Headlight HID swap broken tabs

tjlazer · 07-08-2012, 03:26 PM

So it seems Nissan cheaped out to save $ and also reduce weight? The tabs that hold in the HID lamps are made of plastic and are easily broken. I broke one yesterday swapping in some HIDs. This housing is usually metal where the spring clips over holding in the bulb. Nice Nissan.

So the question is, can this part be replaced without buying a whole headlight assembly? Seems this part can come off but want to see if anyone knows anything about it.

Nut_N_Much · 07-10-2012, 10:09 PM

Best bet is a salvage yard.. I have not been able to find any headlight parts separate from the hole assembly except projection assembly, lenses, wiring. Not even in Japan.

If you find something please PM me with the info..

tjlazer · 07-13-2012, 06:48 PM

So does anyone know if the headlight assembly can be taken apart? Anyone have a headlight they can look at? Can the part where the HID bulb mounts be removed to swap onto a new headlight?

Boost_lee · 07-14-2012, 02:40 PM

Tj, which piece are you referring to in the pic?

tjlazer · 07-25-2012, 06:34 PM

Updated the pic in the first post to show where the clip broke. It can break on the other side really easily too, so be careful!

delusional · 07-25-2012, 07:42 PM

i read that alot of ppl broke those clips. main reason i haven't bought new bulbs yet.

robones · 07-27-2012, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjlazer

So it seems Nissan cheaped out to save $ and also reduce weight? The tabs that hold in the HID lamps are made of plastic and are easily broken. I broke one yesterday swapping in some HIDs. This housing is usually metal where the spring clips over holding in the bulb. Nice Nissan.

So the question is, can this part be replaced without buying a whole headlight assembly? Seems this part can come off but want to see if anyone knows anything about it.

To be honest, I have messed around with the HID's bulbs many times but thank GOD this never happened to me. The only issues I have had are with bulbs needed to be flickered on and off a few times to turn on. Made me go back to the stock bulbs. I prefer it this way now as it does not cheapen the look of the car at night as compared to after market HID bulbs.

370zmarc · 07-27-2012, 05:47 PM

I broke one of my tabs too. I just rigged it with some rubber bands to get it to sit evenly and haven't had any problems since and the light projection is perfect.

robones · 07-31-2012, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 370zmarc

I broke one of my tabs too. I just rigged it with some rubber bands to get it to sit evenly and haven't had any problems since and the light projection is perfect.

Damn that sucks. you have to consider a long term solution. I definitely don't see the rubber band holding up to the everyday abuse. The rubber band will dry up and become brittle and break. Your light bulb will eventually fall out of place.

carvalho360 · 10-26-2016, 10:39 AM

Old thread and I couldn't find more search results...but has anyone found a long term solution...My bulb pops out every time i hit a pot hole-__-

Daniel123588 · 10-26-2016, 02:41 PM

Reach out to theretrofitsource, they do numerous headlight retros and have lots of misc parts. I know because that's where I get all my parts for retrofits. GL.

tjlazer · 01-31-2017, 04:57 PM

I have found out that acetone works really good at fusing plastics so the next time I have my front bumper or wheels off I will try it. Not sure it will work but since the other side is intact it might be fine.

Knockoutpie · 05-09-2017, 05:34 PM

Broke mine too! Repaired with JB weld. It did hold but when I took the bulbs out a month later it broke again. Suppose I can JB weld and put metal wire around in the glue to give it extra strength.. I have it rigged with a massive *** twisty tie around the ballast and the loop under the grounding screw.

