4 Common Reasons Your Headlights Stop Working

At-Home Solutions for Everyday Headlight Issues

Automotive headlights constantly have issues, but they are often incredibly simple to fix. Save time and money and take pride in successfully fixing a problem with your vehicle without taking it to a mechanic.

If your car simply needs a cheap headlight replacement part, check with Sturtevant Auto. We're sure to have used parts for your car's make and model in our huge pick-and-pull junkyard near Milwaukee.

Contact us for replacement headlights!

Safety Tips for Fixing Headlights

The chances of running into any issues while working on your headlights are relatively low in comparison to a lot of other automotive procedures. It is still necessary to outline a few essential safety guidelines when operating on any vehicle.

• Your engine is hot, so wait for it to cool down. Especially avoid any metal components and pipes around the engine block.
• Turn the engine off before you work on it. 
• Be cautious when working near electrical areas. Avoid being lit up like a Roman candle.

How To Restore Headlights At Home

Headlight Fuse Keeps Blowing Out

Unplug the light, pull the switch, and see if the fuse blows. If not, the problem is not in the wiring. Make sure you purchased the correct wattage for the headlight bulb and that it's not faulty or damaged. Check and see if your high beam bulb is the issue. If so, replace it. Check all wired connections for any exposed wiring.

Headlight Bulb Keeps Burning Out

If you find yourself replacing your headlight bulbs way too often, there's likely an underlying issue. Before going to a mechanic, consider the following options:

• Don’t handle the bulb with your bare fingers. Oils can cause bulbs to burn out quickly. Handle all headlight bulbs with surgical gloves and replace any existing bulbs that may have been handled incorrectly.
• Look up online videos and guides on how to properly replace your specific vehicle’s headlight.
• Make sure the bulb is held securely in place, with no wiggle room or unnecessary motion. Bulbs prone to excess motion are known to break and burn out much faster.
• Check your bulb sockets for signs of corrosion. We have a large selection of salvageable Nissan, Toyota, and Ford headlights for replacement.

Headlight Flickers On and Off

The most common issue of flickering headlights is a poor connection somewhere. Check your battery clamp connections. They can gradually become loose from engine vibration. Carefully try wiggling every wire in the headlight circuit to see if you can pinpoint a specific culprit. Establish a more sturdy connection when a wire is singled out.

Worst-case scenario the entire headlight wiring assembly may need to be replaced by a professional. Also, as with other troubleshooting issues, if you are using a bulb with too high of a wattage, this can make your headlights flicker as well.

Headlight’s Low-Beams are Malfunctioning

If your low beams are malfunctioning, don't blind everyone else on the road with your hi-beams. It’s time to get to work, and troubleshoot your low beam lights.

• Try replacing a single faulty bulb temporarily with the bulb from the opposite headlamp. If it works, the bulb simply needs to be replaced.
• The most common reason for faulty low-beam lights is a blown fuse. Check your owner’s manual for information on how to access the fuses. Check for melted wires leading to any of the fuses, and replace said fuses if necessary.
• Use a voltmeter to make sure power is actually running to your headlight. If not, then the problem is in your wiring. At this point, a mechanic should be consulted.

Pick and Pull Replacement Headlights

If you’re looking to fix your headlight on your own and need some cheap parts to help make it happen, stop by our pick and pull salvage yard in Sturtevant, just a few miles west of Racine. Pick and pull headlight bulbs, assemblies, covers and more headlight components. We have a huge stock of used replacement headlights for many of the most popular brands of cars and trucks. All our headlights are tested for reliability, so you get quality parts for a fraction of the cost.

Still unable to fix your headlights? Can’t find a specific auto part for your current project? Contact Sturtevant Auto salvage yard a call today.