| Basically, fixing and repairing your cars headlights is | | | | after 3-5 years. You can cover the seal around the |
| something everyone can do. You could take your car | | | | lens with silicone to reseal the lens. If the leak was |
| to your local car dealer and pay hundreds of dollars or | | | | caused by a crack a clear sealant like urethane can |
| you could repair them yourself for as little as $15. I | | | | be used to seal the crack or small hole. If it is a large |
| would rather keep my money than make my local | | | | hole it would be best to replace the lens.The other |
| dealer rich with their outrageous markups and prices. | | | | major problem is cloudy, yellow headlight lenses which |
| Here is how to properly evaluate, fix and repair almost | | | | can lead to diminished output, poor nighttime visibility |
| any automotive headlight problem.First, determine what | | | | and basically an unsafe car. There are now headlight |
| the problem is. Are they dim, not working at all, hard to | | | | repair, restorer and cleaner kits available to cure this |
| see with at night, have water inside, failed inspection? If | | | | problem. In the past you had to resort to replacing your |
| they don't come on at all either you have a burned out | | | | lenses which can be very expensive - $200+ per lens |
| bulb or an electrical problem. An electrical problem can | | | | not including installation and labor at your local car |
| be expensive and very labor intensive to fix - but they | | | | dealer. Now for under $20 you can fully restore your |
| are usually vary rare. So lets first look at the bulb. The | | | | headlight lenses to like new optical clarity and greatly |
| bulb unscrews out of the back of the headlight lens on | | | | improve your nighttime safety. For more information on |
| most newer cars (on older cars with glass headlights | | | | these kits please see the link below.There you have it |
| the whole lens is the bulb and you just replace it with a | | | | - the three biggest problems with automotive |
| new glass replacement $10 - $20 at Walmart). After | | | | headlights and how to fix and repair them for greater |
| removing the bulb, look at it. Does it look burned out? Is | | | | safety for nighttime driving - and save big by doing it |
| it black, melted, discolored? If so, replace with a new | | | | yourself. Please take the time to make your headlights |
| one. You can purchase replacements at your local | | | | and rest of your car as safe as possible. As having |
| automotive store or Walmart for under $20. Insert the | | | | volunteered for a volunteer emergency squad for |
| new bulb or bulbs and make sure not to touch the | | | | years I have personally witnessed dozens of fatal |
| glass part of the bulb with your fingers - the grease | | | | crashes that could have easily been avoided by just |
| we emit on our fingers will cause the bulb to wear | | | | properly repairing and fixing the headlights. Be safe, |
| more quickly or even blow. After installing the bulb try | | | | drive safe - remember the life you save may be your |
| the lights. 99% of the time this is the reason they will | | | | own. Please pass this around so that it may benefit as |
| not turn on. If it still doesn't light you have an electrical | | | | many people as possible and increase the safety on |
| problem and this should be referred to your local | | | | our roads.David Maillie is a chemist with over 12 years |
| mechanic.If you have water in your lens this is caused | | | | experience in biochemical research and clynical |
| by a leak, crack, or hole in the lens. With the newer | | | | analysis. He is an alumni of Cornell University and |
| plastic lenses you need to remove the lens and then | | | | specializes in biochemical synthesis for public, private, |
| carefully drill a small hole into the bottom of the lens | | | | and governmental interests. He holds numerous |
| (be careful not to hit the bulb. Let the water run out | | | | patents including his recently awarded patent for |
| and then patch with silicone (easily obtained at | | | | headlight repair, restorer and cleaner. He can be |
| Walmart or your local automotive store). Then find the | | | | reached at M.D. |
| source of the water. Usually the seals start to go bad | | | | |