Are you a safe and experienced driver with perfect eyesight who despises and avoids nighttime driving? Travelling after dark is a part of life for many motorists-- but it can also be a daunting task if your car's headlights aren't doing their job properly. A car with poor illumination can be a safety concern, not to mention a serious problem for driver confidence. Things get even worse when the weather turns bad.
If your headlights don't seem to shine as brightly as they used to, a few simple checks could show you why. Roger Lauriault, a Hyundai service foreman, explains.
"If you are having trouble seeing at night, always start with the basics first such as check to make sure the headlights themselves are clean and free of debris especially in the winter and spring. You should get the headlights aimed annually, too. Always use the proper bulbs. In fact, I recommend returning to your dealer as they have the OEM bulbs that should be used in your vehicle. Another thing people often don't consider is adjusting the aim of their headlights based on the weight of a load they may be carrying. If there is heavy cargo on board this will throw off the aim of the headlights due to the vehicle sitting lower in the weighted area."
Headlight aim is very important. If yours is out of whack, even an new set of bulbs could appear dangerously dim. Is one or both of your headlights illuminating the ditch or flagging down aircraft overhead? Check with your dealership or owner's manual for proper aiming procedures. It's generally a quick and easy job that most can tackle in a few minutes with a screwdriver.
Note that headlight bulbs wear out and dim over time- so sometimes a simple bulb-change is all that's needed.
Upgrading your bulbs is another option. Though a vehicle's OEM bulbs are usually sufficient, a set of high-performance lights may make a very positive difference. Available in a variety of makes, colors and styles, upgraded lighting is popular for both cosmetic and safety reasons.
Most folks notice that the light from a high performance bulb is more 'filling', shining farther up the road and into the foliage on the sides. A set of high-performance bulbs will run from about $50 to $100, and can usually be installed in minutes. Avoid heavily-colored bulbs which may be illegal for use on public roads.
If your headlights don't seem to shine as brightly as they used to, a few simple checks could show you why. Roger Lauriault, a Hyundai service foreman, explains.
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"If you are having trouble seeing at night, always start with the basics first such as check to make sure the headlights themselves are clean and free of debris especially in the winter and spring. You should get the headlights aimed annually, too. Always use the proper bulbs. In fact, I recommend returning to your dealer as they have the OEM bulbs that should be used in your vehicle. Another thing people often don't consider is adjusting the aim of their headlights based on the weight of a load they may be carrying. If there is heavy cargo on board this will throw off the aim of the headlights due to the vehicle sitting lower in the weighted area."
Headlight aim is very important. If yours is out of whack, even an new set of bulbs could appear dangerously dim. Is one or both of your headlights illuminating the ditch or flagging down aircraft overhead? Check with your dealership or owner's manual for proper aiming procedures. It's generally a quick and easy job that most can tackle in a few minutes with a screwdriver.
Note that headlight bulbs wear out and dim over time- so sometimes a simple bulb-change is all that's needed.
Upgrading your bulbs is another option. Though a vehicle's OEM bulbs are usually sufficient, a set of high-performance lights may make a very positive difference. Available in a variety of makes, colors and styles, upgraded lighting is popular for both cosmetic and safety reasons.
Most folks notice that the light from a high performance bulb is more 'filling', shining farther up the road and into the foliage on the sides. A set of high-performance bulbs will run from about $50 to $100, and can usually be installed in minutes. Avoid heavily-colored bulbs which may be illegal for use on public roads.
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