What to Do If Headlights Stop Working?

 

Headlight technology is pretty straight forward. However, it is still susceptible to breaking down or malfunctioning. There are many reasons behind your car’s headlights unexpectedly stop working. While it is a worrisome indication that something might be wrong with your vehicle, it is important to know that cars have complex systems. For this purpose, it is best not to agonize over it too much until you find the underlying cause of this issue.

You must keep in mind that your car’s headlights consist of a few basic components, such as bulbs, a relay, a fuse, and a switch. By turning the headlight’s switch on, you are basically activating the relay to supply electrical connection between the headlights and the batteries. A fuse is also set in place as a sacrificial element in case the electric current fluctuates. This prevents the bulbs from burning out and protects the overall mechanism.

Should any of the basic components malfunction, the headlights of your car will fail. However, you can track your steps back to how the headlights failed to troubleshoot the underlying cause of the issue. Usually, when a car’s headlights stop functioning, it is due to an electrical issue or a physical problem with one of the components, especially the bulbs. To promptly fix the issue, it is imperative to first identify what type of failure you are experiencing.

Change the Bulb

If one of the bulbs is working fine while the other one does not seem to light up, then the issue is usually with the bulb. To rectify this situation, try changing the bulb that isn’t functioning in case it got burned out. However, if this does not seem to mitigate your problem, suspect a wiring or fuse issue.

Check Wiring and Other Components

Changing the bulb is advised before you take any serious action against the problem. While the odds of having both the bulbs in the headlights burn out simultaneously very low, it is still good to have that ruled out from the list of potential problems. If the problem still isn’t fixed, it is time for you to look into the wiring of other components. Most of the time, headlights malfunction due to the poor quality of the fuse, relay, or module. However, oftentimes bad wiring is also the culprit behind this issue.

If your headlights function properly on one setting, but malfunction on another, then the problem lies in the relay. If the bulbs in your headlights do not function on high mode but are working properly on low mode then it is an indication that you need to replace the beam controlling switch or the relay.

Read also: 4 Reasons Why Most People Hate to Buy Used Cars?

Clean the Lenses

Sometimes the headlights of your vehicle seem to work fine but seem a little bit dim. This is usually due to foggy lenses, worn-out bulbs, or an issue with the charging system. To negate this issue, you should clean the lenses, replace the bulbs or repair the charging system. You can find some of the best mechanics at carservice center Warshall to get your car fixed promptly.