What Did You Do With Your Kizashi Today?

LPSISRL · Sat Feb 18, 2017 1:05 am

Well, on my way to work today another motorist was kind enough to point out that my left, yes left, headlight was out. Yet again. That's twice in the last year. What it is with my Kizzy and the left headlight bulb? I've tried different brands, lumens, what's left? I did put some dielectric grease on it this time. Let's see if that makes any difference. BTW - I'm getting pretty fast at pulling the bumper and changing the lamp. The hardest part is that nasty little clip holding the bulb in the lens hole.

LPSISRL · Sat Feb 18, 2017 1:22 am

While I was changing the driver side low beam bulb today, I found this rubber bumper between the grill and the radiator. It took me a few minutes to find out where it went because both of them had come off. I searched for the second one but couldn't find it. Has anyone else's hood bumpers gone AWOL?

LPSISRL · Sat Feb 18, 2017 2:18 am

It pays to save things. Years ago I bought a couple of rubber bumpers for the captain's chairs in my 1995 Town and Country. I bought an extra one. It's been sitting around for 15 years. It's almost a perfect fit for the missing hood bumper. A tad shorter and it's not rounded, but it will save me 25 bucks!

BLyons · Sat Feb 18, 2017 6:53 am

I lost both of mine, probably at some point during the many times removing the bumper.

Sun Feb 19, 2017 3:51 pm

LPSISRL wrote: That's twice in the last year. What it is with my Kizzy and the left headlight bulb? I've tried different brands, lumens, what's left?

An HID kit. I installed my HID kit for my low beams over 3 years ago and everything is still working just fine. When I got more 12V accessories like a dash camera and a dual 2.4 Amp USB phone charger, I installed capacitors for the kit to cure the slight flickering.

I personally believe halogens no longer have a place in a modern vehicle given the superior technology available. An HID kit is far more expensive than an H7 bulb but you're also getting significantly greater output (brightness), much longer bulb life, lower operating voltage (for a 35W kit), and premium aesthetics. Given you have to remove the bumper to even change a halogen bulb, you're doing the hardest part then in installing an HID kit.

Even suitable LED conversion kits are now available. These bulbs may actually last or even outlast the life of the vehicle. I installed an LED kit for my DRLs/high beams months ago. The LEDs have worked without failure and continue to do so.

Mon Feb 20, 2017 1:14 pm

The body shop apparently lost one last year when they re-finished the car after storm damage. Didn't notice it for awhile that they had replaced it with "some other" mis-matched brand/type. Like everything else, I'm sure it's crazy expensive to get one from Suzuki.

DesRado · Mon Feb 20, 2017 1:26 pm

LPSISRL wrote:What it is with my Kizzy and the left headlight bulb? I've tried different brands, lumens, what's left?

+1 for HID install. I too did a conversion and have not regretted it. I bought a Kensun set of HIDs off amazon for under $60. Included everything you need for the install. Only tough choice I had to make was being sure I really wanted to drill holes in the headlight dust covers. No long wires, just 2 ballasts and some cabling. All plug and play.

LPSISRL · Mon Feb 20, 2017 2:23 pm

Ronzuki wrote:The body shop apparently lost one last year when they re-finished the car after storm damage. Didn't notice it for awhile that they had replaced it with "some other" mis-matched brand/type. Like everything else, I'm sure it's crazy expensive to get one from Suzuki.

The rubber bumper itself was less than $3 from suzukifactoryparts.com. But buy two then tack on shipping and handling to the tune of $18 and you're almost up to $25. If I had other stuff to get, I'd throw a couple of these in. It's called the upper tie bar cushion. Part number 0932110023.

LPSISRL · Mon Feb 20, 2017 2:28 pm

KuroNekko wrote:
LPSISRL wrote: That's twice in the last year. What it is with my Kizzy and the left headlight bulb? I've tried different brands, lumens, what's left?
An HID kit. I installed my HID kit for my low beams over 3 years ago and everything is still working just fine. When I got more 12V accessories like a dash camera and a dual 2.4 Amp USB phone charger, I installed capacitors for the kit to cure the slight flickering.

I personally believe halogens no longer have a place in a modern vehicle given the superior technology available. An HID kit is far more expensive than an H7 bulb but you're also getting significantly greater output (brightness), much longer bulb life, lower operating voltage (for a 35W kit), and premium aesthetics. Given you have to remove the bumper to even change a halogen bulb, you're doing the hardest part then in installing an HID kit.

Even suitable LED conversion kits are now available. These bulbs may actually last or even outlast the life of the vehicle. I installed an LED kit for my DRLs/high beams months ago. The LEDs have worked without failure and continue to do so.

I'd feel like such a hypocrite if I installed HIDs. I get very annoyed at those who blind me with their HIDs whether their HIDs are blowing through my darkened rear view mirror or when in on-coming traffic. Especially trucks and SUVs whose HIDs are 4 feet off the ground. I really think there should be laws limiting the output of headlights. Please no offense to anyone in this forum.

With that said, what's a good kit?

Tue Feb 21, 2017 4:06 am

LPSISRL wrote:
I'd feel like such a hypocrite if I installed HIDs. I get very annoyed at those who blind me with their HIDs whether their HIDs are blowing through my darkened rear view mirror or when in on-coming traffic. Especially trucks and SUVs whose HIDs are 4 feet off the ground. I really think there should be laws limiting the output of headlights. Please no offense to anyone in this forum. With that said, what's a good kit?

While I understand your complaint with them, HIDs aren't problematic in the Kizashi. The HID glare problem mostly stems from people who improperly install them in multi-reflector headlights. However, the Kizashi utilizes projector headlights in the low beams. These create a very good cut-off with the light. If angled carefully, you can have an HID bulb output a lot of light on the road without annoying other drivers. I've never had anyone complain about my headlights given I've adjusted them properly.

The problem with aftermarket lights is that many people install and use them incorrectly. However, if properly installed, adjusted, and utilized, they aren't a problem in most cases.

The HID kit I have and recommend is the Morimoto Elite. It's not cheap, but the build quality is better than most kits out there and it comes with a harness that directly connects to the battery. The vendors are also in the USA and offer a 5 year warranty (for 35W kits) with great customer service.
https://www.theretrofitsource.com/hid-s ... elite.html