Headlighs (1 side) burnt out 2nd time in 3 yrs. 2012 Kizashi SX

Ask technical questions or post on problems/issues related to the Kizashi under this topic. Symptoms and pictures of your problem are a good idea.
NOTE: Any car related technical question can be posted here.
SamirD
Posts: 3074
Joined: Thu Dec 05, 2013 4:07 pm
Location: HSV and SFO
Contact:

motosonic wrote:WHich PIAA bulbs exactly? can you provide a link?
I can't remember the Kizashi bulb types again off the top of my head (H7 hi/lo? H4 fog?), so someone will have to check those, but we used the xtreme white plus for the low and high beams, and the plasma ion yellow for the fogs:
http://www.piaa.com/store/c/21-Automoti ... Attribs=38

This 'brigher main, yellow fog' setup was what was recommended to me by PIAA way back in the day for my 95 Altima--the same setup on that car gave me A LOT better visibility, even in rain (because of the yellow fogs--whiter lights tend to wash out on rainy nights).

If I had to choose the setup again, I would choose the xtreme white hybrids for the high and low beam as that small bit of yellow color in the light (3900k vs 4000k) would work even better with the plasma fogs. Hope this helps!
User avatar
KuroNekko
Posts: 5219
Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2012 5:08 pm
Location: California, USA

SamirD wrote:
motosonic wrote:WHich PIAA bulbs exactly? can you provide a link?
I can't remember the Kizashi bulb types again off the top of my head (H7 hi/lo? H4 fog?), so someone will have to check those, but we used the xtreme white plus for the low and high beams, and the plasma ion yellow for the fogs:
http://www.piaa.com/store/c/21-Automoti ... Attribs=38

This 'brigher main, yellow fog' setup was what was recommended to me by PIAA way back in the day for my 95 Altima--the same setup on that car gave me A LOT better visibility, even in rain (because of the yellow fogs--whiter lights tend to wash out on rainy nights).

If I had to choose the setup again, I would choose the xtreme white hybrids for the high and low beam as that small bit of yellow color in the light (3900k vs 4000k) would work even better with the plasma fogs. Hope this helps!
Fog lights are H11 bulbs. Both the high and low beams use separate H7 bulbs.

White main and yellow fogs are a very JDM set-up so no surprise that PIAA recommended that. I do like PIAA products but in the last few years, they have scaled back on halogens in the JDM and really gone into LED upgrades. The selection in Japan for PIAA halogens was way less than in the past, but they had new LED upgrade kits for fog lights, low beams, and auxiliary lights. It seems like the market for halogens and HIDs is really taking a back seat to LEDs, especially in the JDM aftermarket scene.
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS 6MT (Black)
SamirD
Posts: 3074
Joined: Thu Dec 05, 2013 4:07 pm
Location: HSV and SFO
Contact:

KuroNekko wrote:
SamirD wrote:
motosonic wrote:WHich PIAA bulbs exactly? can you provide a link?
I can't remember the Kizashi bulb types again off the top of my head (H7 hi/lo? H4 fog?), so someone will have to check those, but we used the xtreme white plus for the low and high beams, and the plasma ion yellow for the fogs:
http://www.piaa.com/store/c/21-Automoti ... Attribs=38

This 'brigher main, yellow fog' setup was what was recommended to me by PIAA way back in the day for my 95 Altima--the same setup on that car gave me A LOT better visibility, even in rain (because of the yellow fogs--whiter lights tend to wash out on rainy nights).

If I had to choose the setup again, I would choose the xtreme white hybrids for the high and low beam as that small bit of yellow color in the light (3900k vs 4000k) would work even better with the plasma fogs. Hope this helps!
Fog lights are H11 bulbs. Both the high and low beams use separate H7 bulbs.

White main and yellow fogs are a very JDM set-up so no surprise that PIAA recommended that. I do like PIAA products but in the last few years, they have scaled back on halogens in the JDM and really gone into LED upgrades. The selection in Japan for PIAA halogens was way less than in the past, but they had new LED upgrade kits for fog lights, low beams, and auxiliary lights. It seems like the market for halogens and HIDs is really taking a back seat to LEDs, especially in the JDM aftermarket scene.
Very interesting. I noticed PIAA has scaled back their halogen product range. I hope that the JDM products do find their way here as LED fogs and mains would be really nice! (Assuming they address some of the drawbacks you found in your usage of LEDs).
User avatar
KuroNekko
Posts: 5219
Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2012 5:08 pm
Location: California, USA

SamirD wrote:Very interesting. I noticed PIAA has scaled back their halogen product range. I hope that the JDM products do find their way here as LED fogs and mains would be really nice! (Assuming they address some of the drawbacks you found in your usage of LEDs).
They certainly scaled back even in the JDM. Their selection was much less than before. They weren't the only brand either. It was like all of them. I think the market for aftermarket halogens has dwindled compared to LEDs.
I think LEDs are basically taking over, especially as high quality brands like PIAA produce kits with high quality emitters and commit R&D to make them better as drop-ins.

