Console Light Bulb Replacement
Turn Signal Switch Replacement
The turn signal switch, located inside the car on the steering column, allows you to turn the signal bulbs on. Properly functioning turn signal lights are legally mandatory.
The wiring for brake lights usually goes through the turn signal switch. This means that if the turn signal switch has gone bad, your brake lights may not be working. | Some vehicles use a “combination” switch. This switch operates the turn signals, running lights, and headlights.
Inspect the switch, fuses, and wirings. | Remove and replace the switch if faulty. | Operate the turn signals verify operation of the exterior lights.
If your turn signal lights do not operate, your mechanic will visually inspect the fuse(s) and operate the switch a bit to see if he can determine where the problem is. Your mechanic should inspect all lights during every major service event.
When you deploy the turn signal lever on your steering column, the turn signal switch is responsible for turning on your turn signals. Turn signals are a very important safety feature that alerts drivers all around you that your vehicle will soon be making a turn. When your turn signal switch dies, you have no way of turning on your turn signals. This not only makes your car less safe, but it is also illegal, and you can be given a very pricy fix-it ticket.
Courtesy Light Bulb Replacement
The courtesy light is meant to be a convenience feature that provides lighting inside your vehicle when it is dark outside. The courtesy light, or dome light assembly, is usually a plastic housing mounted in the headliner and contains one or more bulbs that can be illuminated by opening the door or by pressing a button or switch on the housing. The bulb inside has an electrical current that runs through it when the switch is in the ‘on’ position, which makes the filament inside the bulb glow white hot. Light is produced from this heat which illuminates the interior of your car. When the light bulb burns out, the filament has typically burned through at some point and can no longer transmit an electrical current through it to produce light. If the filament is damaged from heat but not burnt through, it might still glow but not a brightly as it used to.
Use only the wattage required by the automaker to replace your burned out courtesy light bulb. | A higher wattage can cause melting or wiring damage to the courtesy light housing. | Bulbs get extremely hot. Do not touch the dome light bulb while it is illuminated.
The courtesy light bulb is verified that it needs to be replaced. The light bulb cover is removed using a small screw driver. | The defective courtesy light bulb is removed by pulling it free from the socket or rotating a quarter turn left depending on bulb and socket type. | The new courtesy light bulb is installed into the socket then the cover is reinstalled. | The courtesy light bulb is tested for operation with the light switch and the door. | The vehicle is tested for proper operation to ensure that the interior lights turn on and off normally.
Have one of our expert technicians replace your courtesy light bulb if it burns out, as bulbs are prone to do regularly.
The dome light is a convenient feature in your vehicle but it is not detrimental if the light doesn’t work. Have the courtesy light bulb replaced at your convenience.
Car Dome Light Bulb Replacement
It’s about seeing in the dark without needing a flashlight. Like a flashlight, your dome light is as simple as a small light bulb and a plastic covering. For those of us with busy lives and plenty of stuff, it’s also about not losing our keys if they fall underneath our seat in the evening hours. That light also keeps you from accidentally scratching your dashboard by trying to find that ignition switch in the dark. Finally, a good bulb light in the evening can help you locate those valuable small items that sometimes manage to fall underneath the seats.
Repairing a dome light without the proper tools and know-how can quickly lead to a permanently scuffed headliner and painful burns on your fingers.
The dome light will be located (normally in the center of the passenger compartment roof) | The cover will be removed with a small pick | The bulb will be replaced carefully as not to damage the new bulb or the socket (normally a | cam-lock mechanism is as well, but some newer cars have LED bulbs that must be replaced with | the socket as an assembly.) The socket assembly or cover will be returned to is factory location The lights will be tested
If you test that dome light, and it won’t light up no matter what door you open, or what dome switch setting you try, let one of our mechanics diagnose and handle this repair. You should have it inspected by a professional mechanic who can avoid the scratches, scuffs, and permanent cosmetic issues that come with using a variety of sharp objects near a thin headliner cloth. Electronic diagnostic equipment can also help locate the potential cause of a dome light issue.
Do you like to see inside when it’s dark outside? That’s the reason why dome lights have become a common standard feature in nearly all cars and trucks. Ignoring this repair can lead to long-term cosmetic issues, wasted time, and frustrating pursuits of little objects in darkness. A dome light repair is best done when you wish to take care of the little problems in life before they become big ones.
Fog/Driving Light Bulb Replacement
Fog light bulbs are at the front of the car and are housed inside the fog lamp assemblies. They provide visibility in foggy conditions.
