All Questions
276 questions
20
votes
1
answer
6k
views
Are oils from the skin a problem with turn signal bulbs?
I'm aware that headlight bulbs are very sensitive (reduced lifespan) if you touch them with bare hands during install. Does the same apply to lower wattage bulbs like turn signals (and dome lights)? ...
- 12.5k
20
votes
2
answers
924
views
Does (forcefully) overriding the self-canceling damage my indicator levers?
Sometimes I don't want my indicators to self cancel, so I hold the indicator on while turning the wheel, and it makes a cracking/clicking noise.
Am I damaging anything if I do this?
EDIT: To clarify,...
- 6,565
17
votes
3
answers
7k
views
Why one should not leave fingerprints on bulbs and plugs?
I have read that one should not leave greasy fingerprints on their spark plugs or on their light bulbs. Why is this a thing? On what else one should not leave fingerprints? How does one avoid leaving ...
- 473
17
votes
5
answers
13k
views
Smart and effective ways to light up a garage without relying on power outlets?
I am currently renting an garage in an underground parking lot. The garage has no light inside nor electric plugs. The only form of illumination available comes from the few neon lights in the ...
- 1,765
16
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Park/marker lamps won't turn off
A few days ago, my Starcraft Allstar minibus, built on a 2012 Ford E-350 cutaway, started having a problem that the park/marker lamps never turn off. I was originally informed of the issue by another ...
- 926
14
votes
5
answers
1k
views
How do you test analogue electrical circuits?
When trying to diagnose problems with conventional analogue electrical circuits, such as lights, speakers, heated rear windows, etc, as well as short-circuits and unexplained current draws, it can be ...
- 28.9k
12
votes
4
answers
23k
views
Brake lights don't illuminate until pedal is pressed by about 5-10mm
2003 Opel Agila
My brake lights do not light up until I have pushed the pedal down by about 1cm.
If I rest my foot on the brake pedal, with the brakes applied a little bit then the brake lights do ...
- 6,565
12
votes
2
answers
661
views
Peculiar Interior Lighting Issue
Recently a friend of mine was driving a VW Fox (not new, I'm not sure what year but it was certainly 5+ years old) home in the dark with the lights on. Strangely, after a minute or two of driving all ...
- 7,957
10
votes
2
answers
2k
views
headlights come on by themselves when car sitting in sun
if sitting in the sun on a hot day, my family's 1995 Mazda protege 323's headlights will come on, even though they are not switched on. This occurs with the car off, and the keys out. The simple way ...
- 101
10
votes
2
answers
11k
views
Brake Lights Won't go On, Tail Lights Won't go Off
I noticed that my tail lights stay on even with no keys in the ignition, but that my brake lights have stopped working. Also, my left turn signal blinks double speed.
When I remove the fuse for the ...
- 15.7k
9
votes
2
answers
4k
views
What are reverse lights used for besides showing intention to reverse?
Recently I have noticed cars in parking lots with their reverse lights on even when the driver is not behind the wheel. I stop to let the drivers back out, and then realize they have no such intention....
- 193
9
votes
2
answers
14k
views
Is it Possible to Control Lights through OBD-II Port?
Is it possible to use a car's onboard diagnostic port to toggle the headlights, interior lights, or parking lights? If not through the OBD-II port, how would I go about remotely toggling the lights on ...
- 193
8
votes
5
answers
51k
views
How does a lightbulb with two filaments know which one to light up?
I need to replace the taillight/brake light on my car, and it's a bulb with two filaments (known as 12V P21/5W - see pic)
My car has two taillights on each side. A standard 5W bulb for the top half, ...
- 191
8
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Battery light on after new alternator
Car: 2003 Honda Civic Si G1Wh dash cam, 400w amp, 4300k HIDs
My alternator failed badly (stereo cutting off), no battery light.
Replaced it with a reman Duralast, battery light is on. It shows 14.5v ...
- 81
7
votes
5
answers
402
views
What are Daytime Running Lights for?
I'm looking to buy a car for the first time, and I see the option to have a Daytime Running Lights. What are they for, and do I need them? I live in Los Angeles, where the the two seasons that do ...
- 173
7
votes
5
answers
39k
views
Is there any benefit to replacing lights in pairs?
Similarly to this question, the replacement tail/brake combined lights I bought from Halfords for a Chevrolet Lacetti advised that the bulbs be replaced in pairs. They're dual filament conventional ...
- 360
7
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Can stock headlight wiring deal with 110 W bulbs?
My 2003 Opel Agila has 0.85 mm2 wiring for the entire headlamp circuits. I want to install higher wattage bulbs, up to 110 W. It takes H4 bulbs so the high and low beams are combined into ...
- 6,565
7
votes
2
answers
8k
views
How to replace front fog light housing on a Corsa C 2005
I need to replace my front fog light housing before my MOT as it's completely ruined.
