National Car Care Month Tip: How to Maintain and replace Your Headlights, Brake Lights, Tail Lights

Apr 10, 2024

It’s National Car Care Month! All month long during April, we’re sharing our tips and pointers for car care basics so you can ensure your vehicle is running smoothly and maintained in top condition for years to come. Today’s topic is about headlights, turn signals, brake lights, and parking lights!

Sometimes, a burned-out headlight or tail light will not be the most obvious when you get behind the wheel. You can prevent accidents or even traffic tickets by performing regular routine maintenance checks on your vehicle’s lights at least once a month.

Start by parking your vehicle in front of a flat surface. Turn on your vehicle’s lights and take a walk around the vehicle. Ensure that both headlights and both tail lights are working properly and are clear. Next, enable your turn signal and walk around the front and back of your vehicle to ensure they’re working on both sides and front/rear. To check your brake lights, ask a friend or neighbor to stand behind the vehicle as you tap the brakes. If you notice any bulbs are dim or have gone out, replace them straightaway. If you notice the vehicle’s lights are flickering and fading, or not lighting up at all, this may be a sign of an inferior bulb or a dead bulb. When replacing your headlights, brake lights, and tail lights, ensure that you’re investing in high-quality bulb. You’ll want something that has longevity, dependability, and clear visibility with consistent light output. Check your vehicle’s owner manual for specifications of which type of bulb is recommended.

Visual inspection for quality and clearness should be a weekly once-over to ensure the headlight casings are clear, show no signs of cracks or chips, and are not clouded or foggy. If you see any excessive dirt or grime buildup, applying a headlight cleaning solution or a simple gentle soap and water solution should clear them up. Maintain your vehicle’s clear, clean headlights by doing a routine cleaning with a gentle car-safe cleanser or a solution of vinegar and baking soda using a soft microfiber cloth and/or gentle scrub brush; the process should take about 10 to 15 minutes on average for well-maintained vehicles. Severe oxidation and fogginess may require lengthier sessions If the issue is more severe, you can purchase a home defogging kit or find some online home remedies for defogging headlights. If your headlights appear cracked or have scratches and chips, give your vehicle service center a call to request a replacement by your trusted local mechanic.

If you have done all of the above and replacing it with a new bulb has not solved the issue, there may be another problem in play. Sometimes, the issue may be with a fuse, a headlight relay, a headlight switch, a dimmer switch, or even a fault with the electrical wiring. Most of these issues require the adept hand of an experienced vehicle mechanic. To avoid additional damage or even an accident or traffic ticket, you’ll want to make an appointment with your local service center to get it checked out.

Remember: Always pay attention to your vehicle’s alerts and audible warnings! Leaving your headlights or signals on can potentially drain your vehicle’s battery at a fairly rapid rate. Make sure that you double check and turn your vehicle’s lights of when you park your vehicle! And, of course, remember the key safety phrase: Wipers on, Lights on for clear visibility and safety in inclement weather.

If you’re in need of some troubleshooting for your vehicle’s headlights, give our service center a call here at Classic Auto Body Shop of Waukegan. Our trusted service professionals will have your vehicle back on the road in no time, and will gladly assist you with repairing and replacing headlights to keep you safe.