Replacing Bulbs in Your Car
When you think of automobile maintenance, you think about the tasks your mechanic can take care of for you, right? Whether it is something simple like checking the oil in your engine and airing up your tires or something that requires effort like getting your engine overhauled, you think of those kinds of tasks when the need to do a check-up of your car comes up. Most people keep the necessary tools and spares around to perform those simple tasks that need to be performed regularly, but very few people keep spare bulbs to their cars in case one of those go out.So what do you do when you need help replacing bulbs in your car? Read on to find out.
Your Lights Will Go Out
Like everything else that is part of your car, the light bulbs employed by your vehicle to help you see at night will need replacing, and there are a lot of them: head lights, tail lights, brake lights, fog lights, and more.
Replacing the bulbs is not as difficult or complicated as you may think, and most of the effort actually lies in preparation - making sure you have what you need.
The Art of Replacement
When one of your essential bulbs do finally die (and let's face it - all of your light bulbs are essential), it is time to replace the bulb. Here are the five steps you need to follow while doing so:
- Knowing your light bulbs. You have to know exactly what bulbs to get to put in those sockets and light up. This bit of information is in your owner's manual, and if you have misplaced that a quick trip to Google or a local auto parts dealer can provide you with the information you need. If you already have the bulbs you need before any problems arise, then you have already completed step one.
- Take the light dome cover off. The actual details behind this vary from car to car, but most are held on by screws. Simply unscrewing the cover to the mount and pulling it off is all you need to do most of the time.
- Get the old bulb out. This should be easy. Make sure that no power is being fed to the bulb in question, and if you've used the car recently let the bulb cool down before you actually go in and change it. There is no need to get yourself shocked while taking care of this.
Note: It's a good idea to go ahead and replace both lights if you're replacing one that is part of a pair, such as a head light. While the other one may still be working now, both bulbs should be around the same age, meaning that with one already gone, the other will soon follow. Plus, an old, used bulb will be dimmer than your shiny new one, since most bulbs grow dimmer as they reach the end of their lifespans.
- Put the new bulb(s) in. After you've got them securely in place, test them to make sure they are working properly. If they are not, double check how well you have them in. If they are...
- Replace the cover(s). Make sure all screws are back where they belong, and that the cover is secure before you put that screw driver away.
That's not so bad, right? That will be all you need to do to replace your light bulb in your car, then you can cruise around for a while without having to worry about being able to see for a while.
A Final Note
It's in your best interest to ask about or look up and see how long these lights are supposed to last on average. If you find yourself replacing you tail lights every month or so, for example, it may indicate a problem.