y33 headlight removal procedure?

[q45omg]

could anyone please explain how to remove the headlights or would be willing to scan that page out of the FSM? i dont have a manual available, but one of my headlights has collected some condensation and id like to give it a try re sealing it.

thanks for the help fellas

[Rex]

Maybe try contacting zinkie13, he did some extensive work on his and should be able to help you.

zerothread?id=78970

[maxnix]

I would recommend you spend the paltry $20 for a one day subscription and download the FSM and TSB from http://www.nissan-techinfo.com/infiniti/ as there is a TSB about headlight fogging on the early FY33. I believe the early ones have weep holes which should not be sealed. The removal of the later HID are trivial and obvious.

It really is so little to spend to learn so much about your car. It is the best investment you can make.

[hannibal]

I dont see headlight removal in the FSM, but its gotta be inthere somewhere.

A quick note about the site Brian mentioned: I registered for the one day subscription and tried to save the .pdfs. Once I saved one, it wouldnt let me access any others FSM. I called the comapny for tech support and they implied you weren't allowed to save them. I had to argue with them for 15 mins before they agreed to refund my money. Not sure if this was an isolated problem with my PC or account, but I just wanted to give you guys a heads up...

BTW, you can find a 97 FSM here...http://carfiche.com/manuals020/cars/

[q45omg]

hmm, on the carfiche site it says the file isnt available, i suppose ill check back later.

IWannaS15, would you be willing to send me the PDF file maybe? if you have already downloaded the 97' FSM, since it wont let me download it off that site. If you would, an easy way to transfer it would be http://www.yousendit.com

[q45omg]

Maybe try contacting zinkie13, he did some extensive work on his and should be able to help you.

zerothread?id=78970

thanks, ill see what he has to say, the pics help too, good news, looks like you dont have to remove the bumper or the fenders, haha!

[maxnix]

Nissan-techinfo.com has always been real lenient with subscribers who couldn't navigate their site and extended those subscriptions one more day gratis.

Of course Acrobat files can be saved, and one can download as many manuals and TSB (and more) as one wishes during that 24 hour subscription period.

I have never heard of anyone else that experienced your problems. The FSM consists of several linked Acrobat files, and each TSB is its own Acrobat file, so obviously multiple downloading of Acrobat files is permitted.

[MAX_POWERS]

This is what I got.

[elwesso]

Jordan thats kinda strange.... But when you can get pretty much any FSM off phatg20.net, who really cares.

[q45omg]

Jordan thats kinda strange.... But when you can get pretty much any FSM off phatg20.net, who really cares.

awesome! thanks for the link. i dont know why everybody plugs the 20 dollar site when i knew theyd be available online.

on topic - decided to give it a go today, was quite easy. i guess ill type up a little walkthrough of sorts in case anybody else wants to do this stuff. this is what i used so obviously you can use different stuff etc.

how to clear out your usdm zenki fmy33 headlights

tools needed--

1/4 drive ratchet1/4 drive 2 inch extension10mm 1/4 drive socket12mm wrenchbutter knife or similarovenjewelers flathead screwdriverphillis screwdriveran afternoon

disconnect your battery terminals using the 12mm wrench, best to take off the ground cable first, then the power. continue by unbolting the battery tie down strap. what you can do is loosten it on the back side but not completly unbolt it, and unbolt the front side, then you can swing it out of the way without removing it from the car. this is a good time to clean under your battery area in case you want to.

unbolt your intake scoop thing, 2 10mm nuts holding it on at the front. this piece will then slide out of the airbox, place it aside. next unclip your airbox and remove the top half and place it aside. again this is a good time if you want to blow off your air filter/replace it, and/or clean out the bottom of the airbox by the maf.

now you have all the stuff out of the way by the headlights, so first go ahead and unbolt the headlight bolts on the top on the rad support. next there are 2 bolts (1 for each light) that are hidden by the plastic ducting piece under the grill. you can try bending it out of the way to get at the bolts, because generally if you remove it the plastic clips will break from being old balls. i broke 2 of them while pushing the piece out of the way to get at the bolts. you can get these types of clips at home depot or lowes for like a dollar so its not a big deal if you break some.

