In what cases is the low beam lamp replaced and how to change it yourself

In what cases does the low beam bulb need to be replaced?

A sign that it is time to replace the low beam bulb is when the low beam headlights do not work. If the low beam of the headlights suddenly dims, this may also be a sign of wear. But most often in such cases you just need to check the headlights for dirt. The main reasons for the failure of low beam bulbs are fuse burnout, oxidation of relay contacts and burnout of the lamp itself.

There are also cases when the problem is not in the lamp at all, but in the electrical equipment of the car. Let's say you remove the fuse in the lamp power circuit and measure the voltage at each connector pin. The voltage in this case must be at least 12 volts. If it is equal to 0 volts, then replacing the light bulb does not make sense - it is better to immediately contact the service center.

It is also worth mentioning the reason for the frequent burnout of light bulbs. The fact is that the voltage supplied to the contacts of the light bulb should be 13.5 volts. In life, this parameter, unfortunately, rarely corresponds to the norm. After all, when the battery is charging, the voltage in the electrical network can reach 14 volts or higher. This greatly contributes to the burnout of light bulbs.

Why might the low beams not turn on?

In addition to burnout, the lighting device may not turn on for a number of reasons:

• Relay contacts have oxidized. To understand that this particular reason caused the lamp to turn off, you need to listen to how the relay works. If the contacts are oxidized, the relay will constantly click. To eliminate the breakdown, you need to clean the power terminals.
• The fuse has blown. This equipment cannot simply break; perhaps liquid got on the lamp base, resulting in a breakdown. The fuse should be changed and the cause of the problem should be identified.
• If there is zero voltage at the connector contacts, then it is better to immediately contact a technician; you will not be able to solve the problem yourself.

In the absence of all of the above reasons, the probability of the lamp burning out is 99%.

Reasons for frequent light bulb burnouts

Often, immediately after replacement or after a short period of time, low beam lamps burn out. The reasons for this are:

1. Poor quality, defective.
2. Violation of installation technology (the lamp bulb is contaminated with fatty deposits from the skin of the installer’s hands).
3. Fuse failure.
4. A current greater than the required value has passed into the lighting circuit.
5. The voltage regulator is broken.

If the lamp was installed by a service provider, it must have a warranty and the company’s specialists are obliged to fix the damage.

Signs of failure

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Like any electrical device, an electric lamp has a certain resource. There are three types of low beam bulbs used in modern cars:

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• halogen;
• xenon;
• LED

LEDs have the longest lifespan. But over time, they noticeably dim and their luminous flux decreases. Often, for the right and left lamps, the decrease in luminosity occurs unevenly, especially if they were purchased at different times. This can be detected at night by directing the radiation at a white wall. If the brightness or shade of the light flux is different for the right and left lamps, it is better to replace them.

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Video - replacing a low beam lamp on a Volkswagen Polo sedan:

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Xenon lamps begin to burn differently over time. It's difficult to notice visually. Moreover, the reason for this may be wear and tear of the electronic ignition device. But if the ignition has a visual difference, you should think about replacing the ignition devices or light bulbs.

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First, it is better to swap the ignition blocks (right to left and vice versa). If the problem “spreads” in some places, then the problem is in the ignition devices, and they need to be replaced.

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The most difficult to detect signs of failure are halogen low beam lamps. Experienced car enthusiasts do not wait until they completely fail. The packaging of lamps from reputable manufacturers usually indicates the service life. It is better to replace low beam bulbs immediately after this period, especially since they are relatively inexpensive. And removed used, but working devices can be left in the glove compartment for an emergency.

Selecting a light element

Before you change a lamp that has failed, you need to purchase a new element that fits your car. The headlights of most modern cars are equipped with elements with a base of type H4–H7 of the following varieties:

1. Inexpensive light bulbs with tungsten filament. They are characterized by a short service life and low luminous flux.
2. The most common are halogen lamps. They combine reasonable cost with optimal light output and long service life.
3. Gas-discharge, they are also xenon. Reliable and inexpensive products, a characteristic feature is that they emit a bright beam of bluish light.
4. LED. Economical elements that create good illumination and have a long service life. The downside is the high price of the product.

