Everything You Need To Know About Headlight Bulbs
What Is Car Headlight Bulbs?
It is the automobile’s headlights (or headlamps) which would help in
serving to illuminate the road during night time driving and then to make sure
that the automobile would be visible during the daytime driving. The headlamp
system would include a low beam which is utilized for normal driving, and a
high beam which would be only used when no other cars would be there on the
road. The cars in the past relied on round, sealed-beam lamps, the latest
automobiles feature headlamps with aerodynamic shapes and replaceable halogen
bulbs.
Types Of Car Headlight Bulbs
Are you searching for the different types of headlight bulbs? Then don’t
worry! All you have to do is to have a look below and then all your doubts
regarding its types would be cleared.
LED:
The tail lights which are formed of a lot of light-emitting diodes have
been around for a lot of years. The LED daytime running lights are seen a lot
and LED headlights are now arriving on some upper-end models. The LED’s would
be simply semiconductors with no wear-and-tear parts, which should – in theory
– last the lifetime of the car.
HID or xenon bulbs:
The high intensity discharge (HID) bulbs, or ‘xenon’s’, have an arc of
high-voltage current rather than a metal filament so that it can produce light.
It would be quite common a family and mainstream car, which would be either as
a factory-fitted option or an aftermarket upgrade.
Halogen bulbs:
A traditional as well as low-cost lighting option would be the halogen
light bulbs which would continue to be widely fitted. There are a lot of ways
with which they can be upgraded. Have a look at the following options:
- so-called
'brighter' bulbs which would claim to offer between 30% and 100% more
light.
- energy-saving
bulbs should be designed to last longer and reduce energy consumption.
- xenon-effect
or ‘blue’ bulbs, which emit a blueish light, mainly for cosmetic effect.
How Do Car Headlight Bulbs Work?
Are you searching how do the headlight bulbs actually work? Then
all you have to do is to have a look below and then you will be able to
understand everything.
There would be a bulb incorporated in a headlamp which would be placed
in front of a reflector (or a series of mirrors) which would project a beam of
light through a lens and would then direct the beam to the road ahead. More
light is produced by halogen lamps and at the same time the output of the heat
would be less than the older incandescent bulbs because of the halogen gas
which would be injected into the bulb. Even more light is provided by the HID,
or “Xenon,” headlamps by producing an electrical arc for illumination rather
than a glowing tungsten filament. There are some late automobiles which would
feature self-levelling headlamps which would remain level with the road
regardless of the angle of the vehicle. The automobiles with "adaptive
headlamps" would use motor to shift the focus of the lamp so that the
curves on the road can be followed.
Purpose Of Car Headlight Bulbs
The main purpose of the headlights on cars would be to illuminate the roadway
and facilitate fatigue-free as well as safe driving. Headlights and their light
sources would be thus vehicle components which would be relevant to safety.
Frequent Problem With Car Headlight Bulbs
Do you want to know some frequent problems which might start occurring
in the headlight bulbs? Take a look below to know some frequent problems with the headlight bulbs:
- Some
faults in the voltage / alternator regulator (A.K.A Voltage Stabilizer)
- There
might be loose wiring connections to the bulb holder/bulb
- Inferior
quality of bulbs
- Issues related to touching
the bulbs glass on installation
- There
might be excessive vibration
- There
can be a lot of condensation in the headlight
Symptoms Of Bad Car Headlight Bulbs
There are a few things which might cause your headlight bulbs to malfunction. Watch for the following symptoms if you suspect bad headlight bulbs:
- The headlights might be dim
- Headlights might start flickering on and off
- Issues related to headlight is out
Tools Needed For Car Headlight Bulbs
There are a number of skilled auto mechanics who have a goal of opening
their own car repair shop at some point in their career. But let’s face it; if
you want to put up an efficient as well as profit making shop, then you might
need much more than mechanical skills. There are a number of tools which you
might need to perform the car repairs quickly as well as reliably. Auto repair equipment that you will need to repair your
Headlight Bulbs may include:
- New light bulb(s) -- Make sure you get the right
type of bulb for your vehicle (your local auto parts store should be able
to match a bulb with your make and model)
- Alcohol wipes and tissues (to clean and hold
the new bulb)
- Phillips screwdriver
Top Brands For Car Headlight Bulbs
If customers trust a brand, then it would make them loyal, and if they
are loyal, then they will surely buy more. We are well aware that customers want
comfort, cheerfulness as well as satisfaction in their lives and that’s the
reason why we offer top quality auto parts brands to our customers. We make
sure to provide a positive experience to our consumers from the brands which we
are offering so that they can form an opinion that a particular auto parts
brand is trustworthy and would give them peace of mind while they are
purchasing it for their car. Here we have listed out some top brands for
Headlight Bulbs.
Related Parts Of Car Headlight Bulbs
There might be a big-picture overview of Headlight Bulbs in your mind,
and now it’s time to look at its related components.
