HID Headlight Questions
#1
HID Headlight Questions
I just bought an '09 Altima Hybrid with the Convenience Package.
I wanted to change a few things about the car, the first thing I want to do is change the headlights. Here's a few things I am unclear on regarding the headlights.
1) What is the bulb type of the 2009 Altima Hybrid, H1 or H11?
From this link: https://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/...p-bulbs-21836/
It seems that the 2008 bulb type is different than what the manual states.
Is this true for the 2009 NAH as well?
2) When I called the dealer to ask about HID headlights for his car the parts and service guys said this car isn't designed for HID lights. The reason they gave is that this car has a different wiring harness that wouldn't allow HID's to be installed.
I'm just looking for some clarification as to whether this is true or not. Or how I could go about installing HID lights.
3) Are the stock headlight housing's Projectors or Reflectors?
- I'm thinking they are reflectors, just wanted confirmation.
4) From what I've read in forums, if these are reflector type housings then installing HID's will blind on coming traffic. Is there a work-around to this? or do I have to find a way to change the housing? I've searched for an answer to that and came up with nothing.
5) When I spoke to the parts and service guys at the dealer, they said installing HID lights might void my electrical warranty. Can anyone confirm this?
- I don't think it would void the warranty but I just want to make sure.
6) I was considering buying an HID kit from retro-solutions.
http://www.retrosolutionsllc.com/ser...its/Categories
Not sure if I need the H1 or H11 kits.
Also, would the Bulb Coating service they offer be an acceptable work-around to reduce the glare to on-coming traffic for Reflector type housings?
http://www.retrosolutionsllc.com/ser...ous/Categories
I wanted to change a few things about the car, the first thing I want to do is change the headlights. Here's a few things I am unclear on regarding the headlights.
1) What is the bulb type of the 2009 Altima Hybrid, H1 or H11?
From this link: https://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/...p-bulbs-21836/
It seems that the 2008 bulb type is different than what the manual states.
Is this true for the 2009 NAH as well?
2) When I called the dealer to ask about HID headlights for his car the parts and service guys said this car isn't designed for HID lights. The reason they gave is that this car has a different wiring harness that wouldn't allow HID's to be installed.
I'm just looking for some clarification as to whether this is true or not. Or how I could go about installing HID lights.
3) Are the stock headlight housing's Projectors or Reflectors?
- I'm thinking they are reflectors, just wanted confirmation.
4) From what I've read in forums, if these are reflector type housings then installing HID's will blind on coming traffic. Is there a work-around to this? or do I have to find a way to change the housing? I've searched for an answer to that and came up with nothing.
5) When I spoke to the parts and service guys at the dealer, they said installing HID lights might void my electrical warranty. Can anyone confirm this?
- I don't think it would void the warranty but I just want to make sure.
6) I was considering buying an HID kit from retro-solutions.
http://www.retrosolutionsllc.com/ser...its/Categories
Not sure if I need the H1 or H11 kits.
Also, would the Bulb Coating service they offer be an acceptable work-around to reduce the glare to on-coming traffic for Reflector type housings?
http://www.retrosolutionsllc.com/ser...ous/Categories
#2
Re: HID Headlight Questions
I just bought an '09 Altima Hybrid with the Convenience Package.
I wanted to change a few things about the car, the first thing I want to do is change the headlights. Here's a few things I am unclear on regarding the headlights.
1) What is the bulb type of the 2009 Altima Hybrid, H1 or H11?
From this link: https://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/...p-bulbs-21836/
It seems that the 2008 bulb type is different than what the manual states.
Is this true for the 2009 NAH as well?
I have H11 for my 2007, fwiw
2) When I called the dealer to ask about HID headlights for his car the parts and service guys said this car isn't designed for HID lights. The reason they gave is that this car has a different wiring harness that wouldn't allow HID's to be installed.
I'm just looking for some clarification as to whether this is true or not. Or how I could go about installing HID lights.
It's the harness and the housing. The housing isn't designed for HID's so there is extra scatter
3) Are the stock headlight housing's Projectors or Reflectors?
- I'm thinking they are reflectors, just wanted confirmation.
Reflectors, projectors look like a glass ball
4) From what I've read in forums, if these are reflector type housings then installing HID's will blind on coming traffic. Is there a work-around to this? or do I have to find a way to change the housing? I've searched for an answer to that and came up with nothing.
It really depends, if you point them up, then yes, you can blind on-coming traffic. I try to point my lights down. I don't think I blind anyone.
5) When I spoke to the parts and service guys at the dealer, they said installing HID lights might void my electrical warranty. Can anyone confirm this?
