The bad news: You noticed a headlight on your vehicle went out.

The good news: This is a fairly simple repair that can be done at home.

Your friends at Leif Johnson are here to take you through the step by steps for replacing headlights from the convenience of home!

Here’s what you’ll need: New light bulbs  (Make sure to check online, your local auto or with our service department for what bulbs your vehicle needs.), alcohol wipes and tissues and a Phillips screwdriver

Replacing a headlight? 

Step 1 : Locate the headlight holder. Access the headlight bulb through your engine compartment. Open your hood and locate the headlight near the front of your vehicle. You will find it in a bulb holder, with a power connector leading to the bulb.

Step 2:  Remove power wires. These will be attached to a plug at the base of the headlight and held by a plastic catch, a metal clip or a screw cap. Look for a small lever on the top of the plastic catch. Proceed to push down on it while pulling the plug out. If it’s a metal clip, pull it up and away and hold onto it while you pull. If it’s a screw cap, you’ll want to unscrew by turning it counter-clockwise.

Step 3: Remove old bulb: Now that you have disconnected the wires, you should be able to remove the back of the headlight holder. By holding onto the base, you should be able to remove the back of the headlight holder and the old bulb. However, you might also have to rotate the bulb to get it free.

Step 4: Install new bulb : Use tissues or gloves when using the new bulb to keep oils from your skin touching the bulb. Clean the bulb with al alcohol wipe before putting into your vehicle. Once this is done, place the bulb into the base of the plug. The bulb’s rubber gasket will not be showing if it has been installed correctly. Once the bulb is installed, go ahead and put the headlight holder in its original position and plug the power wires back in. Test the bulb by starting your car and ensuring that the headlight turns on.

Replacing a taillight? 

There are a few differences to note in this process. Sometimes the housing with the bulb is removed from the outside, and in others you must unscrew it  from inside the vehicle. After unscrewing the housing, look for tabs, screws or small knobs to open the taillight cover and work on the bulb. If you need to remove the screws, be very cautious not to lost them. Don’t worry about removing the electrical wiring, but don’t pull the housing out too far as this can rip the wires. You should be able to unscrew the bulb by pulling it our directly or by pushing it in and unscrewing it at the same time. Once you have the new bulb in, replace the housing and reattach the screws, tabs, knobs or whatever else was initially removed. You will test the bulb the same as you would the headlights, by putting the key in the ignition and trying the brakes.

If you need any help with this process or just don’t have time to do it at home, feel free to call us at 512-454-3711. Ask for our service department. We’d definitely love to help with your headlight and taillight needs. If you have any other vehicle concerns during your visit, let us know. We’d love to help with those too!