What car lamps to choose? How to change a light bulb in a car?

When moving from an old car to a new model, it's hard not to be surprised by the huge leap in technology. However, there are situations when this transition can cause difficulties for the user. One of them is the need to replace car light bulbs. We will advise which light bulbs to choose and whether you can change them yourself.

Regardless of whether you are a young driver or an experienced driver, you can choose car bulbs for the first time - after all, until now, for example, the service has been involved in this. If you want to replace it yourself this time, you definitely need to know the types of car bulbs; or at least the most popular. This will make it easier for you to find the right model for your vehicle (and lighting type).

However, before discussing them, it is worth noting that the search should always begin with an examination of the needs of your car. What does it mean? Consult your vehicle owner's manual to find out which type of bulb is suitable for that type of bulb. These elements differ, among other things, in the way they are assembled; do not use the wrong light bulb. Different lamps should be used for the main headlights, for the parking lights and for the direction indicators. And although the bulbs are divided by purpose, the user will have a choice of at least several types.

What types of car light bulbs are there?

Since this division consists of many branches, it is worth pointing out the most popular types of light bulbs of each "kind". So what is it:

• Halogen lamps (with H symbol):

Symbol	Mok (Watt)	performance (light)	Durability (times)	fate (lamp type)
H1	55 W	1550 lm	330-550	road, pass
H2	55 70-W	1800 lm	250-300h	road, passing light, fog
H3	55 W	1450 lm	300-650	road, passing light, fog
H4	55 W	1000 lm	350-700	two threads: road and low beam or road and fog
H7	55 W	1500 lm	330-550	road, pass
HB4 (improved H7)	51 W	1095 lm	330-550	road, pass

• Xenon lamps (with D symbol):

Symbol	Mok (Watt)	performance (light)	Durability (times)	fate (lamp type)
D2S	35 W	3000 lm	2000-25000	Дорога
D2R	35 W	3000 lm	2000-25000	Дорога
D1R	35 W	3000 lm	2000-25000	Дорога

When browsing the car offer, you will undoubtedly also find lamps with the symbol P, W or R. Here, their purpose will be the most important:

Symbol (containing also power)	fate (lamp type)
P21W	Turn signals, rear fog lights, reverse, stop, daytime
PI21V	Clear, rear fog lights, molded turn signals
P21 / 5W	daylight, front position, stop
W2/3 W	optional third brake light
W5W	direction indicators, side, position, additional, position
W16W	turn signals, stop
W21W	Turn Signals, Reverse, Stop, Daytime, Rear Fog Lights
HP24W	casual
R2 45/40W	road, pass
R5W	turn signals, side, reverse, license plate, position
C5W	license plate, car interior

When choosing them, the most important thing will be to check what type of light bulb is currently used with this lamp. Taking, for example, directional lights as shown in the table above, the user can (theoretically) have four different types of bulbs to choose from. However, if the vehicle is currently equipped with a specific R5W engine, it must be purchased at the time of replacement. In the absence of access to the car's instruction manual, the type of bulbs can be checked by removing the non-working ones; the symbol will be embossed on the lid.

Summarizing this point: which light bulb is needed for a given car is determined primarily by the vehicle itself and the type of lamp. So remember to always check its current type and look for a new one according to it.

What to look for when choosing car lamps?

You've determined the type of light bulb you should choose, you filter the results according to it, and you'll still get at least a few of them. What to look for in the next step of choosing the right product?

Undoubtedly, it is worth paying attention to the Kelvin number (K). This is the setting that determines the color temperature. It determines whether the emitted light will be warm (yellow) or cold (closer to blue). The more Kelvin - the warmer, the less - the colder.

It is also worth checking the durability of the light bulbs. In the case of halogen and xenon, we indicated the average strength, but it is easy to see that the difference between the lower and upper limits was sometimes very large (as 350-700 h in the case of H4). Therefore, it is worth paying attention to the operating time indicated by the manufacturer.

How to change a light bulb in a car?

This is a very general question, the answer to which will depend on the year of manufacture of the car, its type and the lamp in which you want to replace the bulb. However, most often it rains in the case of headlights - and we will take them as an example.

First of all, don't forget to replace the bulbs in pairs. If it burned out in the left headlight, and the right one is still working, all the same, in the near future the right one will “fly out”. So it's better not to strain the coming days and replace both in advance.

In many car models, getting inside the headlight itself can be problematic. Especially in the case of newer vehicles, it is very often necessary to remove the bumper, the entire headlight, or even the engine cover. In older cars, you can look into the light bulb by simply lifting the hood and removing the plastic dust cover.

A common element when answering the question of how to change a light bulb in a car, regardless of the age of the car, will be the need to disconnect the electrical connector from the light source. Further, the process depends on the type of lamp:

• passing – remove the bulb from the latch or unlock the metal pin by pressing and turning it,
• position or direction indicators - just unscrew the bulb.

The assembly itself will also be different for this type of lamp. Sometimes it’s enough just to screw the light bulb in, sometimes it can be gently pressed into the latches so as not to deform them. What remains the same is the way the bulb is transported. Remember not to touch the vial (glass) with your fingers. They will leave prints that, under the influence of temperature, will dim the bulbs on the glass, thereby reducing its life.

While some cars may require a mechanic to replace the light bulb due to difficult access to the headlights, sometimes you can do it yourself. If you want to check, without looking in the car, whether it is worth starting at all in your case, you can enter the make, model and year of the car into the search engine with a request for the process of changing the light bulb. Then you will find out whether you can handle it yourself or is it better to pay for the service on the site.

You can find more practical tips in the "Tutorials" section of AvtoTachki Passions. See also our offer of electronics for motorists!