It’s not a secret that better headlights can help increase visibility farther down the road, which in turn can help drivers feel safer and more secure while driving at night. An automobile’s headlights and brake lights are one of the most important exterior features.
The headlights provide the main illumination for night driving, while brake lights are important signals to other drivers when you’re stopping or slowing down. Because of these reasons, it’s important that these particular sets of lights always be in working condition whenever operating your car or any other vehicle.
Fortunately, headlight maintenance is generally easy, and even its major repairs don’t take too long. Here are some tips for headlight or brake light care for your vehicle:
You must check the following tips for getting the most out of your headlights.
Do a vehicle walkaround
Check to see if your headlights and taillights are working properly. Also, check the headlight lenses for haze and observe how bright they are.
Replace before burnout
Headlights can dim with the time so replacement before burnout is a great idea. All too often, vehicles can be found traveling on dark roads with a burned-out headlight, posing a risk to both the driver and others on the road. If a vehicle owner cannot remember when the last time headlights were changed, it may be time for replacements now.
Always swap in pairs
It’s very important to always replace headlights in sets of two. Since headlights dim over their lifetime, if you paired a new bulb with an old bulb it will create an uneven field of vision for drivers, which can be a major distraction on the road and can cause some accidents.
Invest in high-performance headlights
If there is an object on the road, high-performance headlights can help you react sooner and keep you safe. Any upgrade above a basic headlight replacement can help to create a better, safer experience for the driver at night.
Consider DIY
Changing a vehicle’s headlight bulb is a simple process that doesn’t require a mechanic or service professional you can do this by yourself. In fact, various online guides and resources are available to help consumers swap out headlight bulbs in a matter of minutes.
You can also consult the vehicle’s owner’s manual for bulb/headlight replacement procedures, needed tools, and safety precautions. Always wear safety glasses and work gloves too.
Restoration as an option
The average age of vehicles on the road these days is more than 11 years old. Millions of these vehicles are having faded, cloudy plastic headlight lenses. The cloudiness is caused by degradation from the sun’s bright rays which reduces and diffuses the light going through the lenses, making it difficult to see while driving in the dark.
Consider getting DIY restoration kits that restore clarity and remove the hazy yellow appearance on headlight lenses. As a bonus, ensure these kits also provide a UV Block Clear Coat, which protects headlights from UV ray damage, the number one reason of headlights becoming dangerous. A good restoration kit can enable up to three times more light to shine on the road from the same, old cloudy headlight.
Keep it clean
Ensure all vehicle lights, including headlights, taillights and turn signals, are clean and free of snow, ice, and debris. If the headlight or brake lights are caked with dirt or mud, it can seriously damage the lights’ effectiveness. After cleaning and restoring the lights, check again to see if the cloudiness is still persisted so, it may be time to replace. Over time, the plastic that makes up your headlights will degrade and cloud over, meaning it’s time for a new set of lights.