Headlights: How do I Check Them Properly

These days everyone is fixing up their car to be theparts needed, and it can help the power of your lights
best it can be. Emissions laws get stricter every year;to go farther. This process also involves cleaning out
high gas prices mean keeping the engine, tires, andthe reflectors inside the headlights, which will improve
body in tip top shape; and the struggling economythe functionality of your headlights even further.
means maintaining vehicles for as long as possibleIf it comes down to it and you need new bulbs, it can
before taking out loans to purchase a new one.be expensive. Sometimes it costs hundreds of dollars
One part that's commonly ignored, though, is theto replace headlight bulbs, which can be quite daunting.
headlights. As headlights gradually get yellow and beginOriginal bulbs can be replaced with xenon lights, which
to droop, people don't notice that anything's changing,go for around $10 and are much brighter.
and then suddenly there's a dear right in front of themThis option can be fantastic if you need the extra
that they couldn't spot when it walked out onto thebrightness or the extra pocket change. And if you're
side of the road. Don't let this happen to you!lazy, it can mean that you don't have to worry about
With more and more deadly accidents caused bycleaning a thing because the xenon lights will outshine
poor headlight maintenance, there are a few cheapthat dirt and match the quality of your original lights in
things you can do that will probably dramaticallytheir factory-fresh hay-day.
improve your nighttime driving vision. First off you canEnsuring that your headlights function properly takes a
try cleaning the front of your headlights yourself. Therelittle bit of time and a little bit of money, but really the
are a lot of cleaners out there that will do aprice isn't so unreasonable. If you don't do it, you might
remarkable job brightening up the plastic without thebe paying for a whole new car, or a whole new
need to open up anything. Many police vehicles arehospital bill very soon, especially since a lot of reckless
maintained in this way.driving happens at night when people assume no one's
If that's not enough, try taking your car into the shopgoing to get in their way. Don't be roadkill, don't make
and asking them to re-aim your lights. This won't beroadkill, don't put off servicing your headlights!
very expensive, since it's quick and there are no new