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 | Illustrated: BMW Headlight |
Headlights - Taillights: The lights on your car are of vital importance. They are one of the most crucial safety items, just like the brakes or steering system. While having one light such as a taillight or headlight burn out won't mean you'll lose control of your car, it's still important in terms of your being able to see where you're going and others being able to see you.
The inspection of vehicle lighting begins with the periodic checking of operation. Of course, headlights are easy. For taillights, you might need someone to stand behind the vehicle while you operate the running lights, brake lights and turn signals. You can also check for the function of these items by backing the vehicle up near a window and looking at the reflection through the back window. Your car's owner's manual is one of the most important tools for replacing vehicle lighting. You don't need to run off to the dealership just to replace a taillight, headlight or any other light in your car. Merely take a look at the manual, and it will tell you how to access the lights and the type of replacement to acquire. Most auto parts stores stock a full line of vehicle lights.
|  | Illustrated: BMW Taillight | If a taillight (rear of the car) or brake light (almost always the same bulb) isn't working, you need to access it for replacement. On some cars, you can get to the taillights just by pulling the socket out from inside the trunk. The Ford Focus hatchback, for example, has one screw holding the light housing in place on the outside. It's accessible by opening the tailgate.
To access the bulb in the housing, simply turn the bulb socket counterclockwise as far as possible and pull it out of the housing. At this point you can inspect the bulb and see if it's burned out. If the filament is broken, then the bulb needs to be replaced. To remove the bulb from the socket, hold the socket with one hand and pull the bulb out with the other. Some sockets require that you turn the bulb to remove it. This type of setup has notches in the socket, and the bulb is keyed with tabs on the base of the bulb so it fits in the socket only one way. Most newer vehicles, however, are simply a plug-in setup. | | Accessing headlights (front of the car) is even easier. In fact, changing a headlight in your car or truck isn't that much different from replacing a light bulb in your home. Most of the time there are no tools required. However there are occasions where a screw driver is needed. Other than that it's just a matter of fiddling around and making sure the light is in it's right position, for it's optimum performance and setting. Access to the headlights is from under the hood. The plastic bulb cover rotates counterclockwise and comes off in your hand. | |
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