If desired, the standard halogen lamp can be replaced with an LED or xenon lamp, provided that the part fits the base. If you change the type of lighting elements, you will have to buy and install a pair of light bulbs in both headlights. Regardless of the type, the electrical power of the part should be 55 W (marking on the package - 12V/55W). It is not recommended to replace the low beam bulb with a more powerful one, so as not to dazzle drivers of oncoming cars.

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Domestic and Dialuch products attract attention due to their optimal price-quality ratio. Among foreign brands, it is worth highlighting several well-known brands:

• Philips;
• BOSCH;
• OSRAM;
• General Electric;
• Koito.

Types of lamps

The choice of lamp depends on the characteristics of the car and its brand, but the final decision is up to the owner. So incandescent lamps are the standard type of low beam lamps and come from the manufacturer. They do not stand out for their brightness or reliability, but are quite suitable if the vehicle speed does not exceed 90 km/h.

Halogen lamps, whose bulbs contain a special gas, combine quality and functionality. The main advantages of such light bulbs are:

• ease of installation;
• low price;
• safe work;
• wide range of applications;
• low energy consumption;
• no ignition unit needed.

Xenon lamps are also popular. They have fairly high brightness with a minimal size. Other advantages:

• long-term operation;
• durable flask;
• the presence of two electrodes replacing the filament;
• powerful light;
• the small size does not create the effect of a light wall.

Replacing a low beam bulb is a necessary skill for every car owner.
LED lamps are an almost ideal option, as they significantly improve visibility, thereby ensuring a high level of safety. Another undeniable advantage of LEDs is their resistance to various shocks and vibrations.

Low beam lamp brands

• Philips (Philips);
• BOSCH (Bosch);
• OSRAM (Osram);
• General Electric (General Electric);
• Koito (Koito).

Tips for choosing headlight bulbs

Currently, the most commonly used bulbs are H7 sockets. They are divided into:

• halogen;
• LED;
• halogen with xenon effect;
• xenon

Halogen lamps for cars have the most average performance. These lamps are the most common among car owners. But these lamps are also the shortest lasting due to their high heat. Halogen lamps with xenon effect always have an increased service life compared to conventional halogen lamps.

Automotive LED lamps are more economical, but are more vulnerable to external influences: impacts, shocks. But at the same time, LED lamps are record holders in terms of service life. Also, having purchased these light bulbs, you may encounter some difficulties when adjusting the light beam, described below in the article.

Xenon lamps are immune to shock and vibration. Their temperature regime is closest to that of daylight. But not everyone can afford such lamps due to their high cost. Also, xenon bulbs require the installation of an additional light ignition unit.

You can find more detailed information about which xenon is better in the educational material of our specialist.

As a rule, when choosing replacement light bulbs, drivers are guided by reliability and low cost. An important factor is also the efficiency of lamps in conditions of poor visibility. Philips and BOSCH bulbs fit these criteria perfectly among halogen bulbs. Philips light bulbs, like almost all other products from this company, are the longest-lasting halogen lamps, but also less bright.

An exception is Philips “X-Treme Vision”, which produces LED bulbs with increased luminous flux, but their service life is lower than that of their classmates. BOSCH lamps, on the contrary, wear out faster, but, as a rule, they shine brighter. The color range of the light beam from BOSCH light bulbs is also more diverse.

Among LED light bulbs, the highest quality ones are Philips “X-Treme Vision” and the Korean “MTF-Light Argentum” series with high glow temperature and brightness.

The most popular halogen bulbs with xenon effect are produced by Koreans. "MTF-Light Palladium" is a lamp with a fairly high glow temperature (5500 K) and the attractive effect of expensive xenon. This model is also the most budget-friendly of xenon lamps. Also worth highlighting is “Osram Cool Blue Intense”, which is visually close to the original xenon. The light emanating from such a lamp has an attractive white-blue tint.

The most popular xenon lamp in Russia is “MaxLux H7”. The ratio of its cost and characteristics is quite favorable. This lamp, with a cost of up to 950 rubles, has milky white and bluish shades and a glow temperature from 4300 to 6000 K. The disadvantage of the lamp is its production in Chinese Sho-Me factories, which sometimes gives reason to doubt the quality and integrity when delivering goods to the shops.

