Author : Everette Jamison

Like other car parts, your headlights will eventually die; you can count on them burning out They can potentially last for years, but once they expire, you'll need to replace them Of course, the driver is often the last person to notice They're usually alerted to the problem by other drivers, friends, and even police officers (who are happy to commemorate the occasion by giving you a ticket) Fortunately, replacing the lights is usually simple, and especially so in new vehicles In this article, I'll describe what you need to perform the job We'll also discuss the differences between doing the work on new and old cars

Getting Started

First, you should look at your owner's manual for bulb specifications Not all automakers include the information within the manual, but if they do, follow it If you can't find the car manufacturer's recommendations, ask one of the employees at an auto parts retailer They have access to comprehensive manuals they can refer to, which can be instrumental in selecting the right headlights Also, keep in mind that many vehicles use different lamps for low and high beams For example, the low beams may use standard 35-watt bulbs while the high beams require 55-watt units

Another consideration: there are different types of headlights that you can choose as replacements Some lamps are marketed as "vision improvement" lights and sell at a premium Others, like "blue" lamps (or Xenon bulbs), are designed specifically for aesthetic purposes (and also command premium prices) Finally, a few companies offer "long life" lamps They're advertised as lasting several times the lifespan of traditional headlights Of course, they cost significantly more

New Versus Old

If you're driving a vehicle that is less than 5 years old, changing the headlights is a matter of popping out the burnt bulb and swapping it for a new one It's easy and only takes a few minutes Older cars - and even a few newer foreign models - are a bit more difficult, though the job is still simple The reason is because the entire lamp needs to be taken out of its cavity to replace the light You'll need to unscrew the unit to take it off its frame Then, you'll have to disconnect a small wire socket from the old bulb, connecting it to the replacement before screwing the lamp back into place It takes a few extra minutes, but it's not complicated

The last challenge is making sure the positions of your replacement bulbs don't cause your lights to point oddly If they do, you'll need to adjust them and that can require some trial and error

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