Whats up. This is my first post, i'm sorry if its a dupe, but I just bought a 2003 Maxima. I am worried about the headlights being stolen. Is there any kit out there that can prevent this? I was thinking of making my own kit. Any ideas would be great. thanks

 

No kit will prevent it. Might make it tougher, but if they want them they will get them. Hope you don't live in NY.

 

The only kit that will help is a locked garage and common sense.

 

Nope, not NY. But the second worse place, NJ. I have a friend who is very creative with vehicles. Builds them etc... Maybe he can fab up some kit. Thinking about buying that hoodlatch kit from courtesy nissan. I am on a mission here

 

There is a kit that Nissan sells for about $60 to make it harder to pop the hood. Whether or not this is a good thing is debatable...if they want your lights they're going to get them either way. So if you have the kit you might wind up with no headlights and a messed up hood from them prying it instead of just stolen headlights. Also, you might want to try to see if TimW has any of his bolt kits left. I bought a set from him a few months back. They are basically special bolts that you need a key to screw and unscrew, and they have rounded off heads so you can't vice grip them. Again, this will not prevent anything but might slow them down enough that they decide it's not worth it and move on to the next Maxima. If they decide to just break the housing and tabs we're screwed either way.

 

at this point, they are coming at your car with a crowbar. Even if you had full metal covers over the exposed housing, they would pry on them awhile They have gotten quite brazen, like ripping off the entire bumper with a truck for the acura lights. I'm not any device, aside from access denial to your car, will be 100%.. or even 10%..

 

If they want your lights, they are going to get them. However, you can make it most difficult for them to get the lights... and take money out of their pocket by installing the HID anti theft kit.

At least they'll only make $200 as opposed to $800 for the housings.

Your call.

-R

 

If that's true, then TRY THIS:
1)Epoxy/superglue a fine flexible, but strong steel braided cable around the lip of the WHOLE housing.
2)Take the ends of the cable and leave about 2-3ft.
3)Lock/secure the ends around the frame support or something BEEFY!
4)Make snap on/off tabs to replace the TOP two 10-mm bolts holding the tabs to the car.
5)BLOCK access through "mouth" in your bumper to the hood latch.
6)Rig up the hood latch switch to open/short when the headlights are removed setting off the alarm.

Now my THEORY on this is to cause as LITTLE damage as possible to YOU, yet make the thief WORK for 'his' money. Basically, he'll try the latch and won't be able to pop the hood. Next, he'll pull out the trusty crowbar and wedge it inbetween your hood/fender. So, you want the headlights to snap free EASILY, causing minimal damage if any. Finally, there is enough slack in the steel cable for him to pull them free, yet prevent him from scratching too much.

Then it's up to him to figure out how to cut through the steel cable, but hopefully he gives up by then due to the alarm.

Just my .02, which aint worth JACK!

 

This hid anti theft kit? Would this be the hoodlatch kit from courtesey nissan? I am all pressured about these lights. It such a nice looking vehicle. Kinda makes me think that I should have went for the 04. thanks for you help fellas

 

Yes, but it's WORTHLESS unless you like having MORE damage done to your car.

Basically, it prevents(NOT stops!) them from poping the hood, so the must resort to using a CROWBAR instead and pry them out the front.

 

Dude... don't be pressured. Well, you live in NJ... I guess you SHOULD be pressured... seems as though the highest theft rates in the nation are in NJ/NY.

But seriously... get a good insurance policy on it... get the HID anti theft kit from Courtesy Nissan (http://www.courtesy-nissan.com), make sure you park in a garage at night, if possible... and if you are going to a higher theft area, don't park your car there. You can probably get stats from an insurance company or police department in the area.

-R

 

yo "JOEY" i just sent you a PM so read it and i live in jersey too belive me the KIT ISNT WORTH IT and there aint sh** u can do but put 2001 headlights in sorry man

 

thanks for the info fellas. Have any of you guys had them stolen before?

 

I see one thread about it every week.


~limsandy