Always carefully check the lamps you purchase for unexpected cracks or deformations!

For more expensive models, there are top Japanese manufacturers such as KOITO MANUFACTURING. The cost of such lamps is the highest, but the quality is strikingly different from their colleagues for the better.

You can find the cheapest light bulbs from domestic ones and from Dialuch. But only one thing can be said about these light bulbs - their low price fully corresponds to their quality. Such bulbs are more suitable for owners of domestic cars and cars assembled in Russian factories (for example, Hundai “Accent” and Renault “Logan”).

Step-by-step lamp replacement

When the light goes out in one of the headlights, the driver first tries to find out the cause of the problem. If it is associated with a failed lamp, then you should replace the device with a new one. If this problem occurs and if the driver is not aware of how to change the low beam lamp on a viburnum, we suggest using the following instructions:

• You need to start working by opening the hood and turning off the power. To do this, you need to remove the negative terminal from the battery.
• Having moved the washer reservoir, the driver must remove the cover-cover and remove the burnt-out device.

Replacing a low beam light bulb on a car

• The lamp is removed by squeezing the latch.
• At the next stage, the terminals from the lighting device are disconnected, and a new low beam lamp is installed on the Kalina car.

To correctly place the lamp in the right place, it is recommended to remember how it was originally connected and where the wires were located. Do not touch the glass of the lamp with your fingers, as this may damage the device.

Preparation

First you need to park the car on a level, safe place, putting it on the handbrake and speed. Then de-energize the on-board network by turning off the ignition and disconnecting the negative contact wire on the battery. The quantity and composition of the necessary tools is determined by the type of car model and the design features of its headlights and nearby components. In addition, you will need clean gloves made of cotton material, since when changing a lamp, they always make one very serious mistake - they take its glass bulb with bare fingers, leaving a coating of grease, which is why it quickly burns out.

Required Tools

Replacing low beam elements differs on different cars. A simple option is open access to the back of the lantern to remove the burnt part and install a new one. In this case, you only need a 10 or 12 key to disconnect the car battery.

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On some models, replacement will require removing the bumper, headlight or front wheel to access a special mounting hole. In this case, you should prepare:

• set of wrenches;
• textile;
• several screwdrivers of different sizes.

Before removing the grille, bumper, wheel or headlight, the car should be washed in a car wash to avoid getting your hands dirty or scratching the paintwork with fine grains of dirt.

To change a light bulb, you need to carefully bend the clip or spring without using any tools.

Removing old light bulbs

There are no universal instructions for replacing low beam lamps in the headlights of any car. Therefore, you need to carefully study the operating instructions supplied with any model. If it is not in the technical documentation, you can contact the supplier or the manufacturer itself. As a last resort, a lot of useful information can be found on Internet resources devoted to this topic.

Nevertheless, you can still give some general recommendations for replacement:

1. To facilitate access to the headlight, remove from the working area all nearby vehicle components, for example, an air duct pipe.
2. Detach the rear headlight protection panel.
3. If necessary, the module with wiring is detached from the mounting socket.
4. According to individual instructions, remove the light bulb from the socket and replace it with a new one.
5. Reassemble all parts in reverse order.

Installing a new lamp

When installing a new lamp, you need to consider two basic rules:

1. Do not handle the flask with your bare hands - you must use cotton gloves or, in extreme cases, a napkin.
2. Insert it into the mounting socket exactly according to the technology, avoiding poor fastening, distortion and under-twisting. Otherwise. Even if the lamp shines, it will not last long and will quickly deteriorate.

After the lamp has been changed, it is necessary to check its functionality. To do this, you need to connect the terminals to the battery, turn on the ignition and low beam.

Light correction

When a lamp is replaced, there is often a need to adjust the luminous flux. This happens for the reason that the filament in the new lamp is sure to move relative to the position of the previously installed one. However, this procedure is not so easy to perform - this will require special conditions - bringing the vehicle characteristics (tire pressure, ballast load, leveling) to factory parameters and a special adjustment stand. Therefore, it is hardly possible for the average car enthusiast to do it with his own hands - it is better to contact a professional car service center.