07-10-2012, 10:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
Nut_N_Much A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Pensacola Florida Posts: 1,696 Drives: Awesome Car Rep Power: 27	Best bet is a salvage yard.. I have not been able to find any headlight parts separate from the hole assembly except projection assembly, lenses, wiring. Not even in Japan. If you find something please PM me with the info.. __________________ Did new cool science stuff to the car !!! http://www.the370z.com/mazoc/99606-z...y-14-17-a.html http://www.the370z.com/diy-section-d...-w-videos.html

07-13-2012, 06:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
tjlazer A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Tacoma Age: 53 Posts: 2,496 Drives: Z34, R35 Rep Power: 20	So does anyone know if the headlight assembly can be taken apart? Anyone have a headlight they can look at? Can the part where the HID bulb mounts be removed to swap onto a new headlight? __________________ 2009 370Z Monterey Blue,Nismo Conversion,RE-11's, K&N Typhoon intakes,Blue Kickplates,Homelink,FI 18" CBE,ERZ HFCs,Hotchkis sways, Swift Spec-R, EVO-R Highwing, UPREV

07-14-2012, 02:40 PM	#4 (permalink)
Boost_lee A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SATX Posts: 2,813 Drives: 09 370Z TT 6MT Rep Power: 29	Tj, which piece are you referring to in the pic? __________________ My TT Z

07-25-2012, 06:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
tjlazer A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Tacoma Age: 53 Posts: 2,496 Drives: Z34, R35 Rep Power: 20	Updated the pic in the first post to show where the clip broke. It can break on the other side really easily too, so be careful! __________________ 2009 370Z Monterey Blue,Nismo Conversion,RE-11's, K&N Typhoon intakes,Blue Kickplates,Homelink,FI 18" CBE,ERZ HFCs,Hotchkis sways, Swift Spec-R, EVO-R Highwing, UPREV

07-25-2012, 07:42 PM	#6 (permalink)
delusional Track Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NewYork Posts: 968 Drives: 09 PG T/S/N 7AT Rep Power: 15	i read that alot of ppl broke those clips. main reason i haven't bought new bulbs yet. __________________ 2009 Platinum Graphite Touring [ Sport Package ¦¦ Navigation ¦¦ 7 Speed Automatic ] [ Berk ¦ H&R ¦ ONEighty ¦ K&N ¦ Stillen ¦ Eibach ¦ Cobb ¦ Ichiba ¦ Hankook ]

07-27-2012, 05:47 PM	#8 (permalink)
370zmarc Base Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: missio viejo Posts: 150 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 13	I broke one of my tabs too. I just rigged it with some rubber bands to get it to sit evenly and haven't had any problems since and the light projection is perfect.

10-26-2016, 10:39 AM	#10 (permalink)
carvalho360 Base Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 114 Drives: 09 370z black Rep Power: 15	Old thread and I couldn't find more search results...but has anyone found a long term solution...My bulb pops out every time i hit a pot hole-__- __________________ Reconstructed salvage. 2009 silver turned black 370z. Rims + handles blacked out, 15% tints, fast intentions catback exhaust, stillen gen 3 cai and much more soon to come.

10-26-2016, 02:41 PM	#11 (permalink)
Daniel123588 Base Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Hawaii Posts: 192 Drives: 2012 370z sport Rep Power: 10	Reach out to theretrofitsource, they do numerous headlight retros and have lots of misc parts. I know because that's where I get all my parts for retrofits. GL.

01-31-2017, 04:57 PM	#12 (permalink)
tjlazer A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Tacoma Age: 53 Posts: 2,496 Drives: Z34, R35 Rep Power: 20	Headlight HID swap broken tabs I have found out that acetone works really good at fusing plastics so the next time I have my front bumper or wheels off I will try it. Not sure it will work but since the other side is intact it might be fine. __________________ 2009 370Z Monterey Blue,Nismo Conversion,RE-11's, K&N Typhoon intakes,Blue Kickplates,Homelink,FI 18" CBE,ERZ HFCs,Hotchkis sways, Swift Spec-R, EVO-R Highwing, UPREV

05-09-2017, 05:34 PM	#13 (permalink)
Knockoutpie Base Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Gilbert Arizona Posts: 93 Drives: 2013 370z Sport Rep Power: 9	Broke mine too! Repaired with JB weld. It did hold but when I took the bulbs out a month later it broke again. Suppose I can JB weld and put metal wire around in the glue to give it extra strength.. I have it rigged with a massive *** twisty tie around the ballast and the loop under the grounding screw.

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