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Best Automotive Headlight Bulb Replacement Service and Cost in McAllen TX
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Automotive Headlight Bulb Replacement Service near McAllen TX: Are you looking for the Best Automotive Headlight Bulb Replacement Service near McAllen TX ? Mobile Mechanics Of McAllen, We’ll work with you to find the correct replacement bulb for your vehicle’s particular make and model. Our knowledgeable employees will ensure that your new headlights provide you with the proper visibility while causing little to no interference to other motorists. Cost? Free estimates! Send us a message or call us today. Best Automotive Headlight Bulb Replacement Service around McAllen TX. We serve McAllen TX and other areas. 

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BEST AUTOMOTIVE HEADLIGHT BULB REPLACEMENT SERVICE IN MCALLEN TX

The Basics Behind Headlight Bulb Replacement Services at Mobile Mechanics Of McAllen

Automotive Headlight Bulb Replacement Service near McAllen TX: Headlight bulbs provide visibility for drivers and alert both pedestrians and other motorists to a vehicle’s presence. Bulbs are primarily composed of glass, a low pressure inert gas, a filament, and wires. Using the electricity provided by a vehicle’s charging system, bulbs produce a strong, steady light. A motorist can alter the bulb’s level of brightness to a low or high beam setting. Motorists tend to use low beams at night or during periods of inclement weather. In contrast, drivers generally use high beams at night when it is especially dark and other sources of lights are unavailable. When bulbs produce light at the high beam setting they can also cause glare, so drivers should be careful when using high beams around others. Some higher quality bulbs will function at optimal levels for several years. All headlight bulbs will eventually require replacement as their filaments fail from use over time.

 

Why Should You Have Headlight Bulb Replacement Services Performed at Mobile Mechanics Of McAllen?

When your lights no longer illuminate the road as brightly as they once did, it might be time to visit us so our service staff can replace your headlight bulbs. When one or more of your bulbs burn out, allow us to help. We’ll work with you to find the correct replacement bulb for your vehicle’s particular make and model. Our knowledgeable employees will ensure that your new headlights provide you with the proper visibility while causing little to no interference to other motorists. We understand it is important for you to have trustworthy, functioning headlight bulbs equipped on your vehicle, and we would like the opportunity to help you find and install suitable replacements. Just contact us online or give us a call the next time your headlight bulbs begin to dim.

 

Change a Headlight Bulb in 4 Steps

Automotive Headlight Bulb Replacement Service near McAllen TX: You can have the fanciest wheels but it won’t matter much if your headlights aren’t working (and as we know from numerous movies and cop shows, a burned-out light will lead to an unwelcome stop by a highway patrol car). Fortunately, replacing a headlight bulb is a relatively painless process.

 

Tools you need:

  • New light bulb(s) — Make sure you get the right type of bulb for your vehicle (your local auto parts store should be able to match a bulb with your make and model)
  • Alcohol wipes and tissues (to clean and hold the new bulb)
  • Phillips screwdriver

Step 1: Locate the headlight holder

You’ll access your headlight bulb through your engine compartment, rather than from the front of the car. Open your hood and locate the headlight near the front of the vehicle. It will be in a bulb holder, with a power connector (usually three wires) leading to the bulb.

Step 2: Remove the power wires

The power wires are attached to a plug at the base of the headlight, and held by a plastic catch, a metal clip or a screw cap, depending on your vehicle. The plastic catch will have a small lever at the top push down on it while you pull the plug out. If you’re dealing with a metal clip, pull it up and away, and be sure to hold onto it as you pull. If you’re dealing with a screw cap, you can unscrew it by turning it counter-clockwise.

Step 3: Remove the old bulb.

Once the wires have been disconnected, you should be able to remove the back of the headlight holder and remove the old bulb by holding onto the base. In some cases, you may have to rotate the bulb a bit to get it free.

Step 4: Clean and install the new bulb.