Advice! If the low beam lamp was replaced urgently and there is no time to stop by the workshop for professional adjustments, you can perform express adjustment yourself. To do this, you need to drive up to a garage door or a light-colored wall at a distance of about 5 meters and turn on both headlights. If there is no discrepancy between the repaired and intact ones, then no action is required. If the modified optics shine higher or lower, you need to use an adjustment screw, by turning which you can raise or lower the luminous flux.

Important subtleties

If you have decided to replace the light bulbs yourself, you must adhere to the following important rules:

• The low beam lamp should only be replaced with the battery disconnected. The battery can only be disconnected and connected with the engine turned off;
• To ensure that the elements of the vehicle’s electrical equipment do not fail prematurely, you should not check the serviceability of the circuits for a spark when checking the electrical equipment;
• You cannot use wire instead of fuses, or use fuses designed for too high a current or not provided for by the design of the car;
• To avoid short circuits, it is strictly forbidden to use screwdrivers when replacing fuses;
• Low beam bulbs can be halogen, so it is advisable not to touch them - grease marks cause clouding and darkening of the glass. If such a problem does occur, then the surface of the lamp should be wiped with a clean cloth soaked in alcohol;
• Do not wait for the low beam lamp to burn out. Darkening of the light bulb and decrease in luminous flux is a signal that it is time to change it.

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If the replacement was carried out according to all the rules, but the light still does not light, you should contact a car service to determine the exact cause of the malfunction and eliminate it. It is also recommended to change the lamp with the help of specialists if you are not confident in the successful implementation of the process on your own.

Professional replacement of lamps in car headlights

The specialized company FIT SERVICE carries out qualified replacement of low and high beam car lamps, regardless of the cause of the malfunction and the type of lighting elements. Replacing lamps yourself without knowledge and experience can result in more expensive car repairs.

Service specialists provide the following services:

— replacement of different types of lamps in car headlights;

— Replacement of fog and rear lights;

— replacement of lampshades and safety systems.

Thanks to a professional approach to each operation, FIT SERVICE provides a one-year guarantee for each type of work performed. There is a special discount program for regular customers, which entitles them to preferential car servicing.

Useful tips

Experienced drivers recommend changing both bulbs at once, even if only one is faulty. Otherwise, brightness, gamma and other light characteristics may differ, which may be annoying.

To increase the service life of low beam bulbs, try measuring the voltage of the on-board power supply at high engine speeds. If, after checking the tachometer, you find that the voltmeter shows a value exceeding 14.4 volts, then the car's generator urgently needs repair or replacement. For the longest period of time the engine is running, the generator should produce a voltage of 13.5 volts. This voltage is optimal for low beam bulbs. To maintain it, try not to connect a resistor or inductor in series with the low beam.

Below is a summary table of the ratio of voltage to proportion of the relative life of a light bulb.

To increase the life of your light bulbs, always check your voltmeter readings against this chart.

The leakage mentioned above can also cause the light bulb to fail. After all, when the seal is broken, the lampshade is exposed to external influences, including moisture and contamination. The consequences are obvious.

If the lamps burn out too often and the cause is difficult to determine, feel free to contact your car dealer. It will be much easier to undergo maintenance than to look for the cause yourself. But this method is more suitable for cars that are not out of warranty.

Try to choose lamps with simple white light, as they are most suitable for the climatic conditions of Russia. Sometimes it will be useful, for safety reasons, to abandon expensive xenon lamps in favor of conventional halogen lamps.

Let's sum it up

Taking into account the above information, it becomes clear that replacing a low beam lamp on a Logan is not a complicated procedure. However, it is important to perform all actions in the correct order, and also take into account the features and nuances discussed above.

In practice, only correctly selected lamps, precise adjustment and clean and transparent optics make it possible to obtain the desired result in terms of illuminating the road and at the same time not dazzle oncoming drivers.

Finally, we note that if the headlights are cloudy and scratched, the solution in such a situation is to polish the car headlights. This solution allows you to obtain a dense luminous flux directed at the road, avoid dazzling drivers of oncoming cars, as well as improve the appearance of the headlights themselves, reduce fatigue when driving at night, etc.