Replacing light bulbs - we will not play pseudo-xenons

Each driver can independently ensure that the headlights of his car shine properly. A pair of light bulbs costs several zlotys, and replacing them is not difficult. As long as you remember a few rules.

Replacing a light bulb in a car headlight is simple and does not take much time, but only if you do it in good light and there is a lot of space in the engine compartment. Unfortunately, the light bulbs burn out mainly at night, most often in a secluded place, and then the driver has a problem. That is why changing light bulbs should be practiced in advance and make sure that you have spare ones with you. Many drivers underestimate this problem, so you can find cars with only one headlight on, especially in autumn and winter. Just like on a motorcycle. Such driving is not only illegal, but also extremely dangerous.

React early

The driver may notice that the bulbs need to be replaced before they burn out. According to Miron Galinsky, a diagnostician at Masa, with prolonged use of light bulbs, their fibers are deformed, which makes them shine worse. - It is enough to drive up to the wall and notice that the line between light and shadow is fuzzy. Then you should be ready to change the light bulbs,” Galinsky explains.

In a crowded place and blindly

In most cars, you don't need to use any tools to change the headlight bulb. Your hands are enough. The problem, however, is that in many modern cars, the engine compartments are too small to accommodate all the elements that have accumulated under the hoods of cars in recent years. Therefore, there is not enough free space, including behind the headlights. This means that when you want to change a light bulb, you sometimes have to bend well. Moreover, in many models, the engine compartment is tightly closed with covers and in order to get to the light bulb, they have to be removed. Since there is not enough space, you should be prepared for the fact that the bulb will have to be replaced by touch, as the driver will cover the bulb holder by sticking his hand. Sometimes a flashlight, a mirror, and tongs can help.

The newer the car, the more difficult

In the latest car models, access to the bulbs is often only possible after folding the wheel arch. In others, you need to remove the reflector. It takes time, firstly, tools, and thirdly, some skill. In the rain on the side of the road or in the parking lot at the gas station, such repairs are unlikely to be done. Therefore, it is better to act preventively. And replace light bulbs twice a year (always in pairs) or, at worst, once every 12 months, for example, during technical inspection. If the whole operation in our machine is complicated, it is better to entrust it to a mechanic. After replacement, it is always necessary to check the correct installation of the bulb. It is also necessary to check the lamp settings at the diagnostic station. The cost is really small, but the benefits are very large, because we provide good visibility and do not blind other road users.

Behind is easier

Replacing the taillight bulbs is a little easier, and most bulbs can be accessed quite easily after partially removing the boot trim. If we replace the so-called double filament bulb (one bulb for side and brake lights), pay attention to the correct installation so that the side light does not shine with the same intensity as the brake light. The light bulb has special projections, but many drivers can place them the other way around.

Only certified xenon

In cars of a higher class with more extensive equipment, so-called xenons are installed. They should be replaced by a professional service because they are self-levelling lights. We also advise you not to install this type of lighting yourself, because it must be approved and it will be difficult to get it in practice (for example, due to the aforementioned self-leveling system). Also, do not install xenon filaments (so-called pseudo-xenons) in conventional headlights. “This practice does not comply with the rules and can lead to a fine and the loss of a registration certificate,” recalls Miron Galinsky, a diagnostician.

Only branded lamps

It is best to replace light bulbs in pairs, because there is a good chance that soon after the first burns out, the second will need to be replaced as well. Always install the same bulbs that were previously in the headlight (usually H1, H4 or H7 bulbs at the front). Before buying, you should check in the instructions or on the website of the lamp manufacturer that fits the headlights of a particular model. It is worth paying another dozen or several tens of zlotys and buying branded goods. The cheapest ones, sometimes sold in supermarkets, are usually of poor quality and will only last a few weeks. Especially in the dipped beam, which is on all year round. For several years, lamps with increased brightness have been available on the market. Thanks to the changed color of the glass used in them, they give a brighter light, more like daylight. They are more expensive than conventional light bulbs and will be especially useful for drivers who drive a lot at night, especially outside the city. As with conventional light bulbs, they must also be approved.

Always clean headlights

Remember that even the best light bulbs will not shine well if the headlights are dirty or damaged. Lampshades must be kept in perfect condition. They can not be leaked, tinted or corrected by the so-called eyebrow. And most importantly, they must be clean.