This is how they do it...

1)Cut or pull the wire to the horn. Because it is the only thing that will make any noise from the factory alarm. And it is right in the front, right after the front grill.
2)Twist the cable to a loop that will release the hood(the cable is right next to the horn). The same cable that will release the hood as if you were to pull that hood open from the inside of your car. Since there is no more horn the car will not make any noise will only flash when the hood is open.
3)Disconnect the battery cable.
4)Remove the screws from the headlight housing. Which is only four screws. And pop out the whole housing including the ballast. Cut the wiring from the car and the housing.

All this can be done in less than a minute with the proper tools. I'm the other half of the person that started this thread. I believe that I lost a potential job due to this incident. I was going to the car to my second interview with the potential employer when I saw my blind maxima.

The worst thing is that the thiefs are not after the whole HID kit. They only want the ballast. The HID kit on the maxima is no a regular one. It is the same as the ones used on Lexus, BMW and Mercedes. I mean the bulb that is. These are not 9005,9006 or H4 that is usually what comes with all the other cars that don't have HID from the factory. The ballast will work with the igniter but not the bulb. They go for the maxima because it's fast and clean. No need to pry on the hood or fender. I gotta say Nissan did a very bad job on helping us keep the HIDs.

Just need to let out some steam...

Since then I have install an aftermarket alarm with a pager system and a hood lock. The most surprising thing for the thiefs are gonna be the THREE hella air horn going off when they thought they cut my factory horn. Also the little wireless security camera I have on my car that will show their ugly face on my VCR. I also bought the security bolts from Tim for the HID. I think this is the best security I can have for maxima. Right now anyway. Waiting for the new alarm that has a flame thrower as an option. Then they will pay and pay they shall.

 

you know.. we could easily make a shield (from blank metal stock at home depot) to block access to the wires and the cable.

 

Has anybody had their 5th gen Maxima stolen? As in the whole car? I'm just curious as to how well Nissan's anti-theft technology is working so far in the real world.

 

I buy most of that, however the front horn is NOT activated by the alarm, it's the one by the washer reservior.

I'm betting they do EXACTLY as you stated except, they open the hood first, give a little tug on the alarms' horn connector, and then go for the battery. Man that's waaaaay too easy!

I think Tim is on the right track with protecting the hood latch cable.


What's a hood lock?

 

the immobilizer makes the max almost impossible to steal unless it is towed. Also they can just pop open your door handle(the round thing) pop open your door and open the hood and your alarm will not sense anything. My automech put on a security bolts and everything but it dont help. Just dont bring your car to whitestone, flushing, bayside becuase it is so close to college point(where all the stolen parts go in queens) They also have the van thing where they pull up block anyone from seeing your car, take the headlights(Im guessing its only going to be a year til the airbags are getting jacked) and leave. Clean, done in less then 5 min, make an easy 800 for thieves

 

its pretty f***** up how they are stealing headlights now. I live in upper east side in manhattan and in a span of a week, i saw three cars with stolen headlights on my block. Two were 2k2 maximas and the other was a new acura tl.

Cant steal the car so take the lights instead. WTF!!!!

 

Someone should take a look at the 2k3 to see if they changed the design at all. It seems that it would be a lot easier for Nissan to fix this vulnerability up front rather than replaces 8 sets of HIDs a week. Thats some backwards thinking on their part!!!! What a bunch of tools!!

 

I don't think NISSAN cares too much. They get paid for it. We should definitely think about more protection. Tim did a good job, but it's not enough. Can we somehow make local PD to pay more attention to this? They can easily set up a stand off and get those crooks. Just use one Maxima as a bate, leave it on service road of Ocean Parkway and they will come... I'm sure they will.

 

Cops wont care. Its just more paperwork for them. Plus even if they arrest whoever is doing it they will be out on bail and free to strike again in less than a week. We need to institute Hammurabis code and strike back. They steal, cut off their hands. They will learn quickly, oh yes they will.
Whatever happened to the old Viper alarms that would shock you. That would be fun to polarize the outside of your car so that you come out in the morning to find a crispy fried thief

 

[quote]Whatever happened to the old Viper alarms that would shock you[/qoute]

Old man with a pacemaker brushed up against one in a mall parking lot and died. end of product..

 

getting a second set of washer fluid pumps and hosing and set up a triggered jet that sprays out from the corners of the grill into the eyes of someone about eye level with the headlights if tension is detected on the brackets?