then there are 3 nuts on the back of each headlight. the left side is easier since you have more working room, the nuts are in the top and bottom corner of the headlight closest to the grill, and in the bottom corner on the fender side. the side with the airbox is a little trickier since i didnt want to mess with unbolting the lower air box. it is easier to fit your hands in there if you remove the water seal cap thing on the back of the main headlight bulb plug. this is where the little extension helps out, makes it easier to get to the nuts.

once you have all of thoes fasteners out of the way, gently pull the headlight out a bit, dont yank on it too hard because you still have to disconnect the headlight harness. pull it back a few inches and unplug the headlight plug and the turn signal/side marker plug. at this point the headlight is free from the car. repeat for other side.

next step, there are 4 metal clips on the perimeter of each headlight, pop them off using the flathead screwdriver. in addition, there will be 2 phillips screws on the back of the headlight housing on the outside (sidemarker) edge. unscrew these. also i opted to unscrew the little white plastic clip piece since it was only 1 screw. do this for both lights. also i removed the clip and drain hose on each headlight, just take them off with your hands, very easy. also remove the headlight bulbs (remove the turn signal bulbs if you havent already, but they should have been left connected to the car harness)

-dont be scared of this part (I was) its really not bad, there is no chance of the headlight warping unless you forget and leave it in there for 30 minutes. the plastic really dosent get that hot even though 250 sounds crazy, its not.-now you are going to put your headlights in the kitchen oven. make sure your dad dosent see you putting your brand new daily driver that he bought you for college's headlights in the oven or he will tell you you are crazy and the headlights will melt. put 1 headlight in the oven (i just sat mine on the grill, no pan), preheated to 250 degrees. *cook* the headlight for 4 minutes. take it out of the oven using oven mitts and begin using your butter knife or similar object to pry the lens away from the headlight housing. i found it easiest to slide the knife in flat ways and pry up, this will bend the lip of the headlight housing slightly but its pretty inconsequential. if you cant get the lens all the way off before it cools, pop the headlight back in the oven for another 1:30 minutes and continue. do this for both sides

ok so now you have the lenses off of your lights, grab your jewelers screwdriver and gently pry at the edges of the amber reflector. It is actually a little piece of plastic that has been (apparently) superglued to the back of the main lens. if you hear plastic cracking noises dont be scared it is just the glue breaking off of the amber piece that you are removing, the headlight lens is not going to crack or break. also if you want you can windex the insides of the lens and the chrome part if there are water spots or anything. also i suppose you could paint the non reflector parts of the headlight black or somthing, but imho that looks gross. haha

ok so fresh new clear headlight lenses, ready to put them back together. sit the lens on the headlight housing, there is a groove so it can only go back on one way. if the glue is still soft you can kindof squish it back in to hold it in place. put the headlight/lens combo back in the oven for 2 minutes, then pull it back out and try to squish it together. what i did was kindof "hug" the headlight. if possible have sombody else pop the clips back on the headlight while you squish the light together, this helps hold it in place. if the headlight has gaps or it hardens too fast or whatever just warm it up some more and squish it together again.

once they cool down enough to easily handle, go pop them back on your car using these directions in reverse and admire your new shiny solid chrome headlights

i have some pictures ill post in here but i cant find my firewire cable ATM, so maybe tomorrow.

[q45omg]

bump, also did the above precedure on my taillights today, very easy, and the amber piece comes right out (one screw). in case anybody wanted to know, it is simple to clear them out

[maxnix]

awesome! thanks for the link. i dont know why everybody plugs the 20 dollar site when i knew theyd be available online.

For the TSB and other publications available there, and the fact it is genuine OEM information.

I know of no other manufacturer that is so forthcoming with technical information for so little investment from the owner.

It would be a serious loss to us as owners if they changed their policy because of copyright abuse. Capiche?

[PMF]

Where is there an amber piece in the tail light??
Modified by PMF at 7:45 PM 9/10/2006

[q45omg]

there is an amber lens on top of the turn signal bulb



the orange bit inside the outermost clear lenses

[PMF]

Really- I thought it was just the reflection of the amber bulb- well thank you for that info- I see I have a project this weekend.

[q45omg]

yup, make sure you get some orange bulbs or LED bulbs for a replacment, because otherwise you will just have white turn signals which probably isnt legal

[hannibal]

The carfiche site rotates which FSMs are available, so just check back if the one you need isnt currently available.

I think my problem with the other FSM site has to do with the firewall at work. Once you view a pdf, saving it shouldnt change anything

Glad you found what you needed q45omg. Thanks for the write-up too!