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With all the different relays that a car has, it can seem like a full time job to keep an eye on them all. One of the most important safety features that a car has is properly working headlights. Some cars have headlights...

With all the different relays that a car has, it can seem like a full time job to keep an eye on them all. One of the most important safety features that a car has is properly working headlights. In some vehicles, the headlights fold down and out of sight, after which the vehicle is switched off. For this type of system to work, the headlight dummy relay must be working properly. The relay cuts off power to the headlight motor when the vehicle is turned off, allowing the headlights to fold. Every time the car's headlights turn on, a closing relay must be energized to maintain the required power flow.

Relays and switches in a car are designed to last the life of the car, but in some cases, this is not the case. There are many different things that can cause a relay to become unusable. As a rule, the heat and moisture generated by the engine starts to cause corrosion or rust. The presence of rust or corrosion on the relay terminals can prevent the connection it can make.

If the relay does not make good contact, then the headlight closure will be almost impossible to work properly. In some cases, the reason the relay is not working is due to internal wiring problems. Whatever is causing problems with the headlight relay, fixing it as a matter of urgency should be a top priority. Here are some warning signs you may notice when it's time to replace this relay:

• Doors on headlights do not close when power is turned off
• The closing relay does its job only occasionally.
• Doors with headlights won't open at all

Solving this problem in a hurry will make it easier for you to keep your headlights working. You don't want to be stuck with broken headlights. It's best to leave your headlight bulb replacement to the professionals because of the many mistakes that exist when trying to do it yourself.