If your car has lost one of its headlights, driving at night is really dangerous. You won’t have anything to light up the road ahead, meaning anything could appear out of nowhere. So, when one has gone out, make sure to replace it. Doing so is a lot easier than many people think. Learning how to do it yourself can save you the trip and the cost of hiring a mechanic. Here are a few tips to help you replace your car’s headlight if it has gone out.
Take Off the Cap to Expose the Wiring
Make sure that throughout the process your car’s engine is turned off. You don’t want to accidentally shock yourself throughout the process of replacing your car’s headlights.
The first thing you have to do is open the car’s hood. So, check under the driver’s side dashboard and see if there’s a clip. Usually, that’s where they’ve placed the latch to disengage the hood’s hook.
Pull it to lift the hood, and then you can prop it up using a bar. Once it’s steady, take a peek at the side of the engine bay. There’s a little plastic cover most of the time, blocking the bulbs. Twist it and pull. Then, it should come right out, showing you the bulb’s wiring.
Unhook Everything and Disconnect the Bulb
Unless your car has special bulbs, the wiring shouldn’t be too complicated. You may have to twist the bulbs before they come loose. But, once you’ve taken them out of the socket, you should see where they’re connected. Unhook the harness from both bulbs and place it back down.
If the bulb isn’t coming loose, try twisting in the opposite direction. Sometimes, you have to apply more force than you’d think. So, don’t be afraid to push a bit when you’re trying to remove them. If they’re not coming loose after all that, look at the manual. Some cars have a lock you have to remove before replacing the bulbs.
Put a New Bulb Into the Car
After removing the old ones, put new bulbs back into place. You’ll need to connect the wiring from the old ones, so remember how it was done.
Once the wiring connects to them, push the bulbs into their sockets. Then, twist them to engage their locking mechanism, preventing any movement.
You can screw the cap back on after putting the bulbs in there. Usually, they have to rotate before the locking mechanism engages as well.
Test It to See Whether It’s Working
Turn the car on and make sure the bulbs are working before putting stuff away. Occasionally, something won’t work as it should. So, you’ll have to go back in there and see what’s wrong.
Some bulbs aren’t compatible, so you may have chosen the wrong ones. See if they look the same as the ones you were using before. If they’re not identical, you might have identified the problem. Go back to the store and ask them for one that’s compatible with your care. Usually, they’ll know how to help.
Use Silicone to Protect the Headlight Wiring
Assuming the bulb is working, you should be safe on the road. A conductive silicone sheet could shield their wiring, too.
So, there’s nothing you have to worry about while driving. Since the covering protects all the wires, they’re never exposed to debris on the road.
That’s why so many have switched to silicone. Thanks to its durability, it prolongs the lifespan of electronic equipment.
Find a Bulb That’s Bright Enough for Dark Nights
A bright bulb would make it safer to drive if you live somewhere with dark nights especially on poorly lit roads. Nobody enjoys squinting as they’re going down the road, struggling to see what’s passing by. So, don’t forget to look at what’s available when it comes to bulbs.
Some of the ones we’ve seen have much brighter light than usual. So, they’re ready to light up the road if it’s super dark while you’re driving. That’s going to make you feel safe if there’s something out there. You’ll see anything before it gets close, thanks to the enhanced brightness.
Make sure that any lights that you use are not blue, green, or red. Doing so is against the law, as you may be confused with an emergency vehicle.
Replacing the Headlight on a Car
Getting a new headlamp isn’t as hard as some make it out to be. Since they’ve designed bulbs to be easily replaceable, anyone can do it at home. So, the next time one of yours has gone out, go get a replacement. You can find the right bulb for your vehicle at an auto parts store or online. Then, you can handle the rest of the replacement process from the comfort of your garage.
