A burned-out headlight can be a frustrating inconvenience, but it can also be seriously dangerous. Without proper lighting during an evening drive or through a rough thunderstorm, you can be involved in an accident that possibly could have been prevented just by installing new headlights. Strong visibility is essential to safe driving, and knowing the signs of malfunctioning headlights can keep you from finding yourself in a dangerous situation.
Signs That You Need New Headlights
No Lights
The clearest sign that your headlights need immediate replacement is if they won’t illuminate at all. Whether they are manual or automatic, your lights should always have the capability of turning on when the ignition is engaged. Broken headlights must be replaced as soon as possible to ensure the safety of yourself and others on the road. Malfunctioning headlights may also result in a traffic ticket, as working lights are required by law.
Sometimes one headlight will burn out before the other, which can be difficult to notice as your path will just be slightly less illuminated, but still lighted nonetheless. Headlights are typically replaced in pairs because if one light is out then the other is likely to go very soon.
Flickering Lights
It can be very alarming to be driving on the road when your headlights suddenly begin to flicker. While this may not cause you to panic, it is certainly an urgent sign that the bulbs of your headlights are about to die completely. Flickering is a good indicator that the filament of the bulb is damaged or excessively worn. Similar to how a lightbulb in your home may flicker when it ages, your headlight bulbs can too.
If this flickering is ignored then you may end up with completely burnt-out bulbs. Flickering can also be an indicator that your headlight bulbs have a faulty connection, which needs to be addressed as soon as possible.
Dimming Lights
Properly functioning headlight bulbs are bright and clear, much like any light bulb you use in your home. As your vehicle ages, you may find that the clear plastic lens protecting the bulb has become scratched or cloudy with wear. This can affect how much light is being emitted by the headlights but does not necessarily indicate a problem with the bulb itself.
Regularly cleaning these lenses, such as with a car wash, can help prevent this build-up, keeping your visibility high. Headlights do, however, slowly dim as they age, so if your lenses are clear and you are experiencing dimmer light emittance, then it’s time to change out the bulbs. Don’t wait until it becomes difficult to see in front of you on the street or highway to get them fixed.
Come see us today at Rath Auto Resources of Fort Smith if you have a headlight on your vehicle that you aren’t sure about. We are happy to service your vehicle and test your lights to make sure they won’t fail on you anytime soon. Our experienced technicians have the training and equipment to keep your vehicle in top shape.
Image via Pixabay
Connect with us
