Your brake light bulb may be failing if the brake light turns on slowly, dims more than usual, or illuminates with the brake warning light. Burnt-out brake light bulbs are pretty irritating. It is always a good idea to have someone check your brake lights.
Set a block or anything similarly weighty on the brake pedal to get the brake lights to turn on. This is the simplest way to check your brake lights. Your brake light bulb may be failing if the brake light takes a while to turn on, is lower than expected, or the Brake Alert activates.
In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about brake light bulb replacement. From how to identify faulty light to how to install the new bulb, we got you covered.
Contents
- Brake Light Bulb Replacement: What You Need to Know
- The Different Types of Brake Light Bulbs
- Identify The Fault In Your Light
- Select And Replace The Brake Light Bulb
- Buy New Brake Light Bulb
- Install The New Bulb And Test It
- Tools needed:
- #3 Remove/Disconnect the Screws
- #4 Remove the lens
- #5 Remove the brake light bulb that is damaged
- #6 Examine the Socket
- #7 Replace and/or Connect the New Brake Light Bulb
- #8 Completion of the installation
- Why It Is Important To Change The Broken Brake Light
Brake Light Bulb Replacement: What You Need to Know
Brake light bulbs are an important part of any car, and it is important to know how they work and how to properly maintain them. Brake light bulbs emit red light when the brakes are applied, and this is a vital signal to other drivers that the vehicle in front of them is slowing down. Over time, brake light bulbs can burn out and need to be replaced. It is important to know how to change a brake light bulb so that you can keep your car safe on the road.
The Different Types of Brake Light Bulbs
There are many different types of brake light bulbs on the market today. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages.
LED Bulbs:
LED bulbs are becoming increasingly popular in all types of applications, including brake lights. LEDs are much more energy efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs and they last much longer as well. One downside of LED bulbs is that they can be more expensive than other types.
Halogen Bulbs:
Halogen bulbs are a type of incandescent bulb that uses less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. Halogen bulbs also last longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. One downside of halogen bulbs is that they can be more expensive than other types.
Incandescent Bulbs:
Incandescent bulbs have been the standard for many years, but they are not as energy efficient as newer technologies like LEDs and halogens. Incandescent bulbs also don’t last as long as newer technologies. One upside of incandescent bulbs is that they are often less expensive than other types.
Identify The Fault In Your Light
The brake light is one of several lights typically located under each headlight’s central focus. While you stand behind the car and verify the activity of the brake lights, get someone to sit in the vehicle and continuously clutch and release the brake pedal.
Decide which bulb, hidden beneath the rear cover, is the dull brake light. There may be several lights below each focus, but only one brake light bulb exists. Finding the correct replacement bulb may be easier in the future if you know where the brake light bulb is located underneath the focus point. You can ask your nearby repair shop for assistance if you’re having trouble.
Select And Replace The Brake Light Bulb
Most today’s cars allow access to all led lights from the storage area.
Look directly behind the central focus of the taillight with the failing bulb when you open the storage box.
Each tail light bulb has cables and a plastic frame that can be seen. Find the brake light bulb in the cabin using a flashlight. Pull the bulb holder and bulb into the storage container after circular turning the brake light holder to deliver it. Remove the broken light bulb from the bracket.
Buy New Brake Light Bulb
Although it is not necessary to bring the broken brake light bulb with you when you go shopping. It is advisable to keep it handy to ensure you buy the correct replacement bulb. This way you can avoid going back and forth to the shop.
Alternatively, you can buy LED backup lights online from auto parts store like SuncentAuto for your vehicle’s model and year by going to auto parts stores like SuncentAuto, CarID, or big marketplaces like Amazon and ebay.
Install The New Bulb And Test It
Place the clean bulb inside the holder. Push the base and bulb into the tail light unit, then tighten it by rotating the holder. Ensure the tail light assembly is completely occupied, including the bulb and holder.
#1 Get the materials and tools ready in one place
The essential tools needed for the job are mentioned below. Once you are ready with these tools, do not spread them over the area. Put them together in a location that will make them simple to access whenever a need arises for each of them
Tools needed:
- Torque driver (T10, T15, or T20)
- Safety goggles and gloves
- Bulb oil
- Newly purchased brake light bulbs
- Screwdriver
- 1/4 extensions (three or six inches)
- 1/4-socket set
- Ratchet, ¼
#2 Determine The Best Access Point to change the brake light
Getting to the brake lights can either be done through the boot or immediately from the outside, depending on the car you drive. The simplest method to get to the brake light is from the outside of the car.
You will need to check your car and then decide which way is comfortable for you to change the brake light. If access to the brake light bulbs is through the boot, then you clear it first with any unwanted stuff that is taking up the place.
The carpeted portions can be raised to a specific height to reveal the screws holding the lens in place once the load has been removed.
#3 Remove/Disconnect the Screws
Use the screwdriver to remove the lens screw. Be careful when removing them, and make sure they are kept in a specific location or keep it in the box secure enough so that you can easily find them when it is needed.
#4 Remove the lens
After the screws have been removed. It provides access to lens removal and attachment securely. Carefully detach the lens from its fixing or connection point.
#5 Remove the brake light bulb that is damaged
Remove the damaged bulb from the socket by reaching out to it. The method of disconnecting differs based on the vehicle and may require rotating or twisting. Just be a little careful and gently do this process.
#6 Examine the Socket
The replacement activity will provide you with enough time and space to do the examination.
Avoid just removing the broken bulb and replacing it with a new one right away. Take the time to check and inspect the socket to make sure there are no issues before doing any replacements.
The socket must be free of rust or should not be damaged. Additionally, it must be clear of any marks that could have been caused by melting or burns. Do not hesitate to take your car to a professional for prompt diagnosis and repair if any of the issues listed or discussed above are present or discovered.
#7 Replace and/or Connect the New Brake Light Bulb
The new bulb is then inserted into the socket when the socket’s state has been determined to be suitable.
#8 Completion of the installation
Once the replacement bulb has been successfully installed, ask someone, maybe a member of your family or a close friend, to see that it is functioning properly. If everything appears to be in order, put the lens back in its original position and tighten the screws correctly.
Why It Is Important To Change The Broken Brake Light
While you observe light activity from behind, have someone sit in control of everything and operate the brakes.
It’s simple to replace a brake alert light bulb. Without an expert’s assistance, you can carry it out at home. But if you get stuck at any moment, you could need their assistance. Simply removing the old bulb and replacing it is all that is required.
When replacing a light bulb, you must remove screws with a sharp object or screwdriver. You won’t even need one if your car’s design allows for simple access to the taillight box.
You might wonder how to change a brake light if you just bought a car. Please don’t disregard this problem because it might make nighttime driving uncomfortable. To prevent accidents, it’s critical to always drive with enough light. Be sure to seek the assistance of experts if you lack the confidence to complete this activity.
Conclusion
Brake lights are essential for the driver, passengers, and nearby traffic. A safety requirement is that your car’s brake lights and headlight are in working condition to avoid road accidents.
Suppose you would want to do the replacement of a brake light bulb by a professional. In that case, you can visit any of your nearest auto shops or the garage for the experts to handle it. Otherwise, buy the replacement brake light from SuncentoAuto.
This website offers a good discount on the product; you have to enter the model year and other relevant details, and the site will suggest the best product.