I like keeping my headlight switch on Auto. Everytime I go into my garage or get caught under an overpass in traffic my HIDs turn on. The manual says turning them on and off frequently shortens their life. What should I do??

 

I have the same problem. I have unfortunately resorted to not using the "auto" feature.

 

Being that we live in San Diego, where even well off people park in Carports, like me and you, I have the same dilema ! I just do it manually ! That way I hope to save my Piaa Fogs and HID's.... For what we pay for our carports in SD, you can buy a 5 bedroom house in most states !

 

I'll probably take some heat for this - but I say screw it! There's a warranty there for a reason, and if you think about it - in a few years, these ballasts and bulbs are going to be so cheap it won't be an issue (of cost for replacement) anyways.

Also the fact that my father was an Electrical Engineer at one point in time (he used to design ballasts) and assures me that pulling the garage and having them turn on for short periods really doesn't hurt them makes me feel better

John

 

Does the warranty cover these ?? Nice I35 ! Got any mods !

 

uuhhmmmm how about turning the auto off before entering tunnels and over passes........ Thats whats i do every do on the way to work.

Adam

 

wouldnt that be way more work than simply turning them ON when you need them? you have them on AUTO for convenience but how convenient is it to turn them off every .5 mile when you go over an underpass?

 

I'm pretty sure the dealer does, or at least, if you cry about anything to an Infiniti dealer they seem ready to bend over backwards to fix it, so it shouldn't be an issue for me at least. Not sure about how Nissan dealers handle warranty work.

Thanks for the compliment on the car, as far as mods go, the only ones are listed below the sig pic (if you can call them mods) I do have a LCD screen coming and am about to install my Dreamcast in the car.

BTW - I don't have to deal with long tunnels here in Middle TN like some of you guys do - so my only real issue is at the beginning and end of the day when I pull in and out of my garage.

John

 

Then auto feature there in the first place if it messes up the HIDs. What a PITA!

And Kloogy, hell yeah, we have a garage where I live and they charge my girlfriend $50 a month for an extra parking spot! If only I could save that money towards Mods!

 

LOL ! Welcome to the So Cal overpriced club. But our exhausts look like new after 5 years !

 

i agree, i put money to buy parts so i can use...not to let sit around....my hid's are on 24/7...i don't care...hehehe

 

I think Nissan addressed the problem quite well though. The HID's turn on at a delayed rate. And it also turns off at a delayed rate. So technically you're not flipping it on-off repeatedly like one would imagine (Think, strobe-effect).

I could be wrong on this one though. Personally, i keep the light's off.

 

Don't leave the setting on Auto during the day. I turn mine off when I park the car and only switch to Auto at night when I need them. The reason i stop at auto instead of full on is because 'Auto' comes first and when you turn the switch to 'on' you've just strobed the lights on and off once already. Not very bright Nissan!!

 

under an overpass

i have aftermarket HID and i keep the switch off

 

IMHO the ambient light sensor triggers them to come on wayyy too quick. A lot quicker than my Y2KSE with regular halogens.

 

whoops.

 

Or the DOT will make them illegal and their price will skyrocket.

 

Do you guys think the Maxima HIDs are all that blinding to oncoming traffic? There are some HID that seem bright as hell, but I don't see it in the MAX.

 

I don't think Audi HIDs, BMR HIDs, MB HIDs, Infiniti/Nissan HIDs, or any HIDs are all that blinding in oncoming traffic, but...

Read the following for the DOT docket on the RFC (Request for Comment) on the high glare of several types of lights including HIDs, DRLs, and "blue" bulbs:

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/rulings/glare.html

Go to the following and enter "4820" as the docket number to actually read the comments submitted regarding this RFC:

http://dms.dot.gov/search/searchFormSimple.cfm

I think that there is a possibility that the DOT will make significant changes in the verbiage of law surrounding autmobile lighting in the coming four or five years to address a lot of the oudated requirements and rules. However, the HID debate may go the wrong way for all of us who like them.

 

ow...only $50???
i need to pay at least $100 in Boston area...

 

MichaelAE thanks for the info. I've heard of that before on tv, but hadn't read the actual document before. That's very interesting...

 

Only $100...when I lived in the North End, I paid $350/month for a garage space across the artery on State Street. $100 is freakin' great for a garage space in Boston.

 

Maybe we can start an enormous campaign to get .org members and members of other boards like the CL/TL boards, S2000 boards...anybody with HIDs standard or coming standard in '03 or '04. Everybody write the DOT and tell them how much easier it is to see with HIDs and how great they are.

Lord knows all the Maxima.org letter writing campaigns have worked in the past.

Did I just shoot my own idea down?

 

Here in San Diego most places give you at least parking spot. We pay just beacause we have an additional car.

 

about 35 bucks where im at in hawaii. for the 2nd stall at least

 

LOL ... last Saturday I was driving home about dusk and they turned on and off twice within about 5 minutes of my home. Then, shortly after parking the car I accidently set off the alarm and the HIDs were blinking on and off with the alarm. I was freaking out trying to fumble the keys out of my pocket to shut the damn alarm off, not because it was so loud but because my HIDs were getting abused!

 

Yeah they addressed it fine except for when the alarm goes off or you accidentally hit the panic button.

I have to think that the HID's have a longer life span than plain halogens, even if turned on/off constantly. And my halogens in my 240 have lasted 5 years before burning out.

 

Has anyhone blown an HID buld yet?

 

A few members have.

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....&highlight=HID

But I think all have been retrofit or wiring problems. I didn't see any posts where the HID's burned out from factory installed un-modded lights