How To Restore Your Headlights

Do dim headlights have you squinting as you drive at night? Restore this key safety feature in your vehicle with a complete restoration guide. Explore important maintenance tasks and learn how to replace a headlight or restore a foggy cover with the help of quality maintenance tools and replacement parts. Take charge of your auto care and keep your vehicle driving safely at night.

How To Identify a Worn Head Light

A worn-out bulb is a common maintenance issue. However, many of the signs can point to either a bulb that needs to be replaced or a headlight cover that needs to be cleaned. Look for these common signs that it’s time to swap out a headlight bulb in your vehicle or clean the covers:

• Flickering lights
• Dim beams
• Burned-out bulb

Flickering lights can sometimes be caused by a loose or frayed wire, but the most common issue is a failing bulb. Erratic lighting can distract other drivers and cause you to miss key details as you drive in low-light situations.

Dim beams is another common issue that can leave you squinting at the road ahead of you. Before replacing a dim light bulb, check the cover to see if it’s foggy or dirty. Use a cover cleaning kit before replacing the light bulb. Finally, a burned-out bulb dramatically reduces your vision and safety. Most headlights are both the same age, so you should replace both at the same time. It’s likely that one worn-out bulb will soon lead to another.

Check your owner’s manual or local auto parts expert for the correct replacement steps. Consider upgrading to HID or LED headlights if you’re looking for a long-lasting replacement part. Replacing a headlight is a straightforward task that doesn’t require much time, so it’s a great place to start with your auto maintenance.

Products Best Suited for Headlight Restoration

There are many DIY restoration strategies for your headlights. If you’re looking for a way to not only clear your covers but also restore the original protective coating, it’s important to use a DIY restoration kit. In a pinch, a small amount of toothpaste on a clean, wet headlight cover can remove some of the fog. This also removes the protective coating, so you’ll need to apply a sealant or coating to prevent your covers from becoming damaged or foggy.

Follow all the included instructions in your chosen kit. Most come with sandpaper, a cleaning solution, a polishing tool and a protective coating, but the contents can vary. Look for a kit with a protective coating solution for long-lasting protection. Many cleaning products remove the protective coating from your covers, which can cause them to become foggy again quickly.

After sanding, cleaning and polishing your covers, it’s time to take your vehicle for a test drive. Turn on your headlights in your driveway first to be sure they are both operating efficiently. If you’re still experiencing dim headlights, shop for replacement bulbs and other auto parts online. Enjoy affordable prices and confident shopping when you search for parts based on your specific make and model of vehicle.