Is it easy to change a light bulb in a car?
Quality incandescent lamps have a relatively long, but still limited service life. When a light bulb burns out, it is useful for the driver to replace it on their own, quickly and in place. The laws of some countries require that the most important lights can be replaced even by lay people at any time. Following a few simple tips, replacing a light bulb will not be problematic.
1 Tip
The first step is to determine the exact type of light bulb. Today there are more than ten types of incandescent lamps. The names of some of them may be similar. For example, the HB4 model is different from the normal H4 bulb. Dual headlights use two types of bulbs. One is for high beams and the other is for low beams.
2 Tip
When replacing a lamp, you need to carefully look - it is marked. This information can be found in the vehicle's instruction manual. The same goes for taillights. Typically 4W or 5W lamps are used and the difference can be significant.
The non-standard one can heat up more than the usual one, because of which the board on which it is installed can overheat, and the contact in one of the tracks will disappear. Sometimes a non-standard lamp can cause a malfunction in the electrical system. Contacts may also not match.
3 Tip
It is imperative to carefully read the operating instructions. It indicates not only the type of light bulbs, but also the way to replace them. In different cars, they have their own characteristics.
Before replacing the lamp, turn off the light and deactivate the ignition. This will avoid possible damage to the electrical system.
4 Tip
A problem never comes alone - with light bulbs, this means that after replacing one, another may follow. That's why it's good to replace both incandescent bulbs at the same time. After replacing the lamp, be sure to check the correct operation of the lighting system.
5 Tip
As for xenon headlights, it is better to provide their replacement for professionals. Modern gas bulbs operate on high voltage. Depending on the type of headlights, it can reach 30 volts. For this reason, experts advise changing the bulb only in a specialized service.
6 Tip
In some cars, replacing a conventional light bulb requires more effort and time. For example, to replace the Volkswagen Golf 4 headlight bulb (depending on the engine), you must remove the entire front with the bumper grill and radiator to get to the headlights. In the next generations of the model, the problem is solved. Before buying a used car, it’s worth seeing how complicated a standard procedure can be, such as replacing light bulbs.
7 Tip
And finally - put in the trunk an additional set of bulbs. Thanks to this, on the road it will be possible to quickly solve the problem with a blown light without attracting the attention of police officers.
Safety measures
Professionals use glasses during the procedure. Halogen lamps inside have high pressure. When a part is depressurized (glass is broken), the pieces will fly apart at a high speed and may injure the eyes. If you pull strongly on the bulb of a defective lamp, it may be damaged. Strong force can also damage the mount in the headlamp.
It is especially important not to touch the glass of the bulbs - they should be installed only holding on to the metal ring at the base. Even a small amount of sweat on the fingers is converted by the heat of the glass into an aggressive mixture, which can lead to breakage or damage to the headlight reflectors.
Questions and answers:
What does the blue badge in the car mean? It depends on the car model. For example, on some dashboards, when the high beam is turned on, a blue icon lights up, on others, when the ignition is turned on on a cold ICE, such a sign will glow.
What does a yellow light in a car mean? In yellow, the on-board auto system notifies of the need to carry out service, diagnostics or pay attention to an early breakdown of the unit or system.
What does the yellow exclamation mark on the dashboard mean? In many cars, a yellow exclamation signal stands next to some system or unit (for example, ABS or an engine), which indicates the need to check this system or its breakdown.
