Repair 7

How to Find Out What Replacement Bulbs to Use in Vehicle Headlights

Vehicle headlights are not only a safety feature that improves vision in the dark and rain and allows other vehicles to see you at night, they are also required by law. You must replace headlights as soon as they begin to dim and immediately if they burn out completely. Since vehicle headlights come in a wide variety of sizes and styles, you must examine the vehicle to determine which one will fit.

Instructions

1

Open the hood of the vehicle and lean inside to look at the back of one of the headlights. Locate the wire that attaches to the back of the light, which is the power supply. Pull the wire straight out from the back of the light. In some cases, the wire will have a small tab that you squeeze before removing it.

2

Grasp the rubber cover on the back of the light, called the dust cover, and pull it straight out from the light to remove it.

3

Locate the metal clip that covers the back of the headlight and holds it in place. Press down on the top of the clip to lower it away from the light.

4

Grasp the bottom of the bulb, which will be clearly visible in the center of the headlight and pull it out away from the light.

5

Look at the metal base of the light bulb for printed words, which will identify the bulb type and wattage. The most common types of headlight bulbs are sizes H1, H4 or H7.