Headlights Are Dim? How to Fix Them

Being able to see while driving is important to your safety, as well as other drivers' safety, on the road. Your car’s headlight bulbs help provide clearer vision in dark, low light, or poor weather conditions. Driving with dim or burnt-out headlights can lead to unsafe driving conditions, and can result in traffic tickets. Headlight lenses are designed to protect the bulbs against debris and moisture, but can also lead to dimness or a lack of clarity over time if they become chalky, foggy, damaged, or are otherwise obscured.

If you notice one of your headlight bulbs seems dim or that the light from your vehicle doesn’t seem as bright or clear as it should, there are a few simple fixes to solve the problem. Keep reading to learn more about how to fix your car’s headlight with parts and services from O’Reilly Auto Parts.

Passenger Side Headlight Bulb out on a Ford Escape

If your headlight is dim, flickering, or not working at all, you may simply need to replace your headlight bulb. Your headlight bulbs experience wear over time. As the filaments inside the bulb begin to age, the headlight bulbs can develop a residue or deposits that hinder the filament’s operation and keep headlights from being as bright as they should be.

Our parts professionals at O’Reilly Auto Parts recommend changing both headlight bulbs at the same time. If one bulb is dim or failing, chances are that the other one is about the same age and won’t be too far behind it.

Replacing headlight bulbs is a simple DIY repair task – just stop by one of our stores and grab a pair of headlight bulbs. One of our team members will also be happy to change your headlight bulbs for you, or if preferred you can complete the repair and replace your headlight bulbs yourself.

Headlight bulb replacement services require purchase of headlight bulbs from the servicing store, and may not be available for all vehicles. Restrictions apply. See your local store for details.

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If your headlights are dim, even after a recent bulb replacement, it may mean you need brighter bulbs. If one of your headlights is significantly brighter than your other headlight, the dim bulb may be old or a different type of bulb than the brighter one. Consider choosing bulbs that put out more light than your previous bulbs. Headlight bulbs vary in terms of light output, light color, clarity, and other factors, and every bulb may not suit your specific driving needs. If you replace one headlight bulb with a brighter bulb type, be sure to replace the other as well to ensure the best visibility.

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Headlight Restoration: before cloudy lense vs clear after lense

In some cases, the issue with your dim headlights may not be related to the bulbs at all. Over time, the headlight assemblies or plastic lenses of your headlights can start to cloud up, or may become foggy or chalky. This cloudiness is typically caused by exposure to the sun’s UV rays, debris buildup, or condensation inside the lens. The cloudiness on the lenses prevents the bulbs from shining as brightly as they are intended to, and depending on the severity of the damage or wear, may require complete headlight assembly replacement.

In many cases, you’ll need a headlight restoration kit to repair your cloudy headlight lenses. A headlight restoration kit uses an assortment of fine-grit sandpaper and a specific polishing compound and buffing pad with an electric drill to remove the cloudiness and take the film off the outside of headlight lenses. In some cases, a UV protectant can also be used to reduce the risk of the headlight lenses becoming cloudy again as quickly. The light from the headlight bulbs will then be able to pass through the way it was designed to from the factory, and improve visibility on the road.

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Headlight lenses and headlight assemblies are designed to protect your headlight bulb against debris, contamination, and moisture. If the headlight lenses are too far gone for a headlight restoration kit to repair, or if they are allowing moisture or condensation inside the assembly, you may need to completely replace them. If you've already tried to restore the headlight lenses and they've continued to cloud over or have moisture inside, it’s best to replace your headlight lenses or assembly. Moisture entering the headlight assembly can quickly cause bulb failure, electrical connector or socket corrosion, and other problems that likely can’t be fixed by simply replacing a bulb or restoring the lenses.

Many vehicles are manufactured with headlight assemblies that can be changed or replaced by removing a few bolts or clips and detaching the wiring harness. The replacement will be well worth the improvement in visibility and safety on the road, and will limit the risk of the lenses becoming cloudy again as quickly. For more information on replacing or repairing your headlight lenses and assembly, check out our helpful article.

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If you need to replace or upgrade your dim headlight bulbs, but don’t feel comfortable performing this task yourself, stop by any O’Reilly Auto Parts to find the best replacement headlight bulbs for your vehicle and get them installed for free by one of our parts professionals. We also offer free installation of tail light bulbs, turn signal bulbs, and brake lights bulbs. This service may not be available for all vehicles depending on the complexity of the replacement, so be sure to ask your parts professional if they can install the bulbs for you.