Your mechanic will inspect the bulb, socket, and wiring before replacing the bulb. In some cases, due to the current flowing to these sockets, the sockets can melt causing the fog lamps to malfunction. If this is the case for your car, your mechanic will get your permission to buy a new socket harness and install it (an additional fee may apply).
Inspect the fog lamp bulbs, sockets, and wiring. | Replace the bulb if faulty. | Check all the lights.
A mechanic should inspect your fog lights when performing an inspection. Some vehicles have warning lights that will illuminate if a light bulb isn’t working; if your vehicle has this warning light, you should schedule an inspection as soon as it comes on. It’s also a good idea to routinely check your vehicle to make sure that all of the lights are functioning properly.
Fog lights are designed to give drivers greater visibility during foggy weather conditions. When light directly hits fog, it is reflected back at the driver, which makes it nearly impossible to see. Fog lights are placed low on your vehicle, and aim straight out, so that they project light under the fog, rather than into the fog. This allows greater visibility for a driver, which greatly increases safety. Malfunctioning fog lights can also result in a pricy “fix-it” ticket.
Hazard / Turn Signal Flasher Replacement
The hazard / turn signal flasher is a small, electrical device that causes the lights on your vehicle to flash in a rhythmic, steady fashion. It is usually located under the driver’s side of the dash, and is wired in-line with the turn signal lever and hazard switch buttons. When the turn signals or hazard lights are turned on, the circuit’s power is routed through the flasher, which only emits short bursts of power that cause the lights to flash. If the flasher is not working, your hazard or turn signal lights may stay on solid when turned on, not turn on at all, or flash at an undesirable rate.
Flasher units hardly ever develop problems. Although in older vehicles, the wiring can become compromised. | Don’t assume that the problem is with the flasher – it could be something as simple as a blown fuse. | Check your bulbs, and replace them if necessary.
The vehicle’s hood is opened and supported manually | The new relays are installed onto a mounting bracket | The wiring is connected to the relays and into the vehicle harness | The hood manual support is removed | The install is verified and the hazard lights are tested for proper operation
If your turn signals aren’t working, you will fail a motor vehicle inspection or a roadside check. Examine your fuses to make sure none are discolored – this indicates a blown fuse that could be causing the problem. Check your light bulbs as well. If all are in good working order, then the problem could be the hazard / turn signal flasher, which is part of your car’s electrical system. Have one of our expert mechanics inspect and replace the hazard turn signal flasher if required.
Malfunctioning turn signals and hazard lights are critical safety issues. If your turn signals aren’t working, you have no way of communicating your driving intentions to other drivers aside from hand signals. Have one of our expert mechanics check them immediately so that the problem can be diagnosed, and appropriate measures taken, such as replacing your hazard / turn signal flasher.
Headlight Bulb Replacement
Headlight bulbs are encased in a carefully designed housing that illuminates the roadways and makes your car visible to other drivers and pedestrians. They rely on the vehicle’s electrical system for power. There are many types of headlight bulbs in use today including sealed beams, halogen plug-in bulbs, LED (light emitting diode), and HID (high intensity discharge) bulbs. Some car models are sold with headlight options and a mechanic may rely on your car’s VIN to determine the type of headlight system in your vehicle. All headlamps rely on reflectors in the lamp housing to focus the headlight bulbs. This allows the most useful pattern of light to be cast onto the roadway. Halogen bulbs have a gas that allows for additional light. HID bulbs use two electrodes within the bulb that charge the gas to produce the light. LED bulbs operate at a lower temperature and the light shown on the road tends to be lower than HID bulbs. All headlights are designed to provide a well lit driving path when natural sunlight is not enough. When to replace headlight bulbs? Bulb is blown out. All of the various headlight bulb types are replaced if the bulb itself has failed. This is the most common scenario. Bulb has dimmed. Some bulb types, particularly halogen bulbs, will produce significantly less light output as the bulb filament ages from use. LED and HID lighting do not dim with age and thus are generally only serviced if the light source has failed. Headlight circuit fails. Note that in some cases, the bulbs are not the underlying issue that leads to the need for replacements. Instead wiring to the bulb, terminal connections, bulb sockets, and system components could be the underlying problem. How do mechanics replace headlight bulbs? Halogen bulbs and sealed beams, which are generally modular plug in components, are accessible once the hood is raised. The replacement procedure for LED and HID bulbs will depend on whether the light source itself is faulty or if it’s a component in the circuit. Removal procedures for sophisticated HID and LED systems vary by car model and mechanics follow the repair procedures in the factory service manual for your model. For all bulb types, wiring and bulb sockets must be carefully inspected when replacing bulbs to ensure that the electrical connections are