Light's Out! Trouble Ahead (Exterior Light Bulb Service)
March 6, 2022
Whether or not your exterior light bulbs are all working probably is not at the top of your list when you think about your vehicle. But those exterior lights are more important than you think, and they're vital to your safety and that of other drivers near you.
Headlights are important. Not only do they help you see safely down the road at night, they also help oncoming drivers know that the vehicle they're approaching is not a motorcycle. Both headlights should be working properly and aimed so that they don't blind other drivers.
Taillights are also important for a few reasons. They tell drivers what your intentions are (changing lanes, turning, stopping). So, the bulbs back there must be all in working order for maximum safety. Ditto for the front turn signal lights. They alert oncoming drivers to your lane changes or turns (if you use your turn signals!). Some side mirrors also have turn signal bulbs in them.
There are a few other important bulbs. You may not care about the ones that illuminate your rear license plate, for example. But they are there to help public safety forces identify your vehicle. In fact, in many municipalities you can be pulled over and ticketed if ANY of the standard lights are burned out. So not only does having all your exterior lights working improve your vehicle's safety, it may keep you from getting a ticket.
Many newer vehicles have a light on the instrument panel that will go on if on-board computers detect voltage problems in any of your vehicle's bulb circuits. Sometimes it can be hard to figure out which light may be not be working since there are so many. Sometimes it's simply a matter of replacing a bulb, but it may be an electrical problem causing the problem. Stay legal and safe by having your service repair facility diagnose and fix a non-working light, a really bright idea, don't you think?
Auto Lab Livonia
36251 Five Miles Rd
Livonia, MI 48154
734-432-6000
http://www.autolablivonia.com
Need Service?
More articles from Auto Lab Livonia
Don’t Blow Your Cool (Water Pump Replacement)
May 24, 2026
Its always a good idea to keep your cool, and thats especially true when it comes to some components of your vehicle. One is the engine. Its hot under that hood thanks to the mini explosions that are occurring in the internal combustion engine when its running. Your vehicle has a cooling syste... More
Don’t Be Hosed (Radiator Hose Replacement)
May 17, 2026
If you are like most drivers, you dont worry too much about what shape your radiator hoses are in. But they are a vital part of your coolant system, helping carry engine coolant from the hot engine to where it is cooled off in the radiator. When the cooling system has a problem, you will likel... More
Positive and Negative (Battery Care)
May 10, 2026
You notice when your smartphone's battery starts to go weak on you. It runs out of juice faster than it did when it was new. Bet you pay attention to that pretty closely. Unfortunately, many of us don't pay the same attention to the battery in our vehicles. If your battery got you through the ... More