Perhaps your headlight is burned out and you don’t have time to take your car to a mechanic. That’s one reason to repair is yourself. If you are out driving at night, you will probably be stopped by your local police officer. No one wants to get pulled over by the police at night. Perhaps you are just one of those handy types. This is one of those things that is reasonable to tackle yourself. Headlight bulb replacement can be easy, but there are things you should know.

The Truth Behind Headlight Bulb Replacement

What you might have heard: “Changing headlight bulbs is a snap!”… “You don’t need any tools” or “Headlights are cheap and easy to replace”

The truth: In the past, replacing headlight bulbs meant having to swap out the entire headlamp assembly. Thankfully for cars today this is no longer the case – Car manufacturers have been using halogen bulbs that are separately replaceable for many years.

Changing headlamp bulbs is often straightforward. On most cars you simply push and twist and it is out, but for some cars you still have to remove the headlamp assembly. Usually there are quick release tabs or buttons and you need to know where these are located and how to get them to work so you don’t break anything.

More good news: You can find a pair of headlight bulbs selling for just $10 to $80 on Amazon. I usually just buy from Amazon because they carry a huge collection of bulbs for almost all vehicle models and makes… plus their shipping is both fast and free.

How to Change Headlight Bulb

1. Pop open your engine compartment hood and locate the bulb holder at the back of the headlight. You will see a power connector (consisting of three wires) held by a metal clip, plastic catch or screw cap. If there is a dust cover protecting the power connector, remove it first.

2. Disconnect the power connector. Metal clip: lift it up then pull it out, Plastic catch: Press down on the lever with your thumb and pull, Screw cap: Just unscrew it

3. Remove the old headlight bulb from its socket

4. Take out the new bulb from its packaging. Do not touch the glass surface of the bulb with your bare hands during headlight bulb replacement – If the the oil on your hands gets onto the glass surface, it may cause the bulb to heat up and burn out. It’s recommended that you clean the new bulb with alcohol wipes before installing it.

5. Hold the new bulb by its base and insert it into the back of the headlight. Proceed to reconnect the power connector. Finally turn on your headlights to make sure everything is working.

If you can’t figure out how to get to the headlight area, then you will need vehicle-specific instructions for headlight bulb replacement. If you just start taking things apart, you could end up with a pile of parts and not remember where they all go.

Lim’s Auto Body is a full service auto body and mechanical repair shop locally owned and operated in Largo, Florida. For more information, go to our web site www.limsautobody.com or call (727) 422-3232.

For most people, that is a frightening thought – your car not starting. Of course it depends a lot on the circumstances. Are you on the way to a big meeting, or out late at night? What should you do when your vehicle won’t start? This frustrating experience can put a wrench in your day. Over the years, cars have become much more reliable. But with so many moving parts, even the most well maintained vehicles are occasionally temperamental. Assuming you’re not a mechanic, let’s take a look at the most common situations and how to deal with them.

You Turn The Key – Nothing Happens Listen to your car. Even though it has betrayed you by not starting, it’s still considerate enough to give you hints as to why. If you turn the key and the engine doesn’t crank at all, things may not be all that bad (believe it or not). The problem most likely lies with the battery, especially in cold weather. When your car responds with silence or clicking: • Turn on the car lights. If they’re dim, you may have poor battery connections or a dead battery. Did you leave your headlights on last night or leave an interior light on? It happens to the best of us. • Tighten and clean the battery connections and try again. They could just be corroded or loose. This can be done with baking soda, water and an old toothbrush • Jump start the car. If this works, immediately have your battery tested, especially if it’s old.

We’d be more than happy to test your battery for free and can replace it if you need a new one. Things could still be worse; you may have a bad starter or alternator. Unfortunately at this point, you’ll need a tow truck and a mechanic. If the Car Cranks But Doesn’t Start. Now What? If the starter turns, but the engine won’t start, the problem can be much harder to diagnose. In the winter, one common problem is a frozen fuel line (yes some outlying areas near the desert get that cold!), so be sure to always keep your fuel tank half full. If water accumulates in your fuel line, the condensation will freeze and your car won’t start. If you’ve been driving in wet conditions, wet spark plugs or other engine components can prevent your car from starting. If you still have no success, you’ll probably want to turn the problem over to your trusty mechanic here at Lim’s Auto Body. Bottom line: If your auto won’t start, the problem is either spark or gas. Preventative maintenance and preparation can be the difference between a car that starts versus one that becomes the world’s biggest paperweight.

Lim’s Auto Body is a full service auto body and mechanical repair shop locally owned and operated in Largo, Florida. For more information, go to our web site www.limsautobody.com or call (727) 422-3232.