Headlights 101: How to change your car’s light bulbs?

Changing your car's light bulbs is so easy that you can do it yourself at home!

Headlights are one of the most essential pieces of safety equipment in a car. Not only does it help to illuminate the road ahead, but it also allows you to be seen by other motorists on the road, especially at night. 

For this very straightforward reason, it's vital to be proactive with your headlight bulbs, because if one or both of the bulbs have burned out, not only will it get you in trouble with the authorities, but it will also make you a safety hazard to other road users.

Luckily, changing light bulbs in a car is not too difficult of a task. It's something that you can do at home without needing any special tools, for the most part.  

Disclaimer: This guide is for bulbs found in halogen systems, where generally, the bulb unit is visibly located at the back of the headlight unit.

Step 1 - Recognising the type of bulb 

Knowing what type of light bulb is needed for your car is also a piece of information that is easily obtainable. If Mr. Google can't help you with this, your car's owner's manual will provide you with information about your car's specific light bulb model. It usually begins with the alphabet H and then a number denoting the type of bulb. 

Step 2 - Locating the light bulb holder

Once you know what light bulbs are needed and have proceeded to purchase them, it's time to get stuck in under the bonnet. Open the bonnet and locate the rear end of the headlight unit. The bulb holder will generally look like a trapezoid-shaped plug with three wires coming out of it. 

Step 3 - Removing the light bulb

The first thing you must do here is to disconnect the bulb wiring harness from the light bulb itself. It is usually connected by a plastic clip that only requires you to press down on a lever for it to be released. 

Once the wiring has been disconnected, it's time to remove the light bulb from the headlight. Some well-designed cars only require you to twist the bulb out of its housing, while some other cars will require you to dislodge a metal clip that keeps the light bulb in place.

Step 4 - Installing the new light bulb

Holding the bulb's plug end, install it back into the headlight unit. You can tell when it's properly in when the bulb's rubber gasket is no longer visible. Once this is completed, connect the wiring back to the light bulb and check whether everything is connected correctly.

Step 5 - Check your lights

This is where you will check that everything is installed correctly. Testing the new headlight bulb is as easy as turning on the headlights. If one or both of the bulbs don't turn on, go back to the headlights and check the wiring to make sure you've connected them securely.

Here’s a bit of trivia for you: Did you know that regular halogen bulbs provide illumination of up to 100 meters only? 

So say you see something in front of you and need to take evasive action, factoring in reaction times you have about 60 meters to evade or stop from hitting whatever is in your path. What if you could add an additional 50 meters to that illuminated distance? This will give you more time to maneuver safely, or even come to a full stop. Now add to that 150 percent more brightness as well. This not only gives you better visibility at night, but it also makes driving less strenuous. You will be able to recognize traffic signs and potential hazards much earlier.

This is what makes OSRAM’s Night Breaker Laser the sensible choice.   

The OSRAM Night Breaker Laser is OSRAM's most powerful halogen bulb. Using an innovative laser ablation technology, these headlight bulbs shine up to 150% brighter compared to regular halogen bulbs. Not only is it brighter, but it also throws a 150-meter long beam and provides up to 20% whiter light. 

Since it uses the same bulb platform and is a like-for-like replacement, the OSRAM Night Breaker Laser is also JPJ compliant.

The above is an illustration of the difference the OSRAM Night Breaker Laser makes versus a regular light bulb on a bridge. Being able to see clearly and further means that you can anticipate any dangers on the road ahead and react accordingly. 

From now until 28th February OSRAM is offering you discounts on their range of bulbs through their official stores on Lazada and Shopee. 

Remember, If it’s not bright, it’s not light!