A broken headlight is not just an inconvenience. It's also a safety hazard that can lead to fines and even car accidents. Fortunately, there are many ways you can fix the problem yourself with common household items. In this article, we will discuss some of the best ways to fix a broken headlight and explain how each works.
The Dangers of Driving With a Broken Headlight
Broken headlights pose a safety risk to you and others on the road. You may think that driving around with a broken headlight just leads to inconvenience but driving with a broken headlight is also illegal in most states. The police have been known to stop drivers just for one broken headlight, much less both.
Additionally, your car insurance may increase if you have a broken headlight. This is because your car looks less safe to other drivers, and thus they may be less likely to crash into your car for fear of an accident.
When driving at night, your headlights are one of your most important tools. Not only do they help you see the road ahead, but they also help other drivers see you. However, what happens if drive with broken headlight cover, is it leagal? The answer to this question depends on your state's laws. In some states, it's illegal to drive with a broken headlight cover, while in others, it's not a big deal.
The Most Common Way to Fix a Broken Headlight
You should first determine why your headlights are broken and how much damage has been done. Do the headlights work but appear dim, or is there a large crack on one of the lights? This will help you know what parts to look for when shopping for headlight parts. Following are several common steps to fix broken headlights. We will describe some of them below.
Step: 1 Find Replacement Headlights
You will likely need to order new headlights for your vehicle. Even if you can fix the headlight temporarily, it's not safe to drive with a broken headlight for long periods of time. Plus, after driving around with one out, you may find that moisture has entered the housing and damaged other components beyond repair.
Step: 2 Take the Broken Headlight Out and Clean Up the Housing
The inside of your car's headlights can get pretty dirty, especially if you live in a dusty area. Take a rag and remove as much dirt as possible before installing the new ones. Don't worry about cleaning up every speck; just do your best to make it look clean.
Step: 3 Get a New Headlight Bulb
You can purchase these at your local auto parts store or online. They are fairly cheap and easy to install, but make sure you get the right one for your vehicle's make and model.
Step: 4 Turn On Your New Headlights
If they work, you're all done! If not, you may need to repair the wiring or other electrical components of your car.
Step: 5 Fixing Headlight Housings with Toothpaste
Carefully squeeze some toothpaste onto a cotton ball and use it to clean the inside of any cracks on the plastic headlight cover. Let the toothpaste sit for several hours or overnight, then wipe off the excess with a damp rag.
Preventing Your Headlights from Breaking In The First Place
Prevention is the best cure when dealing with car problems. Luckily, there are some common sense ways you can avoid having to replace your headlights in the future. Use these steps to prevent your headlight covers from cracking or breaking.
- Keep your headlights clean, inside and out. This means cleaning the covers on a regular basis as well as clearing away any dirt, leaves, or other objects that may get inside your headlight housing.
- Don't leave anything sitting on top of your headlights when you park. You don't want anything to fall onto the housing and crack it while your car is off.
- Only use your headlights when necessary. Using them for long periods of time can lead to forgetting to turn them off, which could drain the battery if you don't notice they are still on.
Summary
The dangers of driving with a broken headlight and its consequences are explored in this article. Broken headlights pose safety risks to you as well as other drivers on the road, so we suggest following these steps for how to fix them or preventing their breakage before they happen again.
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