Replacing Headlight Bulbs
5 Things To Know About Replacing Headlight Bulbs On Your Volkswagen
From 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise, Texas state law requires that all passenger cars use two working headlights. If your car only has one working headlight, it's more than just a safety risk -- it could get you pulled over. Luckily, replacing a headlight bulb on your car isn't a very difficult task. In fact, you might even be able to handle this task on your own, even if you have no auto care experience or training. Of course, every VW model is different, but these five tips can help you decide whether to handle this on your own or enlist the help of the experts. If your Volkswagen has burned-out headlight bulbs, here are five tips that can help you decide how to proceed.
4. Why Your Headlights May Have Stopped Working
Just like halogen bulbs at your home or office, halogen headlight bulbs will eventually burn out and stop working. However, if your headlights stop working suddenly, it's a good idea to rule out other causes. For example, if both your left and right headlights stopped working at the same time, or if neither your low nor your high beam headlights are working correctly, that's more likely due to an electrical problem. And if your headlights stopped working after a minor crash or a violent impact with a pothole, it could be that the electrical connection was interrupted or disconnected from the headlight housing.
3. How To Find Correct Headlights For Your Car
The correct headlight bulb for your car should be listed in your vehicle's owner's manual. If you don't have the manual handy, you can find a reference guide in the headlight bulb aisle at most auto parts stores. They'll help you find headlight bulbs that'll fit your vehicle -- or, for even more convenience and superior quality, just head to Archer Volkswagen. We stock OEM components in our parts department, including headlight bulbs. Our parts desk experts can quickly find the bulbs you need for your ride. Better still, the headlight bulbs we stock at Archer are OEM parts direct from Volkswagen for superior quality compared to cut-rate aftermarket alternatives.
2. Don't Forget About Your Headlight Covers
Are your headlights appearing dimmer than usual? While this can be caused by electrical issues or a weak car battery, the root cause is usually much more simple: your vehicle's plastic headlight covers are starting to fog up. Over time, the plastic headlight covers on most modern vehicles will start to fade, becoming yellow and cloudy over time. This can even block the light coming from your headlights, leading to insufficient visibility at night. Thankfully, this is an easy fix for the experts in our service center. Or, just head to our parts desk where we'll help you find a VW-recommended headlight cover polish. Polishing your headlight covers periodically will ensure you get the best performance and brightness from your headlights.
1. Wear Gloves When Handling New Headlight Bulbs
If you've decided to handle replacing the headlight bulbs on your own car, be sure to pick up some latex gloves before you get started. That's because the natural oils on your skin can collect on the lightbulb itself if you handle it with bare hands. Then, once installed, the oils on the bulb may cause the headlight glass to heat up unevenly -- causing the glass bulb to fail and destroying the bulb in the process. Because headlight bulbs can get very, very hot, it's important to keep foreign contaminants from collecting on the surface.
