22nd
Feb 2013
In
Automotive
Is there a problem with a headlight (or two) on your vehicle? If you are having trouble seeing on dark roads or your headlight is visibly marred, you might want to consider how you could correct the issue yourself. Auto repair may not be necessary for something like fog build up or poorly adjusted headlights, though the staff at Leonard’s Garage & Service Center is always willing to assist.
Moisture Build Up Water sitting on or in the headlight can be visibly unappealing, but more importantly, it can reduce the effectiveness of your headlights while driving at night. The first step in correcting the problem is the finger test. Swipe your finger against the headlight casing. Is the dampness on its exterior or interior? Is it a few droplets or is there a small pond developing within?
If the moisture is only on the outside of the headlight, there is certainly nothing to worry about. It can be corrected quite easily. Simply wipe it away with a soft cloth, if you want to improve the current look of the vehicle or wait until you are driving, which will dispel the water as air passes over it. If you weren’t recently driving in a rain storm, it could be that you are parking your vehicle in a particularly damp area.
Water inside the housing is a slightly bigger problem, but you can certainly contend with it. If it is mere droplets, just leaving the lights on while you drive can be enough to dry it out. However, if the water has begun to pool, you will have to remove the housing. Just a slosh of rubbing alcohol after dumping pooled water can help in evaporating any remaining moisture, but to be sure the problem is corrected, leave the housing off and set in the sun or under a lamp for a while to ensure all moisture is removed before replacing it.
If this is a recurring problem, then you may want to better inspect your vents. These are built in to prevent moisture in the headlight housing. Be sure that they are not plugged or otherwise blocked. They can be easily plugged with dirt, spider webs, and other such debris. A quick cleaning should be enough to prevent future moisture.
Poorly Adjusted Headlights If the problem is not water, but rather a poor angle to your headlights; if turning them on does little to help your line of vision at night, then you may need to adjust them. Many cars, today, feature a level in the headlight housing. The bubble can be used to judge the angle of the light to the ground. It can also help point out potential problems with tire pressure or suspension, which could make the car tilt at odd angles, thereby making the light cast on an undesirable path. The angle can be further adjusted with shims. The pros can do this sort of job very quickly, but you may be able to save a couple of bucks by going it alone.
Leonard’s Garage & Service Center
4401 South 1st Street
Austin, TX 78745-1924
512-445-2892
Project 365 #313: 091111 The Shining | Flickr – Photo Sharing! : taken from – http://www.flickr.com/photos/comedynose/6329666703/Author: comedy_nose http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en
