How to Maintain Car Headlights

Most headlights on the road are not clear, which is unsafe. Maintaining headlights is not difficult to do and it will make the road much safer for you and other drivers.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

General Headlight Maitenence

1. If a headlight is cracked, it should be replaced immediately. A cracked headlight will let moisture and dust in making the headlight dimmer as well as increasing the glare for other drivers. You can seal the crack with resin until you replace the headlight.

2. Clean dirty headlights as night vision is greatly reduced by having dirty headlights. Wipe down your headlights every time you wash your windshield. There are especially made headlight cleaners available at most hardware stores.

3. Inspect your headlights annually to be sure they are aimed in the proper direction.

4. Replace the bulbs in your headlight once a year to make sure they stay fresh. Always replace the bulbs two at a time even if only one burns out.

Removing Condensation From Headlights

5. Remove the headlight from your car.

6. Using a drill and a small bit to drill a small hole at the bottom of the headlight.

7. Drain all the water out of the headlight.

8. Put the headlight in a dry area for some time, next to your air conditioning ducts will quickly get rid of the all the moisture.

9. Reseal the headlight using a type of silicone seal. Do not use glue to reseal as it may crack and leak.

10. Reinstall the headlight back onto your car.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep a spare set of headlight bulbs in your car in case one or both burn out while you are on the road.
• "Dirty headlights will decrease visibility by as much as 90 percent," says New York Broome County Police Traffic Division's Traffic Safety Team.
• The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety points out that, "An average of 9 out of every 10 cars on the road today has dirty or yellowed headlights that greatly reduce vision and need to be replaced, cleaned or repaired."

Who Can Help Sponsored

[Butterflyrains]

on 11/20/2008 Thank you so much. Have done as you said and now almost all condensation/water is gone...Just need to buy myself some silicone to seal. Happy Turkey day...Pris Nelson..Florida