Handle the new bulb with tissues or gloves you don’t want oils from your skin getting on it. You should also give it a good cleaning with an alcohol wipe before you install it. Once the bulb is ready, stick it into the base of the plug. If it’s installed correctly, none of the bulb’s rubber gasket will be showing. Once the bulb is in you can put the headlight holder back in place and plug the power wires back in. Make sure you test the bulb by turning on your headlights.

 

Extra: Replacing Tail Light Bulbs

The process for replacing rear tail lights (including your brake lights) is slightly different from working with your headlights. On some models the housing that includes the bulb is unscrewed from the outside, and on others you must unscrew it from inside the trunk. Once you’ve unscrewed the housing you may have to deal with tabs, screws or small knobs to open the tail light cover and access the bulb (make sure not to lose the screws if you need to remove them). You won’t need to remove the electrical wiring, but make sure you don’t pull out the housing too far, so you don’t rip the wires.

To unscrew the bulb, you should be able to pull it out directly (most modern vehicles are like this) or push it in and unscrew at the same time. Once the new bulb is in, replace the housing and reattach it (screws, tabs, knobs, etc.). Again, make sure you test the bulb by putting the key in the ignition and trying the brakes.

What causes car headlights to go out?

  1. Old age

Automotive Headlight Bulb Replacement Service near McAllen TX: The most common culprit for a burned-out light is age, You could be driving and not notice that one of your headlights is out, and then, since the other one is the same age, within weeks that one might just go bad, too,” he says. Suddenly the problem becomes scarily apparent.

  1. Extreme cold and heat

Besides age, extreme cold or heat can also cause headlights to burn out. The changes in temperature can impact the lightbulb filament, which is very delicate.

  1. Oxidation

With newer halogen bulbs, another cause of dimming lights can be oxidation of the plastic housing, causing it to appear white or yellowish. This diminishes the beam of light that helps drivers to see the dark road ahead, he says. “In that case, you would have to replace the whole headlight assembly,” he adds.

  1. Cracks in bulb housing

In addition, any cracks in the housing can cause halogen bulbs to burn out because these can’t take any moisture. So you could put a new bulb in there and within a day or two it will blow out because of the humidity and the wetness,. Also, these bulbs cannot be touched by your fingers; if you’re installing it, you have to use rubber gloves because if you put your finger on the bulb the salt from your sweat will burn that bulb right out.”

Have a safety plan in case your headlight burns out while driving. Make sure to practice safe driving when you’re on the road.

We understand it is important for you to have trustworthy, functioning headlight bulbs equipped on your vehicle, and we would like the opportunity to help you find and install suitable replacements. Just contact us online or give us a call  Mobile Mechanics Of McAllen, the next time your headlight bulbs begin to dim.

TIPS

Automotive Headlight Bulb Replacement Service near McAllen TX: You can have the fanciest wheels but it won’t matter much if your headlights aren’t working (and as we know from numerous movies and cop shows, a burned-out light will lead to an unwelcome stop by a highway patrol car). Fortunately, replacing a headlight bulb is a relatively painless process.

  • New light bulb(s) — Make sure you get the right type of bulb for your vehicle (your local auto parts store should be able to match a bulb with your make and model)
  • Alcohol wipes and tissues (to clean and hold the new bulb)
  • Phillips screwdriver

Locate the headlight holder

You’ll access your headlight bulb through your engine compartment, rather than from the front of the car. Open your hood and locate the headlight near the front of the vehicle. It will be in a bulb holder, with a power connector (usually three wires) leading to the bulb.

Remove the power wires

The power wires are attached to a plug at the base of the headlight, and held by a plastic catch, a metal clip or a screw cap, depending on your vehicle. The plastic catch will have a small lever at the top push down on it while you pull the plug out. If you’re dealing with a metal clip, pull it up and away, and be sure to hold onto it as you pull. If you’re dealing with a screw cap, you can unscrew it by turning it counter-clockwise.

