Has one of your headlights gone out? Not only does a bad bulb hinder road safety, it could also earn you a traffic ticket, so avoid those troubles with a few simple headlight replacement steps.
Know What You Need
Modern vehicles usually have one of only two types of bulbs in the headlights–light-emitting-diode (LED) bulbs or high-intensity-discharge (HID) halogen bulbs. To determine what kind of replacement you need, the first place you should look is in your owner’s manual. If you don’t have that handy and you’re already standing in the lights aisle, you could also speak with someone at the auto parts store. You’ll just need to know the make, model, and year of your vehicle. While many models allow easy access to headlight housing without tools, some vehicles might also require some extra work, for which you may need a screwdriver, socket wrench, pliers, and even a flashlight. Gloves will also protect your hands as well as those fragile bulbs.
Out with the Old
You won’t be able to access the headlamp head-on, but it’s typically easy to pull the old bulb out from behind. Pop open the hood of your car and look for the lighting connections behind the light housing. These should be easy to remove, and in some cases, there might be metal rings and screws to remove to access the old bulb. Depending on the make and model you drive, there might even be an access route in the wheel wells.
Handle with Care
Just like any other lightbulb, your headlight bulbs are delicate and must be transported and handled gently. It’s also important to wear gloves to keep your hands’ oil from contacting the glass. This oil–as well as any other contaminants–could impact the light’s performance and shorten its lifespan. To protect the plugs and terminals, apply dielectric grease, which is sometimes sold with certain bulbs.
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Red McCombs Superior Body Shop
If your vehicle ever needs more extensive repairs, you can count on us to handle it at Red McCombs Superior Body Shop.
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