Many car accidents happen at night due to reduced visibility. Your headlights are an important safety feature once the sun goes down. If you notice any of these four signs of failing bulbs, don’t hesitate to visit your nearest Chrysler dealer for a pair of new headlights.
Time for New Headlights? Visit Your Indianapolis Chrysler Dealer
Dimming Light
As they near the end of their lifespan, both high-intensity discharge (HID) and light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs tend to lose a great deal of their brightness. If you notice you can’t see quite as far as before, it might be time for replacements.
The third type of headlight bulb – halogen bulbs – don’t dim much. Instead, they flicker and then go out all at once. This is because of how tungsten particles recycle inside the filament.
Hazy Light
If the light from your headlights seems quite hazy, the culprit might be dimming bulbs, but it might also be damage to the acrylic headlight surface. Exposure to UV rays in sunlight can oxidize the plastic over time, causing them to haze over.
Thousands of tiny scratches from road debris have the same effect over enough time. You can protect the acrylic somewhat with car wax or automotive sealant, just as you protect your car’s bodywork.
Flickering Light
If you’re using halogen bulbs, then any flickering means the filament is broken and failing. That bulb will have to be replaced.
With LED or HID bulbs, flickering tends to mean there’s loose wiring or some other disruption to the voltage. Halogen bulbs are less likely to flicker in this case as the filament that creates the glow stays hot enough to cover small gaps in the voltage.
Blowing Fuse
As some headlight bulbs fade, especially lower-quality bulbs, they create an unsteady draw on the battery’s voltage. This volatility can cause the headlight fuse to blow. If this happens a few times, your headlights probably need to go.
The Lifespan of Different Bulb Types
It’s a good idea to know which type of headlight bulb you’re using. Halogen bulbs have the shortest lifespan by far at only around 500 to 1,000 miles of usage.
HID bulbs last anywhere from 2,000 to 8,000 miles, depending on the quality. LED bulbs can last an impressive 30,000 of usage, which can sometimes be the entire lifespan of your car.
Upgrade Your Bulbs at Your Local Dealership
With many modern car models, you can have your headlights upgraded to a superior type of bulb at your nearest dealership. If you have LED bulbs installed, the money and hassle saved over the decades ahead will usually far outweigh the cost of upgrading.
Have your headlights checked and replaced today at Tom O’Brien Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram – Indianapolis. We offer a wide range of vehicles and top-notch customer service, whatever your vehicle needs may be.
Connect with us