Total Costs & Repair Times, Effort For Car Headlight Bulbs
If you are looking for Headlight Bulbs Replacement Cost”, Headlight
Bulbs Replacement Labor Cost”, “Average Cost Of Headlight Bulbs Swap” or “How
Much Does It Cost To Replace A Car Headlight Bulbs”, then keep on reading
further! If you are seeing blown Headlight Bulbs signs from your vehicle, then
it means that a repair bill is coming. More than other failures on a car, there
is nothing that is like a faulty Headlight Bulbs. Now if your car Headlight
Bulbs goes bad, then it would cause a lot of issues in the functioning of your
car and it would turn into an abandoned home. Don’t worry and just think about
the happiness when an empty shell would become whole again and much better than
it was earlier through quality Headlight Bulbs replacement. Keep in mind that
the Headlight Bulbs replacement cost would depend upon the type of automobile,
brand, as well as various other factors. If you want to substitute your
headlight bulb, then it would generally range between $191 and $348.Talking
about the work expenses, they would range between $44 and $56 and the parts
would be valued somewhere in the range of $147 and $292.
Can I Drive With A Car Headlamp Bulb Problem?
It would be possible to drive a vehicle with a headlamp bulb which has
been burned out, but it is not at all legal in a lot of states and it some a
burned out headlamp bulb would be considered an equipment malfunction. Make
sure that you drive with care if there is a burned out headlamp, as the lights
serve not only to illuminate the road, but would also act as a signal to the
drivers to oncoming traffic. Make sure to replace the burned out headlamp bulb
as soon as possible.
How Often Do Car Headlamp Bulbs Need To Be Replaced?
The lifespan of a headlight bulb would totally depend upon how often the
lights have been utilized and how roughly the automobile has been driven and
how the bulb was handled during the process of installation. A standard halogen
headlight bulb can easily as long as one thousand hours of operation, and a
high intensity discharge (HID or "Xenon") bulb can last twice as
long. Since there are sensitive filaments in the headlight bulbs, rough driving
or frequent driving over rough roads might cause the bulbs to wear out faster.
The oil which would come from the technician's hand during installation might
start creating hot spots on a headlight bulb, which would cause the bulb to
burn out faster.
How Are Car Headlamp Bulb Issues Diagnosed?
A technician would be able to inspect the headlight bulb which would not
appear to be working by performing some tests. First of all he would inspect to
make sure that the connector which would lead from the wiring harness to the
headlight bulbs should be clean as well as in contact. There can be times when
a faulty connection to the headlight bulb might cause a lamp to fail. After
that the technician would inspect to make sure that the bulb would be getting
power by probing the connector with a multimeter and then inspecting for proper
voltage. The bulb can be checked itself by holding it up to the light to see if
the internal filament would be broken, but sometimes it would be difficult to
tell if it would be intact. A better way to inspect the bulb would be to check
for continuity with a multimeter. Then finally, the technician would be able to
inspect the bulb which would appear to be burned out by plugging it in place of
the other headlight which would be working to see if the bulb would not be
operating properly........
How To Change Car Headlight Bulbs?
Do you want to change your headlight bulbs on your own? Then have a look
at the steps of changing the headlight bulbs below:
Step 1 - Locate the Bulb Holder
- There
are a lot of instances, where there would not be the requirement of any
tools to replace your vehicle's headlight bulbs; in others, there would be
a need of a pair of pliers or a screwdriver. It is essential to inspect
the owner's manual first. You should make sure that your car should be
turned off and then it should be parked in a safe location. The hood
of the car should then be opened up and then you should locate the back of
the headlight and then the bulb holder should be found. There would be
three wires coming out of a plug which would be shaped like a trapezoid.
Step 2- Remove the Wiring Harness
The three wires would be then attached to a plug which would be situated
at the base of the headlight itself. The plug would be then held in place by a
plastic catch, a metal clip, or, in some cases, a screw cap.
- For
a plastic catch, you'll see a little lever which would be sticking up at
the top of the plug. It should then be pressed down with your thumb while
pulling firmly but gently. Then you should slide it off.
- For
a metal clip, pull up and away and the plug would come off in your hand.
- Now
for a screw cap, you should simply unscrew the plug by turning it
counter-clockwise (the old righty-tighty/lefty-loosey guide might not
apply here as you are doing a reach-around).
Step 3 - Remove the Old Bulb
- When
the wiring would be out of the way, then you should be able to pull the
bulb out by holding onto the base. There can be some cases, there would be
a need to rotate the bulb slightly so that it can release or gently wiggle
it to loosen it.
Step 4 - Put the New Bulb in Place
- Before
the new bulb has been taken of the packaging, then a tissue or a clean rag
should be grabbed. The glass of the bulb should be touched by using a
tissue or rag. Now if the oils present on your skin would get on the glass
bulb, then it can start burning out as soon as you would turn the
headlight. The plug end of the bulb should be held and then you should
stick it into the back of the headlight. Just be sure that you have
visually confirmed that it is all in the way. You would be able to tell as
it would be lined up evenly.
Step 5 - Check Your Lights
- The
wiring should then be plugged back in and then the headlight should be
re-secured. Inspecting your new headlight bulb would be as simple as
turning on your car's headlights. If one or both of the bulbs would not
start to turn on, then it is essential to check the wiring to make sure
that they have been connected securely.