Time for New Headlights? Visit Your Jacksonville Mazda Dealer

Even though there are 60 percent fewer cars out and about at night, 40 percent of all road accidents happen after dark. One of the major causes for this is reduced visibility. No matter how careful a driver you are, if your headlights aren’t functioning at full brightness, you’re more at risk on the road. So watch out for the following indicators that you might need to visit your local Mazda dealer for a pair of new headlights.

Time for New Headlights? Visit Your Jacksonville Mazda Dealer

Your Bulbs Are Nearing the End of Their Lifespan

It’s important to find out which kind of bulb you’re using. This way, you’ll have a rough idea about how often you can expect to need replacements. The most common type of Mazda headlight bulbs are halogen bulbs, which tend to last for 500 to 1,000 miles, which might be a few years for a casual driver who doesn’t drive too often at night.

Alternatively, your vehicle might use high-intensity discharge (HID) bulbs, which have become increasingly popular over the past decade. HID bulbs are more expensive but have a longer expected lifespan of 2,000 to 8,000 miles. They’re also brighter, emitting an average of 3,000 lumens, which is more than double halogen bulb brightness. Light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs are about as bright as HID bulbs and are the longest-lasting, with a lifespan of up to 30,000 miles, and a price tag to match.

How to Tell Your Bulb Type

You can tell the different bulbs apart by the type of light and beam pattern they emit. First, pull up close to a garage door and turn on your headlights. A warm, yellowish color means you most likely have halogen bulbs.

White light means HID or LED bulbs. If the headlights flash for a second or two and then slowly build to peak brightness, then you have HID bulbs. And if the white light is instantaneously at maximum brightness when you switch them on, then you’re probably using LED bulbs.

Your Light Is Dimming

Both HID and LED bulbs start to dim as they near their last legs, and each type can lose up to 70% of their brightness before they die. But don’t wait for so much loss of brightness. As soon as you notice any dimness at all, get them replaced. For safety’s sake, it’s always worth keeping your headlights as bright as can be.

Despite being the least powerful of the three, halogen bulbs tend to maintain 100 percent of their brightness until the very end because of how tungsten particles recycle themselves inside the filament. Instead, they’ll eventually flicker out as the filament weakens and breaks.

Other Causes of Dimming

You might be surprised to notice a brand new pair of bulbs starting to dim. In this case, the fading light might have another cause. Your car battery could be failing, so have it checked. Hazy light can also be caused by dirty headlight lenses or the plastic of the lens getting damaged over time by strong UV light. To find out for sure, you can test the strength of your bulbs with a multimeter, or ask a technician.

Your Light Is Flickering

At the final gasp of life, many bulbs begin to flicker and eventually give out altogether. Again, there are other potential causes for flickering, such as faulty wiring or electrical problems. So have your bulbs tested to know for sure.

Get your headlights checked and replaced by certified professionals at Mazda City of Orange Park. We’re a trusted local dealership dedicated to offering the very best Mazda purchasing, servicing, and financing in the region.

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