April 2023

How long do headlight bulbs last? Headlight bulb lifespan Standard headlight bulbs typically last for about 1,500 hours. Long life headlight bulbs last about 2,000 hours. How long do brighter headlight bulbs last? You pay a high price to get brighter headlight bulbs and the cost is actually much higher when you consider their short life. Here’s a comparison of standard and brighter headlight bulbs according to bulbfacts.com Sylvania Basic Halogen headlight bulb 1504 Lumens 1,134 hours Hella Standard Halogen headlight bulb 1482 Lumens 1,205 hours GE Standard Halogen headlight … Read More
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What are CAPA certified headlights? CAPA stands for the Certified Automotive Parts Association. The organization conducts independent testing on aftermarket auto parts to ensure they meet minimum standards and are “functionally equivalent” to an OEM part. Each component category has certain testing protocols the part must pass to earn the CAPA seal. What is the testing for CAPA certified headlights? The CAPA 301 testing protocol includes: 1) Testing for headlight compliance to: Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 for automotive lighting 2) Verification of Size, Dimension and Effective Projected Luminous … Read More
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Best replacement headlight assembly Replacing your headlight assembly may be the safest way to go Old headlights lenses degrade and reduce the amount hitting the road. Many companies make headlight restoration kits designed to remove the degraded clear coat and “restore” the lens. But those kits never bring the headlight back to factory new condition, and the restoration process doesn’t last long. In fact, most “restored” headlight assemblies require additional restoration within a year. That’s why it’s often best to buy a replacement headlight assembly; so you start factory fresh. … Read More
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How to buy a power inverter for car or truck A low wattage mobile power inverter plugs directly into the power port in the cabin, while high wattage power inverters connect to the battery posts. Most late model vehicles have power management systems that monitor current draw from the battery. In those vehicles, you should never connect an inverter to the battery terminal. It must be connected in series so the power management system can also monitor the current draw of the inverter. Please keep that in mind and get … Read More
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Is rust on brake rotors serious? Brake rotors are made from cast iron and they will form an orange surface rust if left unused and exposed to moisture or water. The surface rust can form as quickly as overnight in humid conditions. Is rust on brake rotors a problem? Surface rust isn’t a big problem because it will wipe right off as soon as you drive the vehicle and use the brakes. But surface rust can turn into a big problem if you leave the car or truck unused for … Read More
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Headlights won’t turn off — How to fix There’s no simple one-size-fits-all solution to the issue of headlights won’t turn off because every car is wired differently. Let’s take a look at the possibilities: • Headlight switch is bad • Headlight relays contacts are stuck • Daytime running light module is bad • Body control module is bad • Welcome light or auto light sensor/module is bad Headlight wiring diagrams Older vehicle using just a headlight switch Let’s take a look at three possible headlight wiring diagrams. In the top … Read More
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Secondary air injection system incorrect flow detected — Diagnose and fix Secondary air faults are common on older vehicles equipped with a secondary air system. You may be alerted to a secondary air problem by any one of the following trouble codes: P0410 Secondary Air Injection System Malfunction P0411 Secondary Air Injection System Incorrect Flow Detected P0412 Secondary Air Injection System Switching Valve A Circuit Malfunction P0413 Secondary Air Injection System Switching Valve A Circuit Open P0414 Secondary Air Injection System Switching Valve A Circuit Shorted P0415 Secondary Air Injection … Read More
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Melted headlight connector — what causes it and how to fix it the right way What causes a headlight connector to melt? The #1 cause of melted headlight connectors is too small a wire gauge from the factory It’s not uncommon to see a 20-gauge wire harness for headlights. With the headlights connectors packed into tight places with little airflow, the combination a wire gauge that’s too small creating heat from resistance, lack of airflow, and heat from the headlight bulb, you wind up with a melted connector. The melted … Read More
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Lubricate car window tracks to make the glass move up and down faster If you’ve got a car window that’s moving slowly or moving in jerking motions, it’s time to lubricate the window track (they’re also call window channels). Which lubricant for windows tracks? There are two choices of lubricant and there are pros and cons of each. Silicone spray. This is the most commonly recommended choice. It does a good job of lubricating the window tracks. However, since silicone remains somewhat sticky, it can also collect dust and dirt … Read More
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Car remote not working after battery replacement — how to reconnect remote with your car Sometimes the keyless remote fob can lose its pairing with your car’s keyless remote entry system. Here’s how to get the remote talking to your car again. If your car has a key ignition and the remote isn’t working after replacing the battery Insert the key into the ignition switch and turn the IGN to RUN, then off. Repeat six to eight times. You may hear a chirp or hear the door locks cycle. That’s … Read More
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