Kizashi Club

KuroNekko wrote: ↑Mon Feb 22, 2021 8:59 pm Replaced my low beam HID bulbs last weekend. 7+ years on the original components and the bulbs weren't even malfunctioning. I just figured after 7 years, it was time to retire them and replace with newer and brighter bulbs. I went with 4300K bulbs with a Philips capsule this time. I replaced only the bulbs so the HID system is running on the original ballasts, capacitors (add-on), and harness.

As for the LED kit in the DRL/High beams, I took the bulbs out and inspected them because the passenger side was failing consistently for over a month by working at partial power. Checked all components and connections with a disconnect and reconnect. Upon testing, they worked perfectly fine again. Maybe a connection or ground was loose. I also spent time indexing the bulbs but realized the emitters firing directly left and right (default position) appeared to provide the best output pattern. Maybe they were optimized a tiny bit by indexing but I didn't have the best setting to test beam pattern and doing so in the Kizashi's sealed headlight with these bulbs is a very hard process. I hope newer LED bulb designs make indexing easier as it's critical for getting the proper and safe output pattern on the road.

I'll post more with photos about the new bulbs in the dedicated thread but must say 7+ years on the same bulbs is quite impressive for a car plagued with halogen bulb issues and a nightmare replacement process.

old tech wrote: ↑Wed Feb 24, 2021 5:23 am Today I finished installing a Kizashi engine into a 2010 Sx4 manual shift.

Drem wrote: ↑Wed Aug 12, 2020 11:30 am I wish there was a "like" button for posts like there is on other forums I use. Can we get one?

I got a new pair of speakers to try out. These are Bliesma T25B-6 beryllium tweeters from Germany.

The plan is to pick a new tweeter and small midrange and make an enclosure for them on the dash/pillar. Then I will remake these kick pods to have larger volume and use exclusively for midbass. For now I just swapped them in to see if I like them better than my silk dome tweeters I've used for ~20 years.

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KuroNekko wrote: ↑Thu Mar 11, 2021 7:00 pm I like working on my car and keeping it going. I've realized I'm one of two types of car enthusiasts: The first kind are the type that want to drive the latest and the best and often lease or buy for short terms. They change cars often and are more about driving certain cars than ownership for the long haul. Many guys I know like this drive all kinds of fancy cars but for a few years at a time and hardly ever work on it themselves.
The second are the type that buy and own the cars for the long haul and work on them. Repairs, maintenance, upgrades, mods, etc.; they get to know the vehicle intimately inside and out, owning them long enough to learn the quirks, issues, and all. I'm definitely in the second category as I've only ever bought used cars and did all my own maintenance since high school. When I first got the Kizashi, it was preowned but only 1-year old and with 7500 miles on it. It was basically a new car and I didn't have much to work on for years. Just oil changes for the most part. Now, at 105,000 miles, I got a bunch of stuff to do and it's more fun in that regard but I struggle to find the time. Thankfully, the car is such that it's tolerant of a bit of neglect and doesn't give much drama. With its manual transmission, I really don't worry about it. It's now reminding me of my beloved Impreza I had in college that I got used with 109,000 miles. Drove that thing past 215,000 miles, learning a lot about maintenance and repairs along the way, before selling it to a friend.

Given the Kizashi's generational age now, I think a lot of us are entering the phase of high mileage ownership and doing what we need to keep them going. It's somewhat fun in a different way. Now I don't sweat the small stuff and think of ways to have it suit me for the long haul.