I think the reason why the aftermarket scene is strong in Japan is because these products may not be illegal to use on the street there like they are in the US. Much like how Germany is far more advanced with OE lighting technology, Japan offers much more aftermarket parts and they are readily available in brick-and-mortar stores. I think the stringent and outdated US DOT regulations hamper OE innovation and aftermarket product presence in the US. You basically have to get stuff online but much of the selection on the internet is cheap stuff from China instead of products from reputable brands like you can get in Japan. There have been many times where I see a product I didn't even know existed sold in a store in Japan. That's because it was solely intended to be sold in the JDM and not for any kind of export.
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS 6MT (Black)
SamirD
Posts: 3074
Joined: Thu Dec 05, 2013 4:07 pm
Location: HSV and SFO
Contact:

KuroNekko wrote:
SamirD wrote:Very interesting. I noticed PIAA has scaled back their halogen product range. I hope that the JDM products do find their way here as LED fogs and mains would be really nice! (Assuming they address some of the drawbacks you found in your usage of LEDs).
They certainly scaled back even in the JDM. Their selection was much less than before. They weren't the only brand either. It was like all of them. I think the market for aftermarket halogens has dwindled compared to LEDs.
I think LEDs are basically taking over, especially as high quality brands like PIAA produce kits with high quality emitters and commit R&D to make them better as drop-ins.

I think the reason why the aftermarket scene is strong in Japan is because these products may not be illegal to use on the street there like they are in the US. Much like how Germany is far more advanced with OE lighting technology, Japan offers much more aftermarket parts and they are readily available in brick-and-mortar stores. I think the stringent and outdated US DOT regulations hamper OE innovation and aftermarket product presence in the US. You basically have to get stuff online but much of the selection on the internet is cheap stuff from China instead of products from reputable brands like you can get in Japan. There have been many times where I see a product I didn't even know existed sold in a store in Japan. That's because it was solely intended to be sold in the JDM and not for any kind of export.
That's interesting that all the brands are doing it too. That definitely indicates the trend is here to stay and gives me confidence that we will see these products quite soon. 8-)

In many ways, the FMVSS (federal motor vehicle safety standard) that governs US domestic models has flaws. Why the US doesn't adopt mandatory amber turn signals like the rest of the world always dumbfounds me when it's pouring down and someone is trying to make a turn while braking. Such simple changes that the rest of the world has already figured out seems to be the hallmark of American stubbornness.

I'm not sure how difficult it is to design products to meet the FMVSS vs other world standards, but I think the demand of quality customers is simply not high enough. With a lot of Americans choosing price over quality, and 'good enough' now being a sufficient replacement for 'good', it is not hard to see why quality oriented companies don't see the US as a hot market for their products.

I didn't realize how different the light standards were in different parts of the world until I saw the headlight aiming technique in my Corvette's factory service manual which covers all world models. The European beam pattern is almost completely different than the US. And if a bulb manufacturer had to make different LED bulbs to make sure the beam patterns were always compliant, therein must lie the challenge. Otherwise, halogen bulbs are pretty much the same around the world in terms of their design and light throw.
baz
Posts: 14
Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2015 7:26 pm

AH-99 wrote:My headlight bulbs on left side, have gone again, and this is 2nd time. It requires removal of Bumper to get at bulbs.

I had changed all 6 bulbs last time (Daylight, Low, high), on both sides, $250-300 labor to drop bumper (as if it is a Lexus or Mercedes, those cars require removing bumpers !),.. but the same side left bulbs have gone.

Coincidentally, the FOB is more finicky, incl yesterday, totally shut down, no start with BOTH FOB's. They have been intermittent, but after holding them close to button, or waiting, or warming up FOB, (cold in TO, Canada), or changing batteries (few mths ago),..

I can usually open trunk with FOB, and the passenger door, but driver side is more resistant.

Are the 2 electric systems related?, wiring?, fuses?, shorts?

Please help
Thanks
Az
It's so easy to drop the bumper all u need is a star screw driver. I put the LED headlights​ in my car & haven't had a problem yet.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
Post Reply