Remove the old bulb.

Once the wires have been disconnected, you should be able to remove the back of the headlight holder and remove the old bulb by holding onto the base. In some cases, you may have to rotate the bulb a bit to get it free.

Clean and install the new bulb.

Handle the new bulb with tissues or gloves you don’t want oils from your skin getting on it. You should also give it a good cleaning with an alcohol wipe before you install it. Once the bulb is ready, stick it into the base of the plug. If it’s installed correctly, none of the bulb’s rubber gasket will be showing. Once the bulb is in you can put the headlight holder back in place and plug the power wires back in. Make sure you test the bulb by turning on your headlights.

COST

Cost of Automotive Headlight Bulb Replacement

Automotive Headlight Bulb Replacement Service near McAllen TX: If the problem with your headlight does turn out to be the bulb, it won’t cost much to fix. Headlight bulbs do vary widely in cost, however, depending on the type of bulb used. Whether your car’s headlights have halogen, HID, or LED bulbs will determine the cost of replacing your headlight bulbs.

Halogen bulbs are by far the cheapest replacement bulbs. Standard halogen replacement bulbs can cost as little as $10. You may want to upgrade to an eco or long life bulb if you’re looking to avoid changing your bulbs again soon. These cost a few extra pounds, but will last much longer.

HID bulbs are more expensive to replace. A standard HID bulb can cost anywhere from $30 to $100, depending on the exact bulb fitting and brand you choose. Luckily, HID bulbs last much longer than halogen bulbs, so you’ll save money in the long run.

LED bulbs are the most expensive of all three headlight bulb types. LED bulbs typically cost between $65 and $155 to replace. But just as HID bulbs outlast halogen bulbs, LED bulbs have a much longer lifespan than their cheaper counterparts. You may only need to replace LED headlight bulbs once or twice during your car’s lifetime. 

 

Cost to replace a headlight

The cost to replace a bulb and headlight can vary greatly depending on the car’s make and model and whether you do the work yourself or have it done at a dealership or mechanic.

Enlow says the average cost he pays for a halogen bulb for a customer is $15 to $20. He charges $50 per headlight for installation.

According to aftermarket parts retailer AutoZone, the average cost of a halogen bulb is about $15 to $20, while HID bulbs typically cost $100 or more.

Addison says the average cost to replace an entire headlight assembly is $250 to $700.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How long do headlights last?

The life of the average halogen headlight is about 4 to 6 years. It depends how much night driving you do and how many hours the headlights are used (day or night). HID headlight bulbs do not have filaments so they are much longer lived (10 years or more) while LED headlights have no filament or glass bulb and will last tens of thousands of hours, which is usually the life of the vehicle.

 

What causes headlights to fail?

The filament inside an incandescent bulb or halogen bulb is the weak link. It operates at extremely high temperatures, and is brittle. Over time, the filament will thin and eventually break. Excessive vibration (like driving on extremely rough roads) may also cause the filament to fail prematurely. Rocks kicked up by traffic can also break out a headlight if it penetrates the outer cover and hits the bulb inside. Electrical faults in the headlight wiring, connectors, relays or lighting control module may also prevent a headlight from working.

 

Do headlights dim over time?

Yes, but the amount of dimming is only about 10 percent over the bulb’s life. Tungsten particles that evaporate from the hot filament will gradually form a dull gray or blacking coating on the inside of the bulb over time, which reduces light transmission through the glass and light output.

 

How much should it cost to replace a headlight?

Standard halogen bulbs in most auto parts stores retail for around $12 to $17 each (less if you buy a two pack). High performance halogen bulbs that produce more light can cost $15 to $23 each (less if you buy a two pack). HID bulbs are much more expensive costing from $100 to $150 each! A sealed beam headlight for an older vehicle may cost $15 to $25 depending on the application.

 

Should you replace both headlights at the same time if one has burned out?

