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Replacing foglights...

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Old Feb 10, 2004 | 11:23 PM
  #1  
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Replacing foglights...

I want to replace my stock foglight bulbs with PIAA H3 Super Plasma.
Was wondering if I should be aware of any specific details before I get under the car and replace the bulbs. Is it as easy as changing the headlight bulbs, only here we do it under the car, instead of from the engine compartment?

Thanks.
Old Feb 11, 2004 | 01:09 AM
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No, its a bit more difficult. Rule#1, DO NOT touch the bulb glass! remove the plastic under the fender area in front of the wheels wells, unplug the 2 connectors inside the front quarter panels, gotta take the whole Fog assembly out, for that you will need a 10mm socket or wrench to undo the 2 nuts on the back of each fog housing. Pop out the whole fog housing (comes out thru the front), and the rest is cake. Happy modding!!

Sorry if this makes no sense, its 2:45am and I'am totally exhausted.
Old Feb 11, 2004 | 01:12 AM
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Don't forget there is a single wire harness that you must disconnect prior to pulling out the fog lamp assembly. I just replaced my OEM bulbs with the PIAA H3's as well, and they match the HID's perfectly. Yes, do not touch the glass part of the bulbs.
Old Feb 12, 2004 | 04:47 PM
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This link gives all the details and pictures as to how to change your fog light bulbs.

http://members.max-world.org/modules...b11e8e367793a6
Old Feb 12, 2004 | 06:40 PM
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Originally Posted by 2002blackmax
This link gives all the details and pictures as to how to change your fog light bulbs.

http://members.max-world.org/modules...b11e8e367793a6
Changed the bulbs yesterday. Was it a pain the butt! And the fogs werent even secured by the screws, hanging in there loose with only 2 plastic clips. And the connector plastic holder is very fragile, mine broke on the foglight assembly, on the second foglight I found it to be already broken. But I did the job and now all is good, the PIAAs match my headlights now!

Thanks all.
Old Feb 12, 2004 | 06:48 PM
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I want to whiten the light of my '03 Max fogs (w/ Sylvania SilverStars). What are the pros and cons of: 9005, 9006, H3, H4 type bulbs? Doesn't the '03 Altima use 9006s? thx!
Old Feb 12, 2004 | 07:06 PM
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the only bulbs for your fogs are H3's. your high beams are 9005 I believe... so there arent really any pros and cons of any types of bulbs, just brands
Old Feb 12, 2004 | 08:11 PM
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i dont have hid's but i would like to go piaa super plasma h4's and h3's my question is does anybody have a pic of how they look on the car>?
Old Feb 12, 2004 | 08:37 PM
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Originally Posted by 30585
i dont have hid's but i would like to go piaa super plasma h4's and h3's my question is does anybody have a pic of how they look on the car>?
I might take a picture soon, although my USB autoconnect from the digital camera stopped working But they definetely look a lot better, I have Super Plasma GT-X for headlights and Super Plasma for fogs. The GT-X produce a little of purplish tint which is cool, the bulbs are whiter and brighter.
Old Feb 12, 2004 | 08:55 PM
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So if you have the stillen front lip you have to take that off just to change the bulbs? Shoot!!
Old Feb 13, 2004 | 12:10 AM
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Originally Posted by spauldingsmails
I want to whiten the light of my '03 Max fogs (w/ Sylvania SilverStars). What are the pros and cons of: 9005, 9006, H3, H4 type bulbs? Doesn't the '03 Altima use 9006s? thx!
If you are trying to match your headlights go with the PIAA's. Ive tried the Silverstars they are nice, but they are not as white. Piaa Extreme White 4150k's do the job nicely.
Old Feb 13, 2004 | 05:23 PM
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Got the pics done, not very good quality though.

This is the PIAA H4 Super Plasma GT-X:



This is the PIAA H3 Super Plasma:



And in overview:



Cant really tell from the picture, in reality they are much whiter. Also hence the purplish color coming from the GT-X.
Old Feb 13, 2004 | 06:16 PM
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Originally Posted by bigdo26
the only bulbs for your fogs are H3's. your high beams are 9005 I believe... so there arent really any pros and cons of any types of bulbs, just brands

so how do you like your fogs so far?? are you still satisfied with them?
Old Feb 13, 2004 | 08:08 PM
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they were a pain in the axx to install. hopefully i don't need to replace them anytime soon. (knock on wood....)
Old Feb 14, 2004 | 08:56 AM
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Thx for the feedback fellows !! H3 it is, in either Extreme White 4150 or Silverstar 4000. I just like Silverstars for no defendable reason...
Old Feb 14, 2004 | 03:25 PM
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Originally Posted by TZapper
I want to replace my stock foglight bulbs with PIAA H3 Super Plasma.
Was wondering if I should be aware of any specific details before I get under the car and replace the bulbs. Is it as easy as changing the headlight bulbs, only here we do it under the car, instead of from the engine compartment?

Thanks.
I wish it was as easy, I am on my 3rd ( and hopefully since they are polarg, my last ) set of Fogbulbs within a year. Whatever you do, dont put in cheap bulbs. You'll be back under there in a couple months or less. Polarg or PIAA, Try Ebay for better prices
Old Feb 14, 2004 | 03:58 PM
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Originally Posted by slickrick
so how do you like your fogs so far?? are you still satisfied with them?
Love them. Still wish I could get more light out of them, I think the blueish tint robs me of some light. But appearance wise, they match the HID's 98% perfectly, better than I could ever have done with my stock fogs, and the light output is waaaay beyond that of the stock fogs as well. So ya, definatly satisfied with them.
Old Feb 16, 2004 | 05:54 PM
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Originally Posted by 2002blackmax
This link gives all the details and pictures as to how to change your fog light bulbs.

http://members.max-world.org/modules...b11e8e367793a6
Thx for the excellent link BlackMax. I used the instrx today to switch to SilverStar H3s in my 2003 Max. For anyone else who might benefit, here are my additional notes:

* Per side, the total number of screws I removed in (partially) removing the plastic undershielding is *2* and they are different types. Per side total amount of Snaps I removed in (partially) removing the plastic shielding is *3*. You don't need to completely remove the plastic piece from the car, just be able to pull it open about a foot at the front.

...

* Two nuts attach the fog light housing to the car. They easily undo. Then just push (or lightly hammer) the naked bolts, and the housing unit comes out the front of car.

* Once you twist open the housing unit, look at how the paper-clip style tensioner fits. Then unscrew each of the small screws you see inside. You can now open the small black rectangular connection cover (use a small flat screwdriver to pull up on its top to open). With your hands (or maybe with pliers), pull apart the overlapping flat metal connectors which were formerly covered by the black cover. At no point does one need to cut or splice wire.

...

First bulb took 1 hour and 40 minutes, second bulb took me 30 minutes. There is no question the Siverstars improved the whiteness of the fogs. I'm pleased with the results.

But there's no question they don't shine as white as the HID headlights. PIAA Super Plasma or Extreme White probably would be a little better (as everone told me, I know I know). My test was to turn on headlights/fogs on a white garage wall. If you look into lights, they look very close, if you look at image on wall, the fogs are yellower. I'd be surprised though if any non-HID fog can really pass this test but ???
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