What Did You Do With Your Kizashi Today?

[BLyons]

I was debating picking up my jack this weekend so I could change mine soon. Then it snowed this morning. And they're calling for 4-8 more inches this week. Guess it will be another week or two.

[honsonwong]

I have changed the brake and tail light bulbs.

[chazyouwin]

Today - picked up the 2010 Kiz after a CVT trans fluid flush. Ran me $450 at the former Suzuki dealer (Wayne, NJ). Ouch!
Said it was flushed three times per spec, that's the reason for the high price. Replaced the battery - still had the original. $180. Replaced the rear brake pads, and trimmed rotors - odd thing is, this Kiz runs the rear brake pads out at 3/2 the rate of the front. Running pretty well as we close in on the last month of the 7 year warranty (have 68,500 miles).

That's where I bought my used 2012 Kizashi GTS from in 2015. Im at about 105,000 now. I want to change the fluid but Im afraid to just take it anywhere in fear that they may damage the CVT. Im tempted to take the ride there just so it could be done right. Don't want any issues with the CVT. They occasionally send me coupons for service, so I can save some money there. Did you have to make an appointment? Was it same day service?

I just saw this today. I did make an appointment at the Wayne facility. I've had competent work done by the Suzuki certified mechanic there. The repair facility is better than the one at Green Brook New Jersey. Both are expensive, but I think that the Wayne has a better attention to detail. By the way the CVT is working very well; it had seemed to be grinding a bit but has been very smooth since the hyperventilating price fluid change.

[chazyouwin]

And no it was not same day service, but it took one day. I had to drop the car off at night and pick it up the next night.

[KuroNekko]

I have changed the brake and tail light bulbs.

Wait, I had to edit my original reply.
Is what's in the photos the exact product you installed as the brake lights? If so, you should get an exchange and change them out for 1157R. The "R" indicates Red.
Those LEDs pictured are 6000K white LEDs which will wash out the red of the lens. Hence, the brake lights will look more pinkish white than red when in use. These aren't technically legal for street use for things like brake and turn bulbs and are intended for use such as reverse lights.
For brake lights, you need to have red emitters in the bulbs; basically red LEDs. Same thing with amber bulbs and amber LEDs. Basically, when it comes to LED bulbs, you need to make sure the emitter is the color that you want the light to look.
I have the same bulbs but with the actual red emitter for tail and brake light use. Red on red gives it a deep red color that's bright and looks exquisite.

These are the actual ones you need for tail/brake light use: (Note that the packaging below says 1157R and that the bulbs have red LEDs in them.)

[LPSISRL]

I have changed the brake and tail light bulbs.

Wait, I had to edit my original reply.
Is what's in the photos the exact product you installed as the brake lights? If so, you should get an exchange and change them out for 1157R. The "R" indicates Red.
Those LEDs pictured are 6000K white LEDs which will wash out the red of the lens. Hence, the brake lights will look more pinkish white than red when in use. These aren't technically legal for street use for things like brake and turn bulbs and are intended for use such as reverse lights.
For brake lights, you need to have red emitters in the bulbs; basically red LEDs. Same thing with amber bulbs and amber LEDs. Basically, when it comes to LED bulbs, you need to make sure the emitter is the color that you want the light to look.
I have the same bulbs but with the actual red emitter for tail and brake light use. Red on red gives it a deep red color that's bright and looks exquisite.

These are the actual ones you need for tail/brake light use: (Note that the packaging below says 1157R and that the bulbs have red LEDs in them.)

I wonder why they don't make it obvious and label the package somewhere with the word "RED" in big letters instead of an easy to overlook "R" in the part number.

[LPSISRL]

Yesterday, my Kizashi went out of warranty. In a funeral procession no less.
The only warranty work done other than recalls was major. The transmission was replaced at 76K due to metal shavings in the pan. There were no hassles whatsoever from the dealer or Suzuki. It was done in three days start to finish.
I'm still on the original shocks, brakes and serpentine belt. Just purchased my third set of tires. The factories lasted 45K, the second set of Contis lasted 52K and I just put this third set of Contis on. I've never been happier with any vehicle I've owned.

[KuroNekko]

I wonder why they don't make it obvious and label the package somewhere with the word "RED" in big letters instead of an easy to overlook "R" in the part number.

I agree. While the packaging does state "RED" and "For Red Lens", it's way too small and easily overlooked. This is especially important because these bulbs are to replace incandescent bulbs of which most don't have different color variants. Most people will pay attention to the bulb number rather than other small print.
The packaging for the LED bulbs need to be very distinguishable to tell the red from the amber and the white LED bulbs given they share the same bulb number.

[honsonwong]

I wonder why they don't make it obvious and label the package somewhere with the word "RED" in big letters instead of an easy to overlook "R" in the part number.

I agree. While the packaging does state "RED" and "For Red Lens", it's way too small and easily overlooked. This is especially important because these bulbs are to replace incandescent bulbs of which most don't have different color variants. Most people will pay attention to the bulb number rather than other small print.
The packaging for the LED bulbs need to be very distinguishable to tell the red from the amber and the white LED bulbs given they share the same bulb number.

I have noticed that when I bought the light bulbs. However, I just thought that the cover is red already, and the original light bulbs are clear too, so I simply thought that 1157 is okay, but I am not sure. Following are two pics showing the tail light only and with brake light on. Do you think I still need to replace with 1157R?

[KuroNekko]

I wonder why they don't make it obvious and label the package somewhere with the word "RED" in big letters instead of an easy to overlook "R" in the part number.

I agree. While the packaging does state "RED" and "For Red Lens", it's way too small and easily overlooked. This is especially important because these bulbs are to replace incandescent bulbs of which most don't have different color variants. Most people will pay attention to the bulb number rather than other small print.
The packaging for the LED bulbs need to be very distinguishable to tell the red from the amber and the white LED bulbs given they share the same bulb number.

I have noticed that when I bought the light bulbs. However, I just thought that the cover is red already, and the original light bulbs are clear too, so I simply thought that 1157 is okay, but I am not sure. Following are two pics showing the tail light only and with brake light on. Do you think I still need to replace with 1157R?

It's hard to tell from the photos, but if the lights look pinkish, then getting the 1157R bulbs would be better. If the lights look fine and similar to the original, then maybe they are fine as is.
It's just known that white LEDs wash out the lens color and have the LED emitter color come through more. That's why they recommend getting the actual emitters to emit the desired color.