According to survey results, 74% of Americans know how to change a flat tire. But how many people know what to do if their car lights fail?
If your car lights stop working, this can be a simple fix that causes minimal disruption. However, defective car lights can also be a sign of bigger electrical problems.
What’s more, if you’re thinking of fixing your car yourself, you also need to be very careful not to break national laws around headlights.
Do the smart thing and keep reading to find exactly what to do if your car lights give up the ghost.
Don’t Drive at Night if Your Car Lights Aren’t Working
First things first, do not your car at night if the lights have stopped working. Ideally, if your car lights have malfunctioned, you should avoid driving the vehicle at all until you have gotten the lights fixed.
If you do, you’ll be putting yourself and others at risk, you might also get a ticket.
Take Your Car Into an Auto Shop
If your car lights stop working, it’s usually easiest and safest to get them professionally repaired.
If your car is still under warranty, you can take it to your dealer. If it’s not under warranty, you can choose between trying to fix the problem yourself or letting an auto shop do it.
If it’s just the bulb that’s gone, you can buy a replacement and simply pop the new bulb into the wire clips or screw them in (if they are bayonet-style). However, you will need to be very careful that you don’t violate national law by installing LED bulbs.
If your vehicle wasn’t manufactured with LED bulbs, replacing a bust bulb with an aftermarket LED version qualifies as modifying your headlights. This is not allowed under national law.
Take Action if the Problem Won’t Go Away
Faulty headlights are one of the most common car issues, but this doesn’t mean they should be a pesky problem, especially if your car is new. If your car lights keep having issues, it might be time to consider the possibility that your car might be a lemon.
Does your car seem to be in and out of the dealership constantly for faulty headlights or electrics? If so, this is not normal, and you might have a lemon on your hands.
It’s important that you take swift action when dealing with a potential lemon. Here in Florida, lemon car law stipulates that you must report the issue within 24 months of the car coming into your possession. You must also allow the manufacturer 3 attempts to fix the problem within 24 months.
If it reoccurs after this, you can proceed to claim for a lemon car. You will need to prove your case at arbitration, and for this, it’s best to have a lawyer on your side.
Have You Been Landed With a Lemon?
If your car lights aren’t working, it could simply mean that it’s time to replace the bulb. You might also have a wiring issue. Worst case scenario, you might have entirely defective car lights or a more serious problem with your vehicle’s wiring.
Car issues are inevitable, but recurring faults can indicate that you’ve been landed with a lemon car. If you have bought a lemon car, you don’t need to give up hope—but you do need to follow legal procedure.
Navigating lemon car law can be tricky without professional help. Don’t let a dealership or car manufacturer get away with selling you a lemon car.
Instead, contact us today to find out how we can help you defend your rights as a consumer.