Headlight Replacement

Changing broken or burned-out lamps

Tweet

Oddly enough, many of us will drive with a non-illuminating headlight for weeks—until someone alerts us. (With any luck, it won't be a person wearing a badge.) There's no reason for this: most headlights are relatively simple to replace.

Light Types

Most headlights are relatively simple to replace. We're limiting this article to "conventional" sealed-beam headlights. In this configuration, the lamp and bulb are replaced as a single unit (as opposed to "composite" systems that have removable, gas-filled bulbs). Typically, separate lamps are used for both the low and high beams. What many people might not know is that different styles of replacement lamps are available. Your local parts store might carry some or all of these:

> Basic replacement: usually the same specifications as original equipment (OE), about 35-watt low beams and 55-watt high beams.

> Whiter/bluer lamps: project whiter (less amber) light than OE and are marketed more as street-legal aesthetic upgrades as opposed to visibility improvements (although wattage output can range as high as 60 for low beams and 65 for brights).

> Improved vision: advertise 20%-30% better visibility than standard replacement lights but can also cost two to three times more.