Your headlamps provide a very important function…they allow you to see the road when it’s dark! On earlier vehicles, they were merely bulbs that were aimed forward and gave a small amount of light to allow you to see road markers, lane lines and other vehicles. Today, even the simplest headlamp system has many components that all must work together to show you the light!
As an electrical item, your headlamp system has switches, wiring, relays, and sometimes even other components that allow for much more intense light. Called HID, or “High Intensity Discharge” lighting, these systems can throw as much as 2 to 3 times more light down the road, sometimes in alternate coloring like bright yellow or blue. They tend to use more power, so your battery and electrical system must be in good shape. Also, these components can be quite costly if damaged, so it’s important to have them inspected whenever your car is at Auto Express for service.