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Lighting and visibility

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Justin Pritchard
Proper lighting care and aiming vital to safe and confident after-dark travels
Even with high-performance bulbs and proper aiming, a damaged, cracked or faded headlight housing may impede proper light transmission. Have a close look at your headlights and check for condensation inside, as well as cracks or a frosted, faded look.

Headlights should be clear and clean- not covered in years of tiny rock chips and weather damage. If your bulb housings are yellowed or appear cloudy, you'll want to consider repairing or replacing them. An application of plastic polish (available near the car wax at your local retailer) may restore clarity. If not, it may be time to check into replacement housings from your dealership or auto body supplier.


Shopping for a new ride? Be sure to consider xenon lighting if it's available on the model you're looking at. Xenon lighting emits a glimmering white, blue or purple discharge commonly associated with high-end vehicles. It's becoming more and more common on affordable cars, and it has tremendous benefits when driving at night.

Though replacement bulbs are more costly, xenon lighting is engineered to closely replicate the color of daylight. You'll likely find your eyes stay 'fresher' later into a nighttime drive, as they don't need to strain to see details. Additionally, xenon light is very saturating and powerful-- flooding the road ahead with crisp, clear illumination. Try xenon lighting over conventional halogen, and you'll probably never go back. In fact, some models even offer xenon lighting that self-levels and steers into corners for enhanced performance.

Your dealership or car-parts store has the full scoop.
photo:Jupiter Images
Justin Pritchard
Justin Pritchard
Automotive expert
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