Headlight Bulb Replacement
I had a headlight bulb replacement in my Honda Odyssey for the first time. The old bulb lasted fourteen years before it gave up and died. I bought this vehicle new so I have a mental history of the bulb brightness. What I mean about this is that I have watched the bulb brightness diminish over time. When they were new I had more than enough light. I could see down the road for what seemed at least a 1000 feet. They also had good illumination on both sides of the road.
When referring to auto parts, OEM refers to the manufacturer of the original equipment, that is, the parts assembled and installed during the construction of a new vehicle. In contrast, aftermarket parts are those made by companies other than the OEM, which might be installed as replacements after the car comes out of the factory.From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
But before we do that you need to know which bulb will fit your vehicle. So you need to go to a website that will find the model number of the bulb your vehicle uses. A manufacturer’s website is a good place to start to find the right model bulb for your vehicle. Armed with this information you are well on your way to making the first decision on which replacement bulb to buy.
Types of bulbs
Halogen Bulbs
- Basic bulbs(OEM type bulbs) chances are good that you have halogen bulbs.
- They typically lose brightness as they age.
- They last about 1000 hours.
- Lowest price range.
- Contact with human skin can damage the glass.
- Always wear gloves when installing halogen bulbs.
HID Bulbs
- HID bulbs use xenon gas and provide a strong bluish-white light.
- The lifespan of HID bulbs can be up to 2,000 hours.
- Can be costly, up to $50 a bulb.
- They require less power to operate.
- Must upgrade the entire headlight(housing) for HID operation.
- Ensure headlight housing is compliant with European standards, and in the United States, that it is DOT-Compliant.
- HID bulbs create light with more efficiency, resulting in a much brighter beam, could blind other drivers.
LED Bulbs
- They are the energy-efficient choice and best choice for electric cars.
- Direct replacement installation.
- Less susceptible to damage during installation.
- Pay attention to the method of how that heat is dissipated for longer bulb life.
Find the right headlight bulb replacement for you
Different vehicles require different types of headlight bulbs. Some autos require four to six bulbs (high beam, low beam, and fog), while others only require two (high/low beam combo). You have to know which bulb you are looking to replace. How do you tell which bulb you need? This is easily found out by turning on your headlights then going thru the high beam/low beams until you have the burnt out bulb identified. If it’s not a high beam/low beam bulb that is burnt out then try the fog lights if your vehicle is so equipped. Great, you now know the model number and what type of bulb. Now on to the bulb type.
Not buying OEM?
Note: Headlight laws differ between states. To learn more about the specific headlight laws for your state visit your state’s DMV website.
Wattage
If you want more light output, you need more watts. More watts means more light. Find the listed watts on the package. You should see something like 65/55W, this means that the high beam is 65 Watts and the low beam is 55 Watts.
LEDs
LEDs offer the biggest advantage in their efficiency. The OEM halogen light bulb is usually between 50 Watts and 65 Watts. High power LED light bulbs use the same amount of power as a halogen but output more light. So if you’re thinking LED then you need to pay attention to Lumens. This is what is going to determine how bright the bulb can be.
Next thing you need to know about LEDs is that they generate heat. The bulbs can fail if that heat is not removed. Look at how that heat is being dissipated. These bulbs tend to be at the high-cost end of all the bulb types. You’ll want longevity so pay attention to the reviews.
Replacement of the bulb
Open the hood and locate the headlight. An electrical connection is pulled off the back of the bulb. Replacement is pretty straightforward the bulb is usually held in place using a simple device(specific to your vehicle). It can be a twist off or quarter turn or held in place with a spring clip. Remove the bulb. Never touch the new bulb glass wear latex gloves to protect the new bulb. Secure the bulb in the headlight. Use dielectric grease on the electrical connector prongs to prevent oxidation of the electrical connections before reinstalling the electrical connector.
Related Article: How To Clean Headlights
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