I would appreciate some help. I'm a Canuck with a 2004
Maxima and the daylight driving light on the drivers side has burned out. It's a simple 1156 $1.29 bulb.

I can't access the socket because it is behind a plastic stiffener. I tried removing the only 4 bolts that I could see hoping the complete light assembly would move forward but no luck. I know there has to be a simple way to change the bulb and I am open to suggestions.

Thx

 

forget doing it... i had the bulb changed 3 times (both sides)....

the maxima is the only car u see on canadian roads that you might think came from the US (coz no DRL's there!!)

 

Thanks for your input....if I can't change the $1.29 bulb myself I sure aint going to pay a Nissan dealer. I'm a bit of a tinkerer and am curious as to how you access the light assembly for changing anything, headlight bulbs included. There just isn't any room for a hand unless you can move something out of the way. Maybe a Haynes manual might show it?

 

Sounds like you have to remove the front bumber to be able to get at the headlights and driving light? Is this correct?

 

I do this all the time, in fact my guy a Nissan just gives me a handful of the DRL bulbs and I switch them out whenever they go out, which happens lots, according to Nissan these are a warranty item?? For the drivers side you need to remove the air filter box, just undo the hose clamp, remove the lid, pull the filter and then grab the whole box and pull it up, it is just a friction fit (plastic **** in a rubber grommet) that is holding it in place, once you have this out you can then access the the DRL on the drivers side. Let me know if you need the instructions for the passenger side, by the way this takes about 15 minutes once you have done it about 12 times like I have.

 

Yes, you have to take off the front bumper to access the headlamp. The 5th generation's were the number one vehicle for headlight theft. Guess this is Nissan's way of preventing that.

 

You are a life saver....I followed your instructions exactly and had the bulb changed in 10 to 15 minutes. I also decided to buy a K&N air filter and installed it while everything was apart. When I bought my 1995 Pathfinder last fall a K&N filter was the first thing I installed.

If you would like to post or PM me instructions for the passenger side it would be appreciated. The Nissan plastic gommets or screws that hold down the various covers under the hood do they simply pop off or do you need a special tool to remove them? I can see that the cover on the passenger side will need to be removed to access the windshield washer reservoir.

Thanks again

 

u do NOT have to remove the bumper. the Sticky covers how to access the bulbs just like post above.

 

I'm no Canuck- but can't you just drive and have the amber parking lights on or does it need to be a white light?

 

not a 100% sure... but i dont think any cops are going to stop anyone here (canada) for no DRL's. I have been driving my max for over a year now with just one of them operating (ever since warranty is over... I'm not going to pay to change that bulb.... or even do it myself as they are useless bulbs)

lots of 6th gen maximas here with one or no DRL....

 

Changing the passenger side is just as easy! first remove the little plastic plugs that hold down the plastic cover (I think there is 5 on the passenger side) just push gently on the center and they will "drop" about 5 mm then pull the entire plastic plug out, seperate the 2 parts of the clip and when you put them back install the larger piece first then put the center "pin" back in flush to lock the plastic clip in place. Once you get the cover off, grab the fill tube of the windsheild washer reservoir and turn in a 1/4 turn counter-clockwise this will seperate the fill tube from the rest of the tank (just make sure your windshield washer level is down to below the bottom of the fill tube). Then I find it easier to remove the 2 bolts that are holding the radiator expansion tank (10mm I think) and move the tank slightly out of the way, you will then have full access to the passenger DRL.

 

Once again much thanks for your detailed how to do it description....the sticky left a little to the immagination. I went to Lordco and bought a handful of 1156 bulbs and have them stored in the glove box. I appreciate your telling me how to remove the plastic grommets....I was reluctant to try and pry them out with a screw driver.

Thanks again

 

"Where are DRLs required? Laws in Canada, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden require vehicles to operate with lights on during the daytime. There are two types of laws. Canada's requires vehicles to be equipped with DRLs. The other type of law (in effect in Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) requires motorists to turn on their headlights if their vehicles do not have automatic DRLs. In 1972, Finland mandated daytime running lights in winter on rural roads and a decade later made DRLs mandatory year-round. Sweden's law took effect in 1977, Norway's in 1986, Iceland's in 1988, and Denmark's in 1990. Hungary has required drivers on rural roads to operate with vehicle lights on since 1993. Canada requires DRLs for vehicles made after December 1, 1989. No US state mandates DRLs, but some require drivers to operate vehicles with lights on in bad weather"

http://www.iihs.org/research/qanda/drl.html

Yeah no resonable constable is going to give you a ticket for that, but if you mouth off to him.... $85 + vic surcharge and court fee, $110 Canadian.

if an officer wants to pull you over for something and something is amiss about your car. Keep siht thats supposed to be working..... WORKING and you wont get pulled over.

Right TRANCEADDICT???

 

[QUOTE=kamilkluczewski
if an officer wants to pull you over for something and something is amiss about your car. Keep siht thats supposed to be working..... WORKING and you wont get pulled over.

Right TRANCEADDICT??? [/QUOTE]

agree.... but with the Nissan DRL's, I'd go to court if i got ticketed for it.... 5 bulbs changed on both sides in less than 3 yrs!!!! and i have driven other cars and have never had this problem. doubt i could win... but i'd try

off topic
but i know what you say abt the cops.... everytime I am near one of them (or near borders) I roll all my windows down (tinted)... so they dont think abt it (cant do anything abt the rear windshield .. ie roll it down )

 

....so I am following the laws here by having a car "equipped" with DRL's.... as for them working???? maybe nissan knows abt this loophole as well!!!

 

Thank you!! All, let's try not to misguide new members with false information!!! And stickies are our friends, read 'em!!!!