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Bulbs and Lamps
Lighting up for safety
Created by Mike BumbeckEven though the activity has been at the core of many jokes, changing a light bulb at home is by most accounts a fairly painless experience. Switch goes to off. A ladder or similar comes out. Out screws the old bulb, and in with the new. Presto! The procedure is largely the same when it comes to automobiles, with the main difference being the different types of light bulbs involved. While tripping over the cat might be the result of a burned out kitchen bulb, staying afoot of automotive bulbs is of vital importance for safe driving. More modern vehicles will tell you when a bulb or lamp has burned out, and even when it's time to file taxes, or mow the lawn. Older vehicles require the driver to occasionally inspect bulb and lamp condition.
Safe Light
Getting pulled over for a burned out license plate light bulb and subsequent fix-it ticket is a minor annoyance compared with the possibility of a serious accident. Safe motoring is the main reason to keep an eye open for burned out bulbs. Besides the obvious outcome of not being able to see the road at night, the other driver can't see you either. A burned out brake light or turn signal lamp can lead to an accident. A one-eyed car or truck moving down the road can appear to oncoming traffic as much narrower motorcycle.
Testing-123-Testing
Checking to see if the bulbs are lighting up the way they should be is an easy task. Having a pal or the kids stand out back while you hit the brake pedal and put on the blinkers might involve some yelling out the window, but it's an otherwise painless experience that can save a heap of trouble. If there's no one around, use a garage door or wall to observe reflections of bulb operation. Check for high beam, low beam, parking lights, and finally left and right blinkers without having to leave the comfort of your own seat.
How Many Motorists Does it Take?
While you may not need a ladder to swap out a burned out brake lamp or dysfunctional dome light, you will need to take a trip to the auto parts store with your vehicle's year, make, and model or the burned out bulb in hand. Most bulbs have a number on the bulb itself, 1157, 1816, 63, 1154 and so on. Simply match up the burned out bulb with the same number and win! A rule of thumb is that the more obscure the bulb, lamp, light, or beam, the greater a chore it will be to replace. Headlamps and brake bulbs usually take just a few minutes. That dash light buried deep behind the in-car entertainment system or the bulb deep up inside the dome may be a bit more involved.
Circuit Breaker
Automotive bulbs and lamps should last a good long time before requiring replacement due to burnout. A bulb that was working fine before going dark has likely simply run out of bright ideas. If bulb or lamp replacement quickly brings another burnout or no light at all, then suspect a problem with either the switch, relay, or a short circuit. A quickly blown fuse is also a sign of a malfunctioning circuit or short. While a dead dome light can be a grocery fumbling annoyance, malfunctioning brake or headlamps can be dangerous. Do not drive a vehicle with malfunctioning head, turn signal, or brake lamps. Follow along with the step-by-steps for some replacement solutions for common bulbs.
Step 1
Modern headlamps use a front facing lens that holds a rear-mounted bulb. Removing and replacing the bulb is a snap, but be careful not to force any engine heat weakened plastic into breaking. Remember that if one bulb has winked out, the other can't be too far behind. Replacing bulbs in pairs is good thinking. Tip: Do not touch the surface of the bulb. Oils or crud on the glass surface can cause bulb failure.
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Step 2
Older style headlights may require a bit more disassembly. A turn or two with a screwdriver onto a few fasteners will usually get things apart in no time. Tip: Some screws may not need to come all the way out. Place tiny screws and fasteners that do come out in a place where they won't get spilled into the grass or dirt. As with more modern equivalents, replacing headlamps in pairs is a good idea.
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Step 3
A burned out dome light isn't a dangerous thing, but can lead to much fumbling in the dark. Older-style domes were simple affairs. Removing the plastic cover giving the dome light its name revealed the burned out bulb in question. More modern dome lights might not be so simple. Removing and replacing bulbs and lamps varies from easy to complex. Light from above can be useful.
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Step 4
Turn signal bulbs are usually of the behind-the-lens location variety. Note that the pins on the bulb base are of different heights. Simply remove the old bulb and twist in the new. Do not try to force it in. Rotate the bulb 180 degrees to get the pins to line up right. Some turn signal bulbs are amber in color.
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Step 5
Like larger, forward facing headlamps, brake lights feature dual filaments. One part of the lamp lights up as a running light. The other part shines bright the instant the brakes are applied. Both of these filaments are crucial to safe driving. Don't forget to check the center or "third" brake lamp for proper operation.
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