4 Services To Keep Your Headlights Maintained

March 3, 2020

Even the best and brightest headlights won't do much good if they're not working the way they should be. Keeping your headlights well maintained is vital for your safety, and we're here to help. Below, you'll find four services that you or a Subaru service technician can perform to make sure that the headlights on your vehicle continue giving you the best visibility.

4. Lens Cleaning & Clearing

This is one that you can do yourself, and at a cost of little to nothing! Checking to make sure that there isn't anything covering your headlights takes only a second, and that includes brushing off any snow or ice. If you've been off-roading in a Subaru SUV, you might have to break out a rag and some warm, soapy water to get caked mud off of the lights, but simply cleaning them still won't take much time. Checking all exterior lights before you get into your vehicle is always a good idea. We recommend asking a friend, family member, or neighbor to help you inspect all of the lights, not just the headlights. That way, you'll know if there's a brake light out or a blinker isn't working the way it should.

3. Headlight Lens Restoration

So, you've scrubbed your headlight lenses and they still don't seem clean. Do they look yellowed, cloudy, or foggy? This is likely due to a different issue entirely. Headlight lenses are generally made from polycarbonate, which is a strong plastic that's capable of taking lots of abuse. However, it also reacts poorly to ultraviolet light. Because of this, most manufacturers add a layer of protective film over the lenses to filter out UV radiation. Over time, this film may wear away, causing the polycarbonate to be exposed to UV. It will then take on a cloudy appearance. When you bring your Subaru to the dealership for a lens restoration, we'll buff and polish the lenses, and then apply a UV-protective coat to keep the lenses clear.

2. Headlight Alignment

If headlights aren't properly aligned, they may not be lighting the road ahead as well as they should be, which could become dangerous. How many times have you been temporarily blinded by a car's headlights shining directly in your eyes? Those headlights may have been out of alignment, pointing more upwards than they should be. Though accidents can knock headlights out of alignment, obstacles like potholes and bumps in the road can eventually do the same thing. Your dealership's service center will have the precision tools needed to make sure this is done right.

1. Changing the Bulbs

If one bulb is burned out, you'll need to have it changed. However, this isn't always as simple as you might think. If you have LED headlights, a dead bulb may signify some sort of deeper electrical damage. If you have halogen lights, there are some things you should consider. To start, if you're replacing them yourself, make sure never to touch the bulb itself with bare fingers. Doing so could leave an oil deposit, causing the bulb to heat unevenly and burn out before long. Second, it's best to replace headlight bulbs in pairs, since one dead bulb is sometimes followed closely by the other. Third, take a look at your owner's manual to make sure you know how to replace the bulbs. If you're uncomfortable doing so, your dealership will be happy to help.