maxima headlights

[gumgraff]

My 97 Maxima SE has blown headlight bulbs while still in the plastic case, sending bits of glass and powder all around the reflector - naturally making the replacement lights less effective. How can I get the plastic headlights off the car and can I take them apart for cleaning and polishing.thanks for your help

[MaximA32]

You would need to disassenble the headlight by putting it in the oven for a bit in order to soften the sealant that hold the two pieces together.

Your best bet would be to try to find a replacement set at a boneyard. You can also find upgraded ones on e-bay and through a few of our sponsors.

[DevonD]

well its not extremly hard to polish them while on the car is it? and i would probably ,as dangerous as it sounds, put on some gloves, glasses and get an air compresor and blow that crap out! I have done it once and it works great! Just take the bulb out and stick an air nozzle in there, look away, and have at it!

[MaximA32]

Yeah, uh... that's probably not a great idea. Considering all of the other things contained in the bulb other than just glass. Gasses and such but, what do I know?

[DevonD]

Oh.. I was thinking that when the bulb broke the gasses would have already been released and no longer sealed in the bulb or headlight assembly. And all you needed to worry about was shards of glass. Guess not...

[gumgraff]

thanks for your help. I heard about sticking the headlights in the oven but thought someone was kidding me. Is it hard to get them out of the car? and finally, I'm planning on replacing the stock bulbs with HID's. Any advice would be appreciated.

[DevonD]

well I would think since your headlight cover is plastic and so it the casing it will melt at the same time as the stuff holding the cover onto the casing does.. .

And when I did my bulbs I just got some from my Nissan dealer. They were $24 for the pair and I really like them!! Im sure yours will have some too. Just in a display case or something. You can choose between some different colours too. I like blue so i stuck with it. And theres not a whole lot of advice to give ya.. they install like a reguar bulb so thats easy. And are brighter than others I have used as well. so you got nothing to loose!

[D-Maxima]

haha this is a case of ask the question because someone else will want the answer!! so my teacher's WERE right!

i wanted to know if i could put brighter bulbs in my stop headlights...

Devon are your headlights stock or do you have aftermarket casing?

will brighter bulbs be effective in the stock casing or do you need clear casing like all the aftermarket ones?