complete and secure. Finally, the installed newly bulbs are turned on to ensure normal operation. Is it safe to drive with a headlight problem? Headlights must always be fully functional after dusk to drive safely. Should your car have a failed headlight and is driven only when there is adequate daylight, you can put off the repair until it is convenient. Working headlights are required by law in throughout the U.S. whenever the car is used on public roads from sunset to sunrise and in many other specified conditions as well, such as when it is raining or when visibility is reduced due to smoke, fog, or other factors. When replacing headlights keep in mind: If a bulb does not have a visible filament that can inspected and tested, a mechanic might first test to see if there is power to the bulb. This is most applicable if your car has LED or HID lighting, which can fail if electronics in the circuit is faulty. Halogen lamps and sealed beams should be replaced in pairs so that illumination levels are equal on both sides of the car. Plastic lenses on many headlights degrade over time. Should there not be any issues with the bulbs, these can be replaced to restore your vehicle’s lighting system to a like new condition. The condition of bulb sockets, the ground connection, fuses, and all components of the headlight circuit are important to proper and reliable functioning of the headlights and a mechanic should consider those aspects
Brake Light Bulb Replacement
Brake light bulbs are located at the back of the car, housed inside a protective covering (lens). The brake light turns on when you push the brake pedal, letting drivers know that you are slowing down. If the brake light does not illuminate, you’re at a higher risk for causing an accident and/or being pulled over and cited by a police officer.
Keep in mind the number of brake lights a car has can vary. The third (or rear window/center) brake light should not be overlooked when doing an inspection.
Inspect brake bulbs, sockets and wiring. | Replace the bulb, if faulty. | Check all the lights.
A mechanic should inspect the brake light during a major service. Before replacing a bulb, your mechanic should also inspect the socket and wiring. Due to the high amount of current flowing through these sockets, sometimes the sockets melt, causing the brake light to malfunction.
When you apply the brakes, your brake light bulb illuminates. This allows drivers behind you a warning that you are slowing down, so that they can slow down as well. A dead brake light bulb will never work, and your car will be devoid of this important safety feature. Not having working brake lights is also illegal, and can result in a hefty “fix-it” ticket.
Brake Light Switch Replacement
The brake light switch is a mechanical switch activated when you press the brake pedal. The switch has a plunger in it that contacts a lever in the brake pedal assembly. As that plunger is depressed when you push on the brake pedal, the contacts in the brake light switch closed and voltage flows to the brake lights — turning them on. The brake light switch is also in the circuit that controls the cruise control disengagement and the shift interlock safety feature installed on all newer cars. Failure of the brake light switch occurs due to wear on the internal electrical contacts in the switch, poor switch terminal connections, maladjustment of the switch, or damage to the brake pedal assembly. When to consider replacing the brake light switch? No brake lights. If depressing the brake pedal does not cause any of the brake lights to illuminate, the continuity of the switch will be tested. If only one brake light is out, then the issue is not the switch but rather the bulb, bulb socket or brake light circuit integrity. Unable to shift out of park. The brake light switch is also wired into the shift interlock mechanism. If you are unable to shift out of park, with your foot on the brake, check to see if the brake lights will illuminate as you push the pedal. If they do not illuminate, failure of the brake light switch may be the cause of the no shift. Intermittent operation of the brake lights or late operation. The brake light switch has to be in the proper position, and work consistently if the brake lights are to come on the instant you press the brake pedal. The switch can sometimes require adjustment, or the contacts may degrade, causing inconsistent operation of the switch. How do mechanics replace the brake light switch? The switch is first tested using a multimeter, including the terminal contacts to the switch, to determine if it is faulty. If the switch is functioning, the entire circuit must be tested to determine the cause of no brake lights. Should the switch be judged defective, the switch is unthreaded from the mounting boss near the brake pedal assembly. The new switch is threaded in and locked with an appropriate locknut once the new switch is properly adjusted. The operation of the switch is tested to ensure instant illumination of the brake lights upon pressing the brake pedal. Is it safe to drive with a brake light switch problem? No. Should the brake light switch have failed, it is unsafe to drive the vehicle because drivers behind you will have no indication that you are slowing, intend to slow, or are stopped. Always address a failure of this type promptly to ensure your safety while driving. When replacing the brake light switch keep in mind: The mechanic will test the brake light switch directly to ensure that the issue is not elsewhere in the brake light circuit. Occasionally, the issue is a maladjusted switch or a loose contact, and the mechanic can resolve the problem without switch replacement.