So after I got in an accident, I decided I would replace both of my headlights rather than just one to balance the look, because one side would be clear and the other side would be dirty from the past ten years.

I'm very glad I did this considering I can see much farther now without all the yellow haze covering the lens of my headlight.

However, through about an hour of searching google and Maxima.org, I was unable to find a specific tutorial on how to uninstall or replace headlights in a 5th gen Maxima. And if you're a newbie like me, you would prefer to have specific directions rather than using directions from the fourth gen or sixth gen as "guidelines." Doing this, multiple things could go wrong.

Materials needed: New headlights, bulbs, bolts, and slight strength. Most of these materials will most likely be carrying over from your original headlights (my bulbs and bolts did in my particular case).

To UNINSTALL:
First off, you'll need to take out the bulbs themselves. There are two different bulbs that you will need to remove; the headlight and the turn signal light bulb. The latter is much more simple to remove in comparison to the first.

To remove the turn signal bulb:
You will need to twist the bulb either clockwise or counterclockwise, depending on your position. If you are facing the interior of the car (can see through the windshield) you will want to turn the bulb clockwise.

However, if you are facing the direction of the headlight, as if you were driving the vehicle, you will have to twist the bulb counterclockwise. They will then pop right out just like the sidemarker lights.

To remove the normal bulb:
First, you will need to find the bulb-like shaped black cover piece that is attached to the rear of the headlight. Squeeze in the sides, and pull gently towards the engine. They should pop out after a try or two.

Second, remove the circular cap around the sides of the housing. Next, you will need to release the clips. When you do this, the bulb will release backwards. You can grab this by the three prongs and pull it out. DO NOT TOUCH THE LENS. IT CAN SHORTEN THE LIFE OF THE BULB ITSELF. Put this bulb somewhere safe, so that you won't lose it or break it.

Take any type of wrench or tool that will fit, and remove the two screws from the top of the light. These will come of pretty easily.

Finally, you will have to pull and maybe wiggle the light until it comes out. It's snapped into place, so you will have to tug, but it shouldn't brake anything. I broke two plastic place clips that are within the fender, however, when I installed the new headlights, this didn't seem to be a problem.

Reinstall the headlights in reverse order, first by putting into place, snapping into place, and installing the bolts.



WILL INSERT PICTURES ASAP. Photobucket is currently broken.

 

Yeah, waiting on the pics boy!

 

Great write up by the way!

 

this will probably get deleted.

 

Why's that? It can be moved to the How To sticky, but it's very basic, yet very necessary information that everyone should have access to. I had no idea how to do it without trial and error.

 

Good write-up, but if someone can't figure out how to replace a headlight (not talking 02/03 into a 00/01), they need not doing any other mods on their own...IMO

 

Well, you've gotta start somewhere. And being guided along so you don't brake something helps them a lot more than you'd expect. When I replaced my headlight, I got a better understanding of where things are located and how they work. You can't just expect someone to know how to rebuild an engine there very first time looking at it.

But thanks for the write up compliment.

Just don't quite understand your logic.

 

Write-up isnt necessary even for the 02/03 into a 00/01.. Though I had one it was no help

Ive replaced my stocks with cheap halos and 02/03's with no need for a writeup.

 

Some of us folks need write ups (or should be written up? ).

 

Obviously not....but should there write-ups on putting air in the tires, putting gas in the car, or changing the oil? No....That's what the User Manual & Factory Service Manual (FSM) are for.

 

You're point is invalid because obviously gas, air in tires or changing oil are simple things. As are the headlights, but User Manual does not tell you how to replace the whole headlight itself, only how to change the bulb and not everyone has access to a Factor Service Manual, again making your point invalid. Just because it's simple doesn't mean it can't be written up.

 

He didnt force you to read this thread or how-to. He performed a courtesy service for the org and is setting a good precedent that even newbs can/should contribute where possible.

Lets keep our heads out of our asses and be supportive... not stuck up

Keep it up mcjunkin, thanks for the post

Now only if it were allowable for someone to post a specific how-to for removing my damn DATA DOT headlights...

 

Exactly why people, need to READ what has already been written and use the SEARCH....

 

Thanks for further making my point about being snobby RD... It is pretty widely accepted that the Data Dot headlights are also protected by the anti theft bracket which is what i was obviously referring to. But thanks for correcting me....

In addition if you did some searching of your own and youd realize that there are many locked threads preventing people from widely disclosing the information how to make all of our lights easier to steal.

Hence why i said i wish it were ALLOWABLE for people to post threads on the subject.

There are people who know how to do it, but its information that seems to be secretly traded via PM.


http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...eadlights.html

http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...data-dots.html

If youve found something ive missed, how about you make a positive contribution to the thread and post a link instead of just org bashing

 

ReasonableDoubt, I understand your from Fairfax, therefore, suggesting that you should get your HEAD out of your *** is a very, VERY reasonable suggestion considering how stuck up and cocky people in that county are
or even NoVA), and you're not helping them any.

I wrote this how-to for people who have not removed their headlights or have done anything on their car, but would rather do it themselves for free then pay to get it done. If you don't need to have this how-to when working on your car, good for you. But you're not the only person in the world with a Maxima, and some people appreciate information like this.

So thanks, you can stop hating on my thread now. Bye.

Thank you for sticking up for me and my post, Scottygill. The fact that information for this simple and very basic procedure was unavailable throughout the internet (google searched about ten times) and not even on the .Org shocked me. This is why I decided I would write my own how-to for people who need this information.

I hope I wrote it well enough. I apologize and I would write one for the datadots, but I have a 2000, not a 5.5.