Tips on How to Replace a Headlight Bulb

It seems like the regular checking of headlights is just something that nobody seems to remember to do. It is, however, very important that you check your headlights. If you are caught driving with a headlight out, you could be pulled over and given a ticket. You may even have to prove that you made the repairs in court. There is no need for something as costly and time consuming as this to occur when all you need to do is turn on your headlights and check them from time to time.

If you do happen to have a burnt out bulb in your headlights, this is something that can be fixed very easily. There is no reason to have to make an appointment at a mechanic and have them charge you an hour's worth of labor. As a matter of fact, this is such a simple task that you will probably not even need any tools to accomplish it.
First, pop open the hood. Behind the headlight assembly, you should see the bulb holder. It will have 3 wires coming from a trapezoid shaped plug. Next, you have to remove the wiring harness. The plug will be held into place by one of three methods, a plastic catch, a metal clip, or a screw cap. A plastic catch will have a small lever sticking out from the plug. Press it down with your thumb and it should come right off. A metal clip can be simply pulled right off into your hand. Finally, a screw cap can be unscrewed.
Now that you have pulled away the wires, you should be able to pull out the old bulb. This can usually be accomplished by pulling it out from the base. If you drive an older vehicle, you may need to turn the bulb a bit to make it loose enough to come out. You are now ready to insert the new bulb.
Here is an important tip to keep in mind when replacing bulbs in your vehicles. These new bulbs are coated in oil which will help the bulb to last. If you wipe off this oil, it can make the bulb burn out faster, sometimes even the same day. In order to prevent this from happening, hold the bulb with a tissue or towel and try not to touch the glass. Holding the bulb by the plug, insert it into the back of the headlight. Make sure that the bulb is completely in all the way; none of the rubber gasket should be showing.
Now that the new bulb is in place, you will have to put the wiring back into place and re-secure the bulb. Now all you have to do is turn on your lights and test them. As you can see, this is a very simple project to undertake and is much cheaper than having a mechanic do it for you. This is also much more preferable than getting a ticket and a fine for not having two working headlights.