Headlights are essential for seeing at night. Some roads may not have street lamps and even if they do, they are not going to allow you to see what is directly in front of you. Headlights are a simple item in your vehicle that you should be able to trouble shoot and fix yourself. But as always, be careful as you are working with electrical equipment. Below are the 2 most common problems with auto lights and how you can try to fix them.
One Headlight Not Working
This is probably a simple blown light bulb. Bulbs in car lights can last anywhere from 5-6 years depending on the wear and tear of the vehicle and how long they are used every day. Many newer vehicles have daytime running lights so you may go through bulbs quicker. But it is nothing to be alarmed about as they are inexpensive to fix. Most vehicles have the bulb socket in the back of the headlamp. They usually are twisted and locked into place, simple untwist and pull out. Then you can pull the old bulb out and replace it with a new one. Make sure not to touch the glass on a halogen bulb as you will render it broken again! They are sensitive to the oils in your fingers and you will replace it sooner rather than later. Before placing the bulb back in test out the lights, you do not want to do this two times do you?
Both Headlights Do Not Work
It is very unlikely both bulbs are blown. It is more likely that your bulbs are not getting the voltage they need. This one can be trickier to figure out so take your time. First check your fuses and make sure they aren’t blown. If they are just replaced then you should be good to go. If not move onto the relay, shake the relay if you heard something moving around replace it. If not you may have a bad switch. A switch is a bigger problem than a blown bulb. This you should consult a technician about. It may require more labor than you anticipate.