Then fill it with a caustic solution.

Might get out on bail but won't be seeing more lights to steal.

Ok, OK, just kidding, but it would be cosmic justice.

 

I think you may be on to something there.

 

argh... not quite as bad as twice in four days, but twice in five months ****ed me off too... I live in NYC as well, and the first time was in the parking lot of huge shopping mall at 2 in the afternoon... second time was in my driveway... not cool at all... I just ordered the bolt-kit from Tim W., but i say that we start some class action suit or something against Nissan, who has obviously made a big flaw in their design. I've filed angry complaints with Nissan's consumer division, but for some reason, i don't thinka anything will happen unless more drastic measures are taken... who's with me?

 

Check this out...

FROM THE SELLER:
Don't bet your life because you can lose and just because maybe someone
stole your Lights it doesn't mean that everyone out there is a thief
SO **** OFF...............

FROM ME:
-----Original Message-----
Sent: Monday, June 17, 2002 7:29 PM
To: skeett22@hotmail.com
Subject: Question for seller -- Item #1836363108

You are a ******** liar and a thief. I bet my life you didn't find a
set of $2000 headlights in your "new" house. Please. You probably live
in a ****ing trailer and make your living stealing from people who make
more than you ever will.

You ****ing suck and I hope you get run over by a Maxima.
--------------------


Question Wrom: HDMNNSKVFV
Title of item: 2002 Nissan Maxima (Zeon) Headlights
Seller: skia11
Starts: Jun-12-02 15:58:28 PDT
Ends: Jun-19-02 15:58:28 PDT
Price: Currently $355.00
To view the item, go to:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=1836363108

 

 

That was great! Who the **** are you to make any assumptions about income and ethics?!?!?

Lay you odds, there are a fairly good number of these thefts caused by your narrow minded 'upper middle class' compadres...either just kids for kicks or a well established parts ring.

Don't be such a cocky and judgemental a$$hole and assume that all the hard working and honest people out there are crooks just because they have not had the luck and yes i DO MEAN LUCK that a very large number of 'incomed' people have had. You aren't better, circumstances were just more favorable.

 

I agree, however, "luck"? Come on, you don't really believe that do you?

I sure as hell didn't depend on "luck" to get my a$$ through Engineering school, so I could have better things in life.

If you believe it is all up to "luck", I hope your satisfied with where your at in life.

It's called dedication and hard work NOT luck!

 

this is wandering.. stay on topic.

obviously the guy is selling something he *might* have found in the trash.. I mean, if you were going to harrass someone, go after the guy selling the ones with broken tabs.. THOSE ARE stolen for sure

 

Yes I do. It was 'luck' to whom you were born, where you lived, the fact that school didn't have higher standards that you would not have made it through, that when you got out you had the fortune to do so and be in the right place at the right time and right economy to find work, and on and on and on...

Working hard is undoubtedly important, HOWEVER, the timing and circumstances which led to the ability to work hard somewhere are far from any individual's achievement.

Don't get me wrong, failure to avail oneself of the potential placed in front of him IS an individual's responsibilty (i.e. the rich kid who gets an inheritance then blows it on drugs), but you can hardly 'blame' a person for not BECOMING rich.

How many truly talented and imaginative people have been lost to us simply because they didn't have the opportunity to achieve...drive through any inner city and tell me FOR A FACT that there is not one potential genius, who will be relegated to flipping burgers or maybe getting shot working night shift at a convenience store, that you just blew by in your nice shiny car patting yourself on the back for being so good and hard working.

Hey, alot of 'successful' people out there don't like this concept because they think it somehow diminishes the 'Look how good I am' factor, but hey, the truth hurts.

 

Can this help us in anyway ?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=1361149279

 

Saying we are lucky allows you to rationalize you current situation and to try and not to be envious. It is a defense mechanism that insulates you from the cruel realities of this world. Some people work hard with what they have and go far. Others moan about their lack of luck and go through life miserable instead of taking some personal responsibility and working to improve their current situation. Success takes hard work and dedication. Luck or the lack thereof has nothing to do with it. Life is how we react to situations and the decision we make as a result of them. Some people call this luck. I call it maturity. Or a pathetic lack of it.

 

if it could be weather proofed and connected to some kind of small recording device. Buried behind the grill slits...

hmmm....

 

In regard to Tim locking this I'll leave it at this.

