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Vehicle Owner

Member ID: makdaddy386

Location: Gainesville, Florida

Last updated: Nov 02, 2006

Hits: 40,116

Kevin’s Nissan Maxima

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Swapping Fog Light Bulbs In Your Nissan Maxima (00-01)
Works For Most 5th Gens (00-03)

makdaddy386's 2000 Nissan Maxima

Tools neccesary:
- Phillips Screwdriver
- Flathead Screwdriver (if you don't own "panel-popper")

BEFORE YOU START
This is a universal instructional for swapping/installing fog light bulbs (H3's). Using jack's or ramps makes this install significantly easier although they are not neccessary. In this install I installed a set of PIAA H3 Super Plasma GT-X bulbs. I ordered them online from LTB Motorsports and they arrived on my doorstep by the second day! These particular bulbs are rated at 5000k and put out a very clean white light in my opinion. There is very little blue or purple at all in the light output and I am very pleased.

Step by Step:
1. The first thing you will want to do is remove the plastic covering located directly below the fog on the underside of the car. Here you will remove two phillips head screws and one snap-tab. You will unscrew the two phillips heads located in the bottom of the picture and remove the snap-tab at the top of the picture by pulling out the inner plastic piece of the tab first till it slides out, followed by removing the whole insert. Now just pull the entire plastic piece down (not off)enough to access the back of the fog housing.

makdaddy386's 2000 Nissan Maxima

2. Then you will want to remove the screw that is located on the underside of the housing now closest to you. Then you will need to take the backside of the screwdriver or a the head of a small hammer and knock the metal pins out of the top plastic tabs. Now the whole housing should fall out of the frontside of the bumper cover.

makdaddy386's 2000 Nissan Maximamakdaddy386's 2000 Nissan Maxima

3. Once you have removed the housing disconnect the wiring harness and open the back of the housing reading the instructions on the actual plastic (unscrew counteclockwise). Then undo the metal retaining clip releasing the bulb. Unscrewing the negative lead is not neccessary as I did it both ways and there is no reason for this.

makdaddy386's 2000 Nissan Maximamakdaddy386's 2000 Nissan Maxima
Note: Make sure to not touch the bulbs with your hands while installing. Oils from your hands will destroy the bulb.

4. Now just close up the back of the housing and reinstall into the bumper cover reversing all of the steps previously listed.

Before pictures with the original bulbs:

makdaddy386's 2000 Nissan Maximamakdaddy386's 2000 Nissan Maxima
Note: This light appears whiter than it actually is due to camera.

Side by side comparison:

Old v. New
makdaddy386's 2000 Nissan Maximamakdaddy386's 2000 Nissan Maxima

makdaddy386's 2000 Nissan Maxima


Note: Here all of the lights are stock yellow halogen and the bottom right fog is the new PIAA bulb. More drastic difference in person.

Light Output:

makdaddy386's 2000 Nissan Maxima


Note: You can see the difference with the bottom left light reflection being the new output while the bottom right is the old. The car is on ramps...so no my fogs are not aimed this high.

From Far:
makdaddy386's 2000 Nissan Maximamakdaddy386's 2000 Nissan Maxima

Write Up: Kevin Kryzda

***Disclaimer: I take no responsibility for any damage to your vehicle as a result of these GUIDELINES. These are for sole purpose of pointing you in the right direction.***

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Vehicle Owner

Member ID: makdaddy386

Location: Gainesville, Florida