Summer - Lights

Exterior Vehicle Light Maintenance for Summer Car Near Grand Rapids

           

With summer's nice weather and longer days, you might be spending a little extra time on the road this season. At Serra Honda Grandville, we want you to be safe every time you get behind the wheel, and that means keeping up with routine maintenance, including summer car care. Your vehicle's exterior lights are extremely important to your safety, and yet their routine maintenance can often times be overlooked. Your exterior auto lights are not only necessary for you to see in the dark, but also for others to be aware of your presence on the road. Plus, it's not just in the dark that your lights are necessary. At dusk, dawn, in the rain, through the fog, and other weather conditions, your vehicle's lights are one of the biggest safety components. In this section of our Summer Car Care Guide we'll cover the different lights on your vehicle, replacement tips for your exterior bulbs, and the different type of bulbs you can purchase. First, the different lights you'll find on your vehicle include:

• Headlights -Your vehicle's headlights function in a low beam and high beam setting. The low beams are the most common setting, allowing you to be seen up to 150 feet away, while the high beams are used mostly for driving on rural roads. Your high beams allow you to be seen up to 450 feet away, however remember that high beams should only be used when no other vehicles are driving around you, as they can impair other drivers' vision.
• Taillights - The taillights are located on the back of your vehicle and are separate from your brake lights. Your taillights are illuminated when your headlights are on and allow you to be seen up to 1,000 feet away by other drivers.
• Brake Lights - You brake lights illuminate when you push your brake pedal to serve as an alert to other drivers that you are slowing down. They are red in color and are located right next to your vehicle's taillights. On many vehicles, a third brake light is also located on the top rear of your vehicle above the rear windshield.
• Turn Signal Lights - Turn signals are the exterior lights located on the front and the back of your vehicle that blink when you activate the turn signal switch. These lights serve to alert other drivers of what action you want to take on the road.

The lights listed above are present on every vehicle, however, there are many other lights present on different makes and models including: daytime running lamps, fog lights, license plate lights, extra turn signal lights, and side mirror lights. If you do have these additional exterior lights, it's important to have them checked and replaced when needed, just like the standard exterior lights. A non-functioning light while on the road can be cause for a policeman to pull you over and issue you a ticket.

Exterior Vehicle Light Bulb Replacement

An easy way to incorporate your exterior auto lights into your routine maintenance schedule, is to do a check every month. Grab a family member or friend, and have them walk around the vehicle while you turn the lights on and off. As you turn each light on they will be able to tell you if it is working or not. If a turn signal light is out, your interior signal light will flash faster than normal, indicating you need to replace the bulb immediately. Replacing any bulbs that are out can easily be done at home, however replacing bulbs on some makes and models can be more complicated than others. If you aren't comfortable replacing any of the bulbs on your vehicle, simply bring your car into Serra Honda Grandville for a quick and simple light replacement. We'll have you back on the road with working lights in no time! If you want to DIY your exterior auto light replacement, reference these helpful tips:

• Halogen, LED, and Xenon are the three types of lights car manufacturers use today. Halogen lights are the most common exterior light used on a vehicle. They are inexpensive, last a long time, and produce a bright white light. LED lights are more commonly found in energy efficient vehicles because they use the least amount of power, however they are more expensive. Xenon bulbs are one of the brightest types of lights, are typically found in luxury vehicles. To know which exterior light bulbs to purchase for your specific make and model vehicle, check your Owner's Manual.
• The Department of Transportation issues approval for each bulb and each bulb color available to be legally used on the road. Be aware that some third party or aftermarket manufacturers do make and sell bulbs that are brighter or different colors than what is regulated for everyday driving. These brighter bulbs are often used for off-roading use only and could possibly get you a ticket if used on main roads. Drivers are also forbidden to alter any regulated colors, and any changes can result in a ticket.
• When replacing headlight bulbs, some car manufacturers require you to replace the entire headlight kit rather than just the bulb. This is commonly done with LED lights; however, you can check your Owner's Manual for more information on what your light replacement requires.

When replacing an external auto bulb, you must ensure it's pointing in the right direction. Since each vehicle make and model is different, you should always reference your Owner's Manual for specific bulb requirements and replacement tips. If you've replaced a light bulb yourself and it's still not working, it could be due to an electrical wire shortage or a broken component. In this case, bring your vehicle into our Serra Honda Grandville Service Center for an inspection. We'll help pinpoint the problem and get you back on the road with working lights.