What Would Cause Brake Lights Not To Work?

Driving at night or on dark cloudy days with either brake lights not working is risky for you and other drivers.  Many drivers just jump into their vehicles and don’t think about whether or not their brake lights are working.  Especially during these dark winter days, make it a habit to walk around your car every few days to inspect that all your lights are working correctly.  This inspection should include not only your brake lights, but your headlights, turn signals, fog lights, back-up lights, and tail lights.  If you notice a dim light, schedule a visit to your auto repair shop to determine if the issue is more than a burned-out bulb.  Some form of auto electrical repair may be compulsory.

Lights seem simple, but several things can go wrong. When light doesn’t work, it is usually because of the four problems below:

• Burnt-out bulbs.  This is the most common issue that occurs most frequently. Every time a car driver steps on the brake pedal, the bulb is illuminated the entire time.  Also, consider that today’s vehicles are equipped with day-running lights that are on constantly.  Newer vehicles now have LED lights that last much lengthier, but older vehicles still use bulbs that need to be actually popped out and replaced.
• Bad Brake Light Switch.  When the brake pedal gets pressed, a switch is activated to send a signal that it’s time to turn on.  Analog switches wear out and get dirty over time.  This interferes with their ability to make positive contact and transmit the correct signal.  If all of the brake lights are out at the same time, it is likely caused by a bad brake light switch.
• Blown out fuse.  If the bulbs are good and the light switch is good, the next thing to inspect is a blown-out fuse.  If you are incapable to replace the fuse yourself, ask your auto mechanic for help.  Replacing a fuse is fairly simple and inexpensive.
• Wiring problems.  Finally, after ruling out any of the problems above, inspect the wiring in the light socket itself.  It may have become dirty and corroded, or worn to the point where it’s only making the intermittent connection. Your auto mechanic can easily replace the light socket.

If you notice any of the issues above, your auto mechanic can easily diagnose the issue and perform the right auto electrical repair problem rapidly and fairly inexpensively.

Are you wondering what would cause brake lights not to work?  Call our ASE-certified technicians at Proshop Automotive for more information about auto electrical repair problems and to make an appointment. Our auto repair shop proudly serves residents in Colton, CA, and the surrounding areas.

What causes your headlights to not work?

With the longer days of summer, many customers may not think about their headlights and brake lights.  Though, make sure you keep an eye on them as they can burn out or stop working without you noticing.  It’s still vital that you have working headlights and brake lights so that you can be seen on those unexpected rainy days or for late-night driving.

So what causes your headlights to not work or seem extra dim?  There could be some reasons, including:

• Burned out bulbs:  If only one headlight is not working, the issue is usually a burned out bulb.  Have it replaced as soon as possible and then if it still doesn’t work, you will want your auto mechanic to inspect the wiring or fuses.
• High beam doesn’t work:  If the bulb isn’t the issue, it could be faulty wiring in the switch or relay.
• Electrical System:  If the lights dim only when the engine is idling and the brightness changes with the RPM, the issue may have to do with the electrical system.  This could involve an issue with a bad alternator or a loose belt.  If the alternator is fine, the accessories may be drawing too much power, such as aftermarket components.  In this case, a more powerful alternator may take care of the issue.
• Lights seem dim all the time:   The issue could be foggy lenses or worn out bulbs.  Over time, bulbs can lose their brightness so you may want to invest in a new set of bulbs.  Dirty, foggy, or oxidized lenses block the light.  Dirt is easy to clean.  Foggy lenses are an indication that water is getting into the headlight assembly.  It may want to be replaced.  Lenses that have oxidized can be reconditioned.  This involves removing the oxidation and then applying a protective coating.

In older model vehicles, the average person could replace burned out headlights or brake lights themselves.  But with the design of today’s vehicles, the lights are much harder to access.  Unless you have the right equipment, it is much smarter to go straight to your auto mechanic who has the right tools and diagnostic equipment to check the headlight system, inspect the fuses, switches and relays, and then either repair or replace as needed.

Are you wondering what causes your headlights to not work?  Call the ASE-certified technicians at Proshop Automotive for more information about headlights and brake lights and to make an appointment. Our auto repair shop proudly serves residents in Colton, CA, and the surrounding areas.

What Would Cause a Headlight to Keep Burning Out?

Driving home late one night, you notice that one of your headlights is scorched out. You remember replacing that bulb not too long ago and wonder if there is an issue.  With winter’s dark days and nights around the corner, this is a concern.  Halogen bulbs and sealed beam headlights have very fine tungsten wire filaments inside that emit light when heated.  Constantly replacing headlight bulbs is not only an inconvenience and expense but also an indication that there could be an underlying issue with your vehicle.  

