Free Automotive Repair Advice by Certified ASE Technicians
How To Repair /
Checking
Lights, Alarm and Horn-1 /
Checking
Lights, Alarm and Horn-2
The lights in and around your vehicle are not only a
convenience they are a safety precaution.
All lights on your vehicle should be working
at all times, if fact it's against the law
for any exterior lights on your car not to
be working. If it was designed by the
manufacturer to work on your vehicle it must
work at all times. Make it a regular check
for your vehicle to assure the proper
operation for your lights.
Always check headlight operation at night
or in a dark garage. First inspect the
headlight lens for cracks and clarity, next
turn the headlights on, the headlights
should shine bright. If your headlight bulb
has failed; here are some steps you can do
to replace it. First determine if your
headlight bulb is composite or sealed beam.
Most cars and trucks today have composite
lenses with easy to replace headlight bulbs.
Next remove the retainer that holds the bulb
in the headlight housing, replace bulb with
new unit and reassemble, recheck operation.
Note: there is a notch in the headlight bulb
that only allows it to be installed one way.
1. Checking Headlight Operation

Vehicles today have a variety of features
incorporated into the front lighting system.
This car has high beam/low beam headlights,
front running lights and blinkers, headlight
lens cleaners and a headlight sensor used to
automatically lower your vehicles high beam
headlights when the sensor detects opposing
traffic.
2. Checking tail light, side marker, reverse, running light and stop light bulbs.

For best results check bulb operation at
night or in a dark garage. Step on the brake
peddle to check brake lights, make sure all
brake lights illuminate including the middle
third brake light. Turn headlight switch to
the first selection, inspect all side
marker, front running lights, and tail
lights.
3. Checking third or upper brake
light.

All passenger vehicles have a third or
upper brake light located between and above
the normal side brake lights. To check on
this light operation, turn key to the "on"
position (do not start). Step on brake
light, all brake lights should illuminate
including the third or upper brake, light.
4. Checking emergency flashers or
hazard lights

To check your emergency flasher lights
(or hazard flasher) operation locate the
emergency switch then activate it. Check
around your vehicle to make sure all lights
are functioning properly. Deactivate
emergency flasher switch to stop flasher
operation.
How To Repair /
Checking
Lights, Alarm and Horn-1 /
Checking
Lights, Alarm and Horn-2
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Head Light |
Brake Light |
Common Problems:
1. bulb burns out and does not work.
2. incorrect bulb replacement causing
system short circuits/incorrect operation.
3. bad light socket ground causing the
bulb to be dim.
Also see:
Additional "How to" Car Repair or Services
1.How to Replace Air Filter
2.How to Change a Cabin filter
3.How to Change Oil and Filter
4.How to Tune Up with Throttle Bore Service
5.How to Replace a Radiator
6.How to Replace Fuel Filter
7.How to Read Trouble Codes
8.How Filters Work
9.How to Replace Front Brake Pads
10.How to Replace Rear Brake Pads
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