Why do car lights need to be replaced?

A car’s lights need replacing once in a while because not doing so makes them prone to dimming or burning out, which can severely affect your ability to see the road. Choosing the most appropriate bulb for your vehicle and dismantling the headlight so you can replace the old one may be tricky to do at home though, so you’re usually better off letting Ike Honda’s professionals do it for you. Here’s all you need to know about your headlights and how often they need replacing.

How often do car lights need to be replaced?

The rate at which car lights need to be replaced depends on several factors. The most influential factor is naturally how often you use them, as drivers who drive with their headlights on during the day or who take regular nighttime road trips tend to need more frequent headlight replacements than those who rarely drive with their lights on.

Besides their usage, other factors can affect the light bulb’s lifespan, such as potential factory defects and issues with the car’s electrical system. It’s, therefore, more important to be able to notice signs that your headlights need replacing than trying to predict their lifespan.

How do you know when headlights need replacing?

There are several warning signs that your headlights need replacing. Some of the most common are:

• Dimming light: The most common sign that your headlights are nearing the end of their life cycle and need replacing is their reduced ability to light up the road in front of you. Although this may be difficult to notice, as the dimming process can be a slow one, when you realize that your viewing distance at night isn’t what it used to be, you should consider visiting a car service and having your headlights replaced. Before you do, though, make sure you take it to a carwash, as your dim lights may simply be dirty.
• Flickering light: If the light coming out of one or both of your headlights is uneven, it’s a sign that your headlights may soon stop working altogether. Just like with regular home light bulbs, the reason why your headlight bulbs are flickering is usually that their filament was either damaged by a sudden movement or has simply worn out. However, the issue may also be a faulty electrical connection, another argument for choosing a professional car service to check and change your headlights.
• One light goes out: If you drive around in decently-lit areas, it may take you a while to notice one of your headlights going out. When you do, though, you need to take it as a clear sign that both your lights need replacing. Although you may be tempted to only change the faulty bulb, your headlights were probably installed in pairs, so one of them going out typically means that the other will soon follow. Even if it won’t go out completely, chances are that it would be dimmer than the new one, which can affect your visibility.
• Frequently blown fuses: Old headlights may also affect the lifespan of your fuses. When they blow, however, the cause is usually a wiring or electrical problem. A visit to the shop will definitely reveal the source of the issue.

Why do car lights burn out?

Besides extended usage, some of the other reasons for your car lights burning out may be:

• The car’s vibration: Halogen light bulbs have very thin filaments that light up when heated. Just as with regular light bulbs, frequent vibration can, over time, loosen and even break the filament, burning out the bulb. Besides unavoidable vibration from bumps in the road, small faults in how your headlight’s structure is installed or how the bulb is mounted inside can amplify the vibrations and speed up the degradation process.
• Extreme temperatures: Your headlights operate at high temperatures, but the heat also negatively influences their lifespan. For this reason, the more you keep them on the faster they burn out. However, cold temperatures can also affect their lifespan. Cold weather, especially when accompanied by vibration from the road, can make your car’s light bulbs more prone to damage.
• Water leaks: Water definitely shouldn’t be close to electricity and a leak in the headlight structure can cause precisely that. Any water that comes into contact with the wiring can cause a short-circuit, while water that touches the hot bulb may cause it to explode. If you see any signs of condensation inside the headlight, take it as a clear indication that it’s not properly sealed.

How long do car lights usually last?

Your car lights’ expected lifespan greatly depends on their type. The most common categories of headlights are:

• Tungsten-halogen: They’re the most common type and consist of a tungsten-halogen filament mixed with halogen gas to enhance its brightness. They typically last between 500 and 1,000 hours.
• Xenon: They are the most commonly encountered high-intensity discharge bulbs, meaning that they use gas instead of a traditional filament. Besides being brighter and having a lower operating temperature compared to halogen lights, they also tend to last much longer, as their average lifespan is around 10,000 hours.
• LED: Short for light-emitting diodes, LED headlights are even more advanced than xenon, in the sense that they not only last longer but also run at cooler temperatures and require less power to function. Their average lifespan is around 30,000 hours, which would be equivalent to around three and a half years of continuous driving, so if they malfunction you can safely assume that something else is at fault.

Although we tend to take our cars’ headlights for granted, it’s only when they don’t function correctly or at all when we realize how crucial they are to our driving safety and pleasure. Replacing your headlights in due time can help you keep them running as they should throughout your car’s lifetime and letting a professional do it for you ensures that no other issues will affect their lifespan. Schedule an auto service appointment with Ike Honda today and make sure your car lights are functioning properly!