- I don't think it would void the warranty but I just want to make sure.
It really shouldn't, it uses less watts then a standard halogen bulb (35W vs 55W). If you ever have a problem with your electrical, just take off the HID's before bringing it to the dealer (kind of a PITA!). Or, you can get the relay type harness which definitely won't affect the electricals.
6) I was considering buying an HID kit from retro-solutions.
http://www.retrosolutionsllc.com/ser...its/Categories
Not sure if I need the H1 or H11 kits.
Also, would the Bulb Coating service they offer be an acceptable work-around to reduce the glare to on-coming traffic for Reflector type housings?
http://www.retrosolutionsllc.com/ser...ous/Categories
I wanted to change a few things about the car, the first thing I want to do is change the headlights. Here's a few things I am unclear on regarding the headlights.
1) What is the bulb type of the 2009 Altima Hybrid, H1 or H11?
From this link: https://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/...p-bulbs-21836/
It seems that the 2008 bulb type is different than what the manual states.
Is this true for the 2009 NAH as well?
I have H11 for my 2007, fwiw
2) When I called the dealer to ask about HID headlights for his car the parts and service guys said this car isn't designed for HID lights. The reason they gave is that this car has a different wiring harness that wouldn't allow HID's to be installed.
I'm just looking for some clarification as to whether this is true or not. Or how I could go about installing HID lights.
It's the harness and the housing. The housing isn't designed for HID's so there is extra scatter
3) Are the stock headlight housing's Projectors or Reflectors?
- I'm thinking they are reflectors, just wanted confirmation.
Reflectors, projectors look like a glass ball
4) From what I've read in forums, if these are reflector type housings then installing HID's will blind on coming traffic. Is there a work-around to this? or do I have to find a way to change the housing? I've searched for an answer to that and came up with nothing.
It really depends, if you point them up, then yes, you can blind on-coming traffic. I try to point my lights down. I don't think I blind anyone.
5) When I spoke to the parts and service guys at the dealer, they said installing HID lights might void my electrical warranty. Can anyone confirm this?
- I don't think it would void the warranty but I just want to make sure.
It really shouldn't, it uses less watts then a standard halogen bulb (35W vs 55W). If you ever have a problem with your electrical, just take off the HID's before bringing it to the dealer (kind of a PITA!). Or, you can get the relay type harness which definitely won't affect the electricals.
6) I was considering buying an HID kit from retro-solutions.
http://www.retrosolutionsllc.com/ser...its/Categories
Not sure if I need the H1 or H11 kits.
Also, would the Bulb Coating service they offer be an acceptable work-around to reduce the glare to on-coming traffic for Reflector type housings?
http://www.retrosolutionsllc.com/ser...ous/Categories
#3
Re: HID Headlight Questions
I am going to stop by a couple car shops today and tomorrow to see what they say about the install.
I haven't ordered the kit yet, after speaking to the shops I will decide whether or not I am going to follow through with this.
I haven't ordered the kit yet, after speaking to the shops I will decide whether or not I am going to follow through with this.
#6
Re: HID Headlight Questions
As a precaution, you should know, if you drop a HID kit directly into the reflector housing, your mileage will vary on how they perform.
I currently drive a 99.5 Pathfinder (borrowing from my brother-in-law, and thinking about buying a Honda Insight)... and I'm currently on my second HID kit drop-in.
My first kit was actually really good. Although my headlight aim was actually too low before I fixed it... it had a really good cutoff line. And while the overall pattern was the same as the halogens, I did not get flashed with them, even when I was on an incline with my lights pointing higher than normal. I had them shining all over a police car a few times. Unfortunately, one bulb burned out (3 months).
With that burnt out bulb, I figured I'd try a completely new set (different brand too). BIG MISTAKE. One bulb came crooked... and regardless of which was on which side, neither of the new bulbs produced a any kind of cutoff. Sure, you could kinda make out a cutoff "area"... but there was no line (it just fades as it goes up). And as expected, I get flashed pretty often. (*note, the problem is, before I ever changed any bulbs, I was using stock halogens that had dimmed, and I got flashed too!). One ballast failed after a little bit (two weeks maybe?).
I've had some other issues, that are only barely related to the topic at hand... but not that useful right now.
So, at the moment, I've got a combination of ballast from old set with bulbs and wiring harness from new set.
So yeah, your mileage will vary.
I had thought the Honda Insight came with HIDs, since I saw projector housing, but I later found out, it's projectors alright, for halogens. So, now I have to wonder... how "compatible" they will be with HIDs (if I'm unsatisfied with the halogen in projectors).