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How To Fix Your Headlights
By:
Published: October 20, 2006
Bad drivers and dangerous elements in the environment can greatly impair vehicular safety. But there are many simple things you, as a driver, can do to make the road a safer environment for yourself, other drivers and pedestrians. One of these things is changing impaired headlights.
Poorly lit, clogged headlights or ones that do not work at all can lead to precarious driving conditions in bad weather and at night.
Tools
1. Screwdriver
2. New Halogen bulb or headlight
Determine the Problem
Broken headlights can be the result of many factors, so determine the problem before changing one or both headlights. Generally speaking, there are three causes for broken or impaired car headlights: burned out bulbs from electrical problems, water-clogged lenses, and cloudiness or yellowing of the lens.
An easy way to determine the problem is by turning the headlights on to find out which headlight has burned out. If you notice additional problems, you need to take a closer look at the bulb. On many new car models, the bulb unscrews out of the back of the headlight lens. Older car models with glass headlights can be singularly replaced with a new headlight. Take a look at the bulb and the headlight. Does it look burned out, is the headlight yellowing or is there water in the lens?
How to Replace a Burnt out Bulb
1. If the problem is burned out bulb, installation is easy. Remove the bulb by unscrewing it from the headlight – as described above - and place the screws in a safe place so you do not lose them.
2. Remove the headlight and unplug it.
3. Replace it with a new bulb, but be careful not to touch the glass with your fingers. The oil and dirt on your hands can cause the bulb to burn out quicker than expected.
4. Screw the headlight back on.
5. Check to make sure the new headlight works by turning the light on. If the headlight still does not work, there may be an electrical problem and will need to addressed by a mechanic.
How to Fix and Replace Clogged Lenses
1. Water leakage in the lens is easy to repair. To determine if the lens is caused by a crack or hole, remove the entire headlight and allow the water to drain out. If it is a newer plastic lens, drill a small hole in it to drain out the water.
2. If the leak is caused by crack or small hole, use urethane, a clear sealant, to seal it and then replace the headlight.
3. Lenses with large holes or extensive cracks should be replaced entirely.
How to Replace Yellow or Cloudy Lenses
To repair lenses, you have one of two options. You can use a restorer or cleaner kit to restore the lens to optimum clarity or you can replace the lens itself.
Sources:
Mallie, David. How to Fix and Repair Your Headlights. Ezine Articles. 20 October 2006. http://www.ezinearticles.com/?how-to-fix-and-repai r-your-headlights/
How to Fix a Burned-Out Headlight. eHow.com. 20 October 2006. http://www.ehow.com/how_112686_fix-burned-headligh t.html/
Poorly lit, clogged headlights or ones that do not work at all can lead to precarious driving conditions in bad weather and at night.
Tools
1. Screwdriver
2. New Halogen bulb or headlight
Determine the Problem
Broken headlights can be the result of many factors, so determine the problem before changing one or both headlights. Generally speaking, there are three causes for broken or impaired car headlights: burned out bulbs from electrical problems, water-clogged lenses, and cloudiness or yellowing of the lens.
An easy way to determine the problem is by turning the headlights on to find out which headlight has burned out. If you notice additional problems, you need to take a closer look at the bulb. On many new car models, the bulb unscrews out of the back of the headlight lens. Older car models with glass headlights can be singularly replaced with a new headlight. Take a look at the bulb and the headlight. Does it look burned out, is the headlight yellowing or is there water in the lens?
How to Replace a Burnt out Bulb
1. If the problem is burned out bulb, installation is easy. Remove the bulb by unscrewing it from the headlight – as described above - and place the screws in a safe place so you do not lose them.
2. Remove the headlight and unplug it.
3. Replace it with a new bulb, but be careful not to touch the glass with your fingers. The oil and dirt on your hands can cause the bulb to burn out quicker than expected.
4. Screw the headlight back on.
5. Check to make sure the new headlight works by turning the light on. If the headlight still does not work, there may be an electrical problem and will need to addressed by a mechanic.
How to Fix and Replace Clogged Lenses
1. Water leakage in the lens is easy to repair. To determine if the lens is caused by a crack or hole, remove the entire headlight and allow the water to drain out. If it is a newer plastic lens, drill a small hole in it to drain out the water.
2. If the leak is caused by crack or small hole, use urethane, a clear sealant, to seal it and then replace the headlight.
3. Lenses with large holes or extensive cracks should be replaced entirely.
How to Replace Yellow or Cloudy Lenses
To repair lenses, you have one of two options. You can use a restorer or cleaner kit to restore the lens to optimum clarity or you can replace the lens itself.
Sources:
Mallie, David. How to Fix and Repair Your Headlights. Ezine Articles. 20 October 2006. http://www.ezinearticles.com/?how-to-fix-and-repai r-your-headlights/
How to Fix a Burned-Out Headlight. eHow.com. 20 October 2006. http://www.ehow.com/how_112686_fix-burned-headligh t.html/
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