So what would cause a headlight to keep burning out?  Here are several problems that could be the cause:

• Vibration -- Vibration can be caused by driving over rough roads, the bulb is not securely mounted in the headlight assembly, there is a bent bulb socket or headlight housing, the headlight housing is not securely attached to your car, or the front wheels are out of balance.
• Touching the bulb -- You should always wear gloves or use a cloth if you have to touch the glass of the bulb.  If you touch the glass with your bare fingers, oil from your skin will adhere to the glass and may cause hot spots on the glass when the bulb is on, resulting in uneven heating and probably breakage of the glass. 
• Temperature extremes -- Heat is compulsory for the headlight filament to emit light; though the hotter the filament gets, the less durable it is. If you do an excessive amount of night driving or drive with daytime running lights, the increased amount of time that your lights are on will heat the filament to a higher temperature.  Also, if you drive in cold climates, bulb filaments become more brittle and are more susceptible to breakage, especially if accompanied by vibrations from rough roads and potholes.
• Turning on headlights before starting the car -- Normally, vehicles divert electrical power from any accessories that are on in order to deliver maximum power to the starter motor. If you turn your headlights on before starting your vehicle, the lights will turn off and then come back on when the engine starts, shortening the headlight bulb life.
• Water leaking -- Signs of condensation inside the headlight housing is a sign that water is leaking into the housing.  Because water and electricity don’t mix, any condensation may cause a short circuit. Also, condensation coming in contact with a hot bulb may cause it to break. 

Do you want to know more about what would cause a headlight to keep burning out?  Call our ASE Certified technicians at Proshop Automotive for more information about headlights and brake lights and to make an appointment. Our auto repair shop proudly serves residents in Colton, CA, and the surrounding areas.

Wondering What Causes Headlights to go out?

Have your headlights suddenly stopped working?  Or are they looking dim and fogged over?  Take note of the type of failure and head to your auto shop.  Even though headlight technology isn’t complex, there are many ways that headlights can fail.  First of all, your Auto mechanic will want to know whether both lights failed at once, or just one, and whether or not the high or low beam mode still works.

So what causes headlights to go out?  It's commonly an electrical issue or a physical problem with the bulbs themselves. Based on which bulbs have stopped working, and under what circumstances, you can use the following information to narrow down a solution:

1. One headlight doesn’t work.  This is usually caused by a burned out bulb. If it still doesn't work after replacing it, suspect a wiring or fuse issue.  
2. Both headlights don’t work.  Bulbs usually don’t burn out together, but it’s still vital to rule that out by checking for power. Most total headlight failures are caused by a bad component like a fuse, relay. Wiring issues can also cause both headlights to stop working.
3. The high beams and/or the low beams don’t work.  Most headlight failures that are limited to just high or low beams are related to a relay or the high beam control switch.
4. Headlights seem dim.  If your headlights always seem dim, the issue could be foggy lenses or worn out bulbs. If your headlights seem to dim during specific circumstances, there may be a charging system problem.
5. Other headlight issues.  Caused by some combination of bad bulbs, wiring or relay issues, and bad switches.

In the past, many car owners were able to replace burned out headlights or brake lights themselves.  But with the design of today’s vehicles, headlights and brake lights are much harder to access.  If you don’t own the right tools and diagnostic equipment, it is much smarter to go straight to your mechanic who understands how to check the headlight system, inspect the fuses, and take a look at the switch and relays.  

Wondering what causes headlights to go out?  Call the ASE-certified technicians at Proshop Automotive for more information about headlights and brake lights and to make an appointment. Our auto repair shop proudly serves residents in Colton, CA, and the surrounding areas.

How often should headlights be replaced?

Do you wonder how often should headlight be replaced?  If you are finding it more and more difficult to see the road at night, it could be caused by dim headlights and not your glasses. Ask your auto technician to inspect all the power accessories in your vehicle to rule out a possible auto electrical repair.  Standard halogen headlights naturally dim over time so all that may be needed to improve your visibility at night are new headlights.

Just like wiper blades, headlights should also be inspected periodically.  Changing a car's headlights before they burn out will increase your ability to see roadside objects, such as street signs, as well as your reaction time in avoiding road hazards.  It will also provide you with a greater sense of safety and security on the road.  Fortunately, replacing headlights more frequently is a simple and inexpensive way to make night driving safer for any age driver. 

Here are a few easy tips to help keep your headlights in good working order:

• Give your headlights a quick scrub when you clean your windows at the gas station. 
• Replace your headlights before they get too dim and burn out. 
• Replace headlights in pairs to avoid uneven illumination.
• Consider replacing normal halogen headlights with high-performance headlights that produce light closer in color to natural daylight.
• Inspect that your headlights are correctly adjusted as they can be knocked out of alignment by rough driving.

A Safety Tip to Remember:  Periodically inspect that all your car lights are in good working order. Ask someone to turn on the headlights, brake lights and turn signals as you walk around the outside of the car.  If there are issues with your lights or other power accessories, ask your mechanic about a needed auto electrical repair.

Wondering about how often should headlights be replaced?  Call the ASE-certified technicians at Proshop Automotive for more information about auto electrical repair and to Make an appointment. Our auto repair shop proudly serves residents in Colton, CA, and the surrounding areas.