The Nissan Sentra has been in production for approximately three decades, and over that time many changes and improvements have been made. However, that doesn't mean you can't do some tinkering of your own. If you would like to upgrade your headlights from the standard incandescent bulbs to high-grade HID bulbs, there are kits that make this a simple and rewarding do-it-yourself project. While the job may vary slightly based on which model year Sentra you own, the basic steps will remain the same.
Park your Sentra on level ground and set the parking brake. Turn off the engine and let it cool for 10 minutes before working.
Pop the hood and secure it in the open position. Locate the rear of the headlight assembly. You may need to remove a dust cover that could be secured by a couple screws or some plastic tabs. Remove this and set it aside.
Disconnect the wiring harness that delivers power to the headlight assembly. To do this simply squeeze the base of the plug and pull it out.
Unscrew the socket to the left and remove it from the assembly. Pull the bulb out and discard it.
Attach the HID ballast from the kit to the rear of the Nissan Sentra's headlight assembly. The kit comes with industrial-strength double-sided tape made for this purpose.
Install the HID bulb into the socket and then replace the socket into the headlight assembly. Turn it to the right to lock it in place.
Plug the electrical connecting wire into the ballast and then plug the ballast into the headlight using the connecting wire that comes with the kit. The ballast now acts as the connector between the Sentra and the headlight itself. Replace the access panel and close hood.
