Frequently Asked Questions
What is a taillight? The term tail light usually refers to the entire tail light assembly, which includes both the tail light that lights up with the headlights and the brake lights. Tail lights are mounted at the rear of the vehicle above the bumper. They are red in color and have accompanying white lights next to them to indicate when the vehicle is backing up. The tail lights are designed to make you visible to other road users. When you're on the road, tail lights alert other cars to your presence, so you can drive safely in the dark. Think about situations in the dark or bad weather. In winter weather, tail lights are even more important. Also, the red color of the tail lights will glow brighter when you brake, so other cars know to slow down as well. More details.
Step 1: Disconnect Car Battery
Safety is critical when working with bulbs and wires. Start by disconnecting the negative cable from the car battery.
Step 2: Wear protective equipment
Always wear nitrile gloves and safety glasses when handling light bulbs, as oil from your skin can damage the bulb and cause it to burn out prematurely.
Step 3: Opening the Trunk or Tailgate
After opening the trunk or tailgate, there may be excess carpet or upholstery blocking access points. Move these out of the way until you can easily see the back of the taillight. Some cars have a panel that you must remove by removing the fasteners (screws or bolts).
Step 4: Pull out the taillight assembly
Slowly pull the tail light assembly out of the vehicle. You will see the wires attached to the back of the bulb.
Step 5: Pull out the bulb
Twist the bulb holder to the left to release it from the assembly. In most cases, the old bulb will slide right out of the socket.
Step 6: Add bulb grease and install new bulb
Slide the new bulb into the socket, adding a small amount of bulb grease. You may see small knobs that fit into the recesses of the socket. Once the bulb is installed, carefully guide it back into the assembly and turn it to the right to secure the bulb.
Step 7: Reinstall the Assembly
When you are ready to reinstall the assembly into the housing, first tighten the screws by hand and then use the ratchet. It is important not to over-tighten as this can easily crack or break the housing.
Step 8: Repeat on the other side
Repeat all steps on the other side of the vehicle, making sure the taillights are working properly before cleaning.
Conventional Bulb Tail Lights
These are the most basic types of taillights that have been used for many years. They use an incandescent bulb.
LED Tail Lights
LED tail lights are becoming increasingly popular because they are more energy efficient and last longer than traditional bulb tail lights. They use light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to produce light, a semiconductor device that emits light when an electric current passes through it. LED taillights provide about two to three times more light than standard incandescent taillights. In addition, these lights can reach full illumination 0.2 seconds faster than traditional incandescent bulbs.
Halogen Tail Lights
Halogen taillights are like traditional bulb taillights but use halogen gas to improve the efficiency of the bulb. They are bright and last longer than traditional incandescent lamps. Halogen lights are not the most durable type of taillight. However, they still have a reasonable lifespan of 450 to 1,000 hours. If you ride short distances each day, halogen lights are a practical option. It doesn't make sense to spend a lot of money on expensive options if you don't drive long distances. This is especially true if you don't ride at night.
Xenon tail lights
Scientifically speaking, Xenon lights are a type of incandescent light. This type of light uses an odorless gas called xenon to produce light. Xenon lights are tail light that are strong, bright, and higher intensity than other lights. The gas is heated with small amounts of electricity, creating a brighter light than most halogen and amber light sources. However, unlike traditional incandescent bulbs, xenon lights have more advantages than disadvantages.
Tail lights work amazingly well for safety purposes as well. In order to see and be seen on the road, it is important to have properly functioning tail lights. They show the rear edge of a car, which allows other drivers to properly measure the shape and size of the vehicle. Tail lights tell drivers behind you if you are turning, preparing to stop, stopped, or backing up. If you are in trouble on the side of the road, you are more visible to traffic when your hazard lights are on. They also allow a driver to see other vehicles on the road in inclement weather, such as rain or snow. All in all, drivers behind you are better able to predict your actions on the road because of your tail lights.
LEDs can offer longer life. Their durability comes from the lack of a delicate filament that is easily damaged or burned out. With an incandescent bulb, you typically get about 1,000 hours before you need to replace it. LED tail lights outlast incandescent bulbs by a significant amount, lasting up to 25,000 hours or more. This not only saves you money in the long run but also eliminates the hassle of changing your lights so often.
