Hey guys, I had my nismo cai installed about a week ago. Well in the last few days we've had some heavy rain in my area. So I noticed today that my headlight is full of condensation and its completely out. I know the front fender liner was removed when the cai was installed so i'm guessing that water got into were my headlight was and damaged it. Now i'm taking the Z into the dealership tommorow for an oil change I was wondering how much its going to cost me to have my headlight fixed. Thanks!

 

How much it costs depends on what needs to be fixed.

 

Having a CAI installed has absolutely nothing to do with a leak in the headlight. They reinstalled the liner after the install, I assume?

Your headlight seal or either of the two rubber gaskets (bulb and ballast) somehow failed and allowed water in. When it fully dries, it may come back to life, but only until the next rain.

 

The front fender liner was never reinstalled. Its siting in my basement right now, should I take it to the dealer and have them reinstall it to pervent this from happening again?

 

Good Lord man! What kinda dealer does an install and doesn't put everything back together. Better yet, what kinda owner doesn't realize that a liner's job is to prevent water from coming in direct contact with the back of the headlight?

Yes, if your light comes back to life, for the love of God reinstall that liner! If not, find out what died on it (bulb, ballast etc.), replace that and then replace the liner. If it was the installer's neglect, they should fix it for free. If yours, then you are on your own.

 

Thanks for the advice man, I'll definitely take it with me when I go to the dealer tommorow and have them check my headlight and then reinstall the liner. Then i'll ask my friend who installed the cai why the **** he didnt put back the liner. Again thanks for all your help, Peace!

 

The dealer will charge you an arm and leg for it. I had assumed it was them who installed the CAI. Just have your friend put it back for you if the light turns back on after it is fully dry or after fixing the problem if it doesn't. For extra assurance, you might want to replace both of the O ring gaskets I mentioned above.

 

Take the headlight out and detach the ballast. Make sure there isn't water in the plug between the headlight and the ballast. If there is, dry it out and you might be okay.

 

He can unplug and clean the ballast harness without having to remove the light, but I concur with you in principle; if I were doing this, I would remove the assembly, take it all apart and dry it; then replace the O rings before putting it all back together. A big PITA, but worth it, IMO.

 

Thanks for all the advice guys! Heres some pictures of how I have my CAI installed now, does it look like it was installed right?



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I dont know if I'll be able to reinstall the front fender liner with the air filter being were it is useless I modified it to fit, any suggestions?

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If any of you guys have the Nismo CAI installed I was wondering if you could post some pics of how you have it installed with the front fender liner thanks!

 

Ill hook you up with some pics. My Z is currently in the garage in pieces. I think the owner before did the same thing you did, because that wheel well plastic piece isnt there. When I bought the car the light didnt work. Dealer bought me a new one, but first time it rained it filled up again. Ballast is going in and out. It located at the bottom of the light, so it acts like a bowl when all the water in there drains down. So it collects in the ballast and keeps it from working. I would definately suggest to anyone with this problem, to rip the ballst out and dry it.

Now my problem is that I cant get the light apart enough to wipe down the lense and really dry it out. Has anyone been able to take the light apart??

If I figure it out, I'll take pics as I put the car back together, it's really not that tough... but like anything else, it takes time.

WELL WORTH not having done at the dealer.... big $$$$$

 

Thanks alot man, I'll try to take it apart and dry it out as much as possible. I'm still trying to figure out how i'm going to modifie the front fender liner to fit so I can prevent this from happening again. But whenever you get your car back some pics of how your CAI is installed would be very helpfull!

 

Well, mine doesnt have the cold air anymore... I'm not a believer in them yet. For now I just have a K&N drop in filter in the stock box.

But anyway, the car is back together and I fixed the light. So later today I'll post up some pics. It turned out well. May want to plan on leaving the light out overnight. I did that and it almost dried out completely. Then I left it in the sun for a while today, and ran a hair drier on it. Good as new. Check the thread later this afternoon. I should have some pics then.

 

The depth of field is impossible to judge from your filter cone pic above. I do have the Nismo CAI and have removed my front bumper a half dozen times already so what I can tell you is that the cone sits less than a inch from the bumper's edge, which means THERE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH clearance for the liner to be installed correctly. Your friend shouldn't be messing with cars.

Think about it: Nismo CAI is a genuine Nissan piece. Would they EVER sell something that doesn't allow the car to be put back together the way it comes from the factory?

By the way, your filter is likely clogged with dirt now after the gallons of water it got sprayed with in the rain. Once you figure this whole mess out, replace or thoroughly clean the cone before putting it back on the car. And for your car's sake, have a COMPETENT installer fix this for you.

 

definately put on that liner back on. That is how you are suppose to change some of the lights behind the headlight(dealership recommendation) and you dont' water splashing on the wires or where the headlights go in.