Frequently Asked Questions on How to Change Car Bulbs
There comes a time where you will need to either upgrade of replace your car bulbs. This could be your sidelights, your headlights, your indicators, your brake lights and so on. In this case, you have to know which bulbs you need and you they fit. This can be challenging to say the very least. Of course, you can decide to simply take your vehicle to a garage and have it done for you, but this is hugely expensive, since you will be paying premium rates plus profit on both parts and labour.
It is actually possible to change your bulbs yourself, so long as you have the right tools and knowledge. You could save a ton of money doing this, which is always a benefit. So, let's look at some of the questions you may need to have answered.
Which Bulbs Do I Need?
Check your manual to see which bulbs are recommended. If you no longer own the manual, you could check Haynes, or you could go online. There are some fantastic websites dedicated to car maintenance, and you should be able to find what you need simply by entering the make, model and age of your car.
Should I always Replace Bulbs in Pairs?
You are under no legal obligation to do so, but it is a very good idea. First of all, if you always replace them in pairs, when one goes you know the other one will go pretty soon as well. Secondly, the performance on bulbs does start to go down over their lifetime, so if you replace just one, they won't we balanced or equal. This may seem trivial but can actually be incredibly distracting and thereby dangerous.
When I Change the Bulb, Can I Touch the Glass?
If you have halogen or xenon bulbs, you should never touch the glass. Your skin is full of natural oils that leave a film on the bulb. This creates hotspots and can lead to early failure in the bulb. Hence, wear latex gloves when you change your bulbs. Indicator bulbs, brake lights or bulbs on the number plate are not as sensitive.
How Do I Know if Bulbs Are of Good Quality?
Bulbs all look the same, regardless of who has made them. However, their quality can be very different. Hence, you should only purchase bulbs that have an OEM standard, which proves that the standards used in manufacturing are the same as those specified by the actual manufacturer.
It is actually possible to change your bulbs yourself, so long as you have the right tools and knowledge. You could save a ton of money doing this, which is always a benefit. So, let's look at some of the questions you may need to have answered.
Which Bulbs Do I Need?
Check your manual to see which bulbs are recommended. If you no longer own the manual, you could check Haynes, or you could go online. There are some fantastic websites dedicated to car maintenance, and you should be able to find what you need simply by entering the make, model and age of your car.
Should I always Replace Bulbs in Pairs?
You are under no legal obligation to do so, but it is a very good idea. First of all, if you always replace them in pairs, when one goes you know the other one will go pretty soon as well. Secondly, the performance on bulbs does start to go down over their lifetime, so if you replace just one, they won't we balanced or equal. This may seem trivial but can actually be incredibly distracting and thereby dangerous.
When I Change the Bulb, Can I Touch the Glass?
If you have halogen or xenon bulbs, you should never touch the glass. Your skin is full of natural oils that leave a film on the bulb. This creates hotspots and can lead to early failure in the bulb. Hence, wear latex gloves when you change your bulbs. Indicator bulbs, brake lights or bulbs on the number plate are not as sensitive.
How Do I Know if Bulbs Are of Good Quality?
Bulbs all look the same, regardless of who has made them. However, their quality can be very different. Hence, you should only purchase bulbs that have an OEM standard, which proves that the standards used in manufacturing are the same as those specified by the actual manufacturer.
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