Car Repair Essentials: Lights

After the clocks change, signalling the start of winter, it’s essential that you check to see if you have car headlight problems or car light problems. There are regulations when driving in the UK and the EU when it comes to your car’s lights and if they aren’t functioning properly, the consequences can be dire.

Make sure you book a car repair as soon as possible if you are worried about your car lights not working.

What to check for?

The following list details the lights and electrically operated parts of your car, which will need to be in top working condition to safely drive on the road.

· Headlights are working whilst dipped and on full beam

· Daytime running lights

· Tail lights

· Brake lights

· Fog lights

· Sidelights

· Hazard lights

· Registration plate lights

· Indicator lights

· Dashboard lights

· Other electrical elements are working – such as windows and windscreen wipers

If you’re having car light problems then you will need to take your car to a car repair garage to get them fixed.

Common problems with car lights

The most common reason why your car’s lights aren’t working will usually be either that a light bulb has blown and needs replacing, or that the alternator that supplies the electricity to your car is faulty and needs to be looked at by a professional car mechanic.

Electrical problems are often hard to detect, let alone fix yourself, so you need to ensure that you get your car serviced regularly to ensure that the electrics are being maintained regularly. We’ve got the expertise to help you get this right.

How to check your car lights

It’s worth checking your lights on a regular basis, like once a week, especially in winter in order to make sure your car is safe to drive on the road. By regularly checking your car lights, you will also avoid being stopped by the police and incurring either a fixed penalty notice, a roadside prohibition notice or having your car taken off the road immediately.

Brake lights and indicator lights

Check them once a week by asking someone to stand behind your car as you hit the brakes, and make a note of any light bulbs that are faulty and need to be replaced by booking in for a car repair.

Headlights and fog lights

According to new EU rules, all new cars made and sold since 2011 must have daytime running lights that automatically turn on when the engine is running. They will also need to turn off automatically once the engine has been switched off.

One of the best ways to check your headlights and fog lights are working correctly is to first turn on your engine and ask someone to check that your daytime running lights automatically come on and that your fog lights work when you turn them on manually.

If you bought your car after 2011, ensure that your engine is running and manually turn on your headlights to full beam and dipped, as well as turning on your fog lights.

Tail lights, sidelights and other car lights

You will also need to check your tail lights, side lights, hazard lights, registration plate lights, dashboard lights and other electrically operated parts of your car such as the windows and windscreen wipers.

Again, it’s best if you ask someone to stand outside your car to check when you turn these various lights on and off, to isolate any which mightn’t be working.

The consequences of driving with broken lights

Accidents can and will occur if your car lights aren’t working properly, which can result in a police car pulling you over and issuing you with a fine between £30 - £60, a Roadside Prohibition Notice of up to ten days to get the lights fixed and even up to three points on your driving licence. This all depends on the lights that are not working and the severity of the problem.

Our fully-qualified and friendly car mechanics will help get your car repaired if there are electrical faults and your car lights aren’t working. Book in for diagnostics testing, servicing, repairs and MOTs today!