood lock. These bolts were directly above the headlights and they bolted these strong plastic brackets into the body of the car. I'll try to draw a pic of it and scan the pic to show you what I mean.
But the bolts had that funny looking cutout that would accept a "key" kind of driver.

the thing I wanted to post as an update was this:

As i posted earlier, the finance manager told me to get a hood lock and he'd take care of it, so i went to an alarm place that I've dealt with before and had them install a maxiguard hoodlock. It seems pretty strong and it has a Medeco lock inside. i used to be a locksmtih and I can tell you medeco locks are pick proof and drill proof. Short of wrenching up the hood and cutting the cable, they'll be hard pressed to get the hood open. We'll see.

i'm trying to figure out if I want to install a good Clifford or Viper alarm. i probably will, it's just a matter of cash right now.

Anyway, I'll work on the bolts pic. Thanks for the apology, but it's not at all necessary.

Ciao,

Dan

 

I must have been typing while you wrote this ::

If you read my previous post you'll see that I went with a good hood lock, and the dealership is picking up the $200 tab.

When I get the new alarm installed I'm going to see if they can disconnect the window down feature in the handle. I already have a shock sensor, but you're right Tim, I don't trust it. i want to get a proximity alarm. That way they can't even get close. (In theory anyway.)

Dan

 

do the bolts look like this
http://www.adpub.com/tim/hidkit2.jpg
?

(obviously, the key part has been blanked out)

 

The black triangular plastic part is exactly the same, although that might just be the standard Maxima headlight housing, I don't know. The bolts I have are gold and the head is circular, but flat topped, not dome topped like yours in the pic. But they fit in exactly the same way. Is that the type of security bolt you sell?

Dan