Yes, environment plays a big part in who you end up becoming due to the opportunities your exposed too, but there are people who break out of the "mold" and are EXTREMELY successful. It's NOT luck, that is the belief of people withOUT enough drive to achieve the endless possibilities in life.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by jjs
That was great! Who the **** are you to make any assumptions about income and ethics?!?!?

Lay you odds, there are a fairly good number of these thefts caused by your narrow minded 'upper middle class' compadres...either just kids for kicks or a well established parts ring.

Don't be such a cocky and judgemental a$$hole and assume that all the hard working and honest people out there are crooks just because they have not had the luck and yes i DO MEAN LUCK that a very large number of 'incomed' people have had. You aren't better, circumstances were just more favorable. [/QUOTE

I like being a cocky and judgemental a$$hole. It gets chumps like you fired up and foaming at the mouth over words. Grow up kid.

 

...or somehow installed to be operated from inside of the car. Recording devise could be inside also. You may be able to get a face or even a plate number of jack asses.

 

Hey, a$$hole!! When did I ever mention my situation? You are delusional, that is all. It takes real maturity to understand the way the real world works and not get on a high horse when things go well. When did I ever complain about my situation is any of what I said? It is all completely factual. No **** it take work and dedication...I got where I am that way, but without a fortunate series of opportunities it would not have happened. Others would envy my situation, and some have actually said so, like having a Max as a play car, but a truck as a backup...I just don't see the need to live in some kind of dream world where had fortune flowed in a different way, the roles would not have been reversed. Could I be 'doing better' in life? Sure. Am I fortunate to have been able to get where I am now? Sure. Do I take all the credit? Only a fool would do this.

Were 5,000 people wrong, not dedicated, etc., etc., etc., because they still needed to work and weren't able NOT to be in NYC when they died? Hell no. And since their deaths, how many others (sadly) have the fortune and opportunity to advance in careers left behind by dead coworkers? Like those advancements had anything to do with ANY factor other than luck.

Wake up and look around. People don't see this, because they DON'T WANT to see it.

 

Dude, can you forward your complaine to me and where you filed it. We should all do that.

 

do it elsewhere..

 

Can we stop this nonsense and concentrate on primary issue.

 

Wow, you have stooped to a new low in your pathetic rationalizations. The people who died in NYC have absolutely no place in this argument. Show some FREAKIN RESPECT YOU GUTLESS TURD!!!

 

I thought this thread was about 2002 HID getting stolen, and not two people arguing over who's right and who's wrong about stuff that will just get people fired up for no reason. Can't we all just say forget it? And just stay with the topoic? I don't care about your arguments!

 

Wrong. Period. I never stated that success is not possible. Success IS possible, but hard work does not MAKE IT HAPPEN. Hard work is the compliment to an opportunity.

"potential genius" may have been the wrong way to put it, I meant driving along there is the potential a genius had been driven by...

OK, when you get home some night because you left at 11:59, rather than 11:58 when a drunk comes flying down the road, think about luck then. It does exist, plain and simple.

Now that this has gone on long enough and I sense we are going to get 'OT' lectured, I am done, and correct. End of story.

 

That's a classic!

 

Let's continue in O.T! This was just getting good...

 

Well, whether you are correct or not...your debate is irrelavant. Luck is an irrational concept (not a dig, just a fact) and a rational debate can not be had when the basis for the argument is irrational. Believe if luck if you want, but you can't use it as the basis for an argument in any situation.

 

Can we stop with the eruption? It's unneccessary!!!Im not trying to flame anyone but if you are going to continue your war do it through P.M.s

 

Here's the link for the OT thread I started to continue the lucky or not debate. As for the HID lights thread, I agree that it should stay on topic to keep everybody aware of what's been going on with the HID thefts.

Luck Thread: http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....hreadid=129720

 

Whether or not he's a liar and a thief, I sent a message to the high bidder warning him...I hope it isn't an org member spending almost $400 on two plastic headlamp housings worth $20.

 

If someone made a nice aftermarket grill for the 2k2 with smaller openings that would be a good way to keep a thief out. I know its dumb that we would have to fix Nissans mistake but it would be an option..

 

but they can just break that too, it would be a mesh, and mesh is easier to break than something solid. But if something solid is what you want, well, then that'll just block airflow to the radiator... loose loose situation. soon people are going to become vigilantees... deal with this problem by themselves... hmmm... "warning, opening hood by unconventional means will cause self destruction sequence..." heeeheeeheee