Yes. Both headlights have the same number of hours of use, so if one headlight has burned out the other headlight is probably near the end of its life too.

 

How do you replace a headlight?

Halogen bulbs and HID bulbs are usually inserted into the back of the headlight housing from inside the engine compartment. Many bulbs are a twist-lock design. You twist the bulb connector counterclockwise to unlock the bulb from its housing, then pull out the connector and change the bulb.

Some bulbs are held in the back of the headlight housing by metal clips, which must be carefully removed to change the bulb.

On some vehicles, access to the back of the headlight housing may be restricted or blocked by other components that are in the way, which mean you may have to remove some covers, trim or the headlight housing itself to change the bulb.

When installing a new bulb, DO NOT touch the glass with our bare fingers because the oils on your skin can contaminate the glass and cause it to crack when the bulb gets hot. Handle the bulb by the plastic base only.

 

Are headlight bulb upgrades worth the money?

It depends what you want. If you do a lot of night driving and are tired or replacing bulbs more frequently than usual, buy a pair of long life bulbs that provide 2X to 3X the lifespan of a standard bulb.

If you want better nighttime visibility, there are bulbs that offer a brighter, whiter light output. However, the trade-off for more life is often shorter bulb life. Refer to the packaging on the product to see what the manufacturer says bulb life and light output.

 

What are fog lights?

Fog lights are yellow tinted lights that cut through fog and haze better than white lights during rainy, damp weather. Yellow light actually produces less reflection and glare than white or bluish light when there is a lot of moisture in the air.

 

What are daytime headlights?

Daytime headlights are headlights that remain on whenever the vehicle is driven, day or night. To extend bulb life, daytime headlights may be run at 50 percent of normal brightness. The purpose of daytime headlights is safety by making your vehicle more visible to other drivers and pedestrians.

 

How do LED headlights differ from HID or halogen headlights?

LED headlights, taillights and trim lights are solid state light emitting diodes. They have no filament and no glass bulb. The surface of the LED glows brightly to produce visible light when the LED is on. Various coatings are used to modify the color of the light. LED lights consume much less power than incandescent or halogen headlights, and they will usually last the life of the vehicle.

 

Do LED headlights run hotter or cooler than halogen headlights?

It depends where you make the temperature measurement. The temperature of the tungsten filament inside a halogen headlight is around 4600 degrees, while the surface of the bulb itself may be 160 degrees F or higher. It’s certainly hot enough to burn your fingers! By comparison, the front surface temperature of a LED headlight may only be half as much at 70 to 80 degrees F. But the backside of the LED where the electronics and heat sink are located may be as hot as 100 to 200 degrees F.

 

Can you replace ordinary halogen headlight bulbs with LED headlights?

Yes, there are aftermarket conversion kits that allow you to replace ordinary halogen headlight bulbs with LED bulbs. The main advantage is that the new LED lights should last the life of your vehicle, eliminating the need to replace the bulbs every few years. Custom LED lights can also provide different colored lighting (whiter/brighter) for better night visibility. LED replacement lights are also available for halogen tail lights and stop lights, too.

 

How is the brightness of headlights measured?

Light output can be measured in lumens or candlepower. Both units of measure are measured differently, but both express the intensity or brightness of the light at a specified distance from the source. The higher the lumen or candlepower rating, the brighter the light source. The brightness has nothing to do with the color of the light itself, only its intensity.

 

How is the color of headlights measured?

Visible light covers a wide spectrum of wavelengths. The color or shade of the light produced by the headlights is measured in degrees Kelvin. Lights may vary from 3000 K (yellow) to off-white (4300 K) to pure white (5000 K) to bluish-white (6000 K). Most standard halogen headlights are around 4300 K. Natural daylight is around 5800 K.

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BEST AUTOMOTIVE HEADLIGHT BULB REPLACEMENT SERVICE IN MCALLEN TX

MOBILE MECHANICS OF MCALLEN

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