What is the best way to do this?
DO I need to take the entire bumper off?
The image below is what I'm ...
- 375
7
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Why do cars still use mechanical blinker relays?
I think the electronic relays may be cheaper; and having less moving parts they are theoretically less prone to break.
So, why do cars still use mechanical relays for turning lights?
- 686
7
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Headlight and dome light flickers
My car's headlight and dome light flickers when the car is started, but when the car is already moving light is working fine. Other lights works fine, though I wasn't able to check the tail lights and ...
- 193
7
votes
4
answers
10k
views
Alternative reverse light switch
I am about to take me ute to get a "safety" certificate so that I can get it registered (QLD, Australia) and I have one issue left that is still a possible problem.
The switch that operates the ...
- 465
7
votes
1
answer
602
views
2008 Chrysler Crossfire - Check Engine Light
My check engine light has been on for quite sometime. I was hoping maybe somebody on the forum can give me a few pointers on what to look for. Even though the light is on, the car is running better ...
- 71
7
votes
1
answer
6k
views
backup lights stay on in park and switch off
I am working on a 2003 ford explorer sport trac.The backup lights stay on and I have to remove the fuse to turn them off.
- 71
6
votes
1
answer
14k
views
Brake lights and turn signals don't work (but head and tail lights do) on 1998 Ford Expedition
A friend of ours just bought a 1998 Ford Expedition.
Not working:
Hazard flashers
Turn signals
Brake lights
However, head and tail lights both work when they're turned on.
We tested the brake ...
- 895
6
votes
3
answers
6k
views
Possible short in reverse lights on 2003 Nissan Frontier Pickup Truck
When I engage reverse on the manual transmission of my 2003 Nissan Frontier pickup truck, the reverse lights tend to sporadically turn on and off. I'm trying to figure out what path to take to ...
- 193
6
votes
2
answers
429
views
Correct behavior of 2001 Prelude front side markers when hazards on
I am attempting to diagnose a fairly insidious electrical issue in a 2001 Honda Prelude SH.
My question is: With the ignition off and the headlights off, but the hazard switch on, what should the ...
- 4,910
6
votes
3
answers
32k
views
Daytime running light failure -- one side only
I have a 1991 Miata. It's a Canadian vehicle, and so is equipped with daytime running lights. Recently, I've noticed that the passenger side light is not working as a DRL. The driver's side light ...
- 205
6
votes
1
answer
32k
views
Honda Accord 2005 Headlight relay location
Side marker and full(high) beam working fine, but not dipped (low beam) headlights. Checked all fuses - ok. I looked at the cover of the fuse box above (pic below).
Honda Accord 2005 under-bonnet ...
- 61
6
votes
4
answers
906
views
2003 Buick Century Right Turn Signal Stuck when dark out, car dies when left gets used
I have a 2003 Buick Century and whenever it is dark out my car turns my lights on automatically upon turning the car on, the right blinker stays solid. This has been going on for a while but now when ...
5
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Mini Cooper 2003 - Identify rear indicator light wiring to install LED resistor
So off the back of a previous question, I need to install a resister to my cluster in order for the LEDs in the indicators to work properly and not hyper flash.
Here is an image of the wiring that I ...
- 375
5
votes
1
answer
28k
views
How should the lights for a trailer be hooked up?
I have a tent trailer and the lights don't work right. It has a 4 wire connector to my car but one of the wires on the trailer connector was worn out and probably not working. So I got a new 4 prong ...
- 1,051
5
votes
3
answers
3k
views
1991 Honda Accord with intermittent brake lights
I've got a 1991 Honda Accord with three brake lights, one on each side and one in the rear window. For reasons I have yet to discover, I can't get the right brake light and the window brake light to ...
- 3,230
5
votes
1
answer
16k
views
Car Bulbs: T10 W5W 501 what do numbers and letters actually mean?
As you know when replacing a bulb you normally check the bulb, the vehicle handbook or online to find out which bulb is required. In this question I will be using the T10 501 W5W Bulb as an example ...
- 191
5
votes
1
answer
7k
views
What is the formula to determine a relay for aftermarket lights?
Looking at aftermarket Light Bars that do not come with any relays or switches so I can build a custom setup. Per research I didn't find this question asked before. The closest two questions I found ...
- 3,737
5
votes
2
answers
946
views
2000 Honda Accord - Attempts to start cause lights to go out with no clicking and fails to start
I tried to start my car less than a minute after turning it off last night and it wouldn't turn over... it wouldn't even click.
I tried a few times and then let it rest. After a 30 minute phone call ...
5
votes
2
answers
255
views
Where is a good place for the license plate light on a 1991 Ford F-250?
I have a 1991 Ford F-250 here that doesn't have a light on the license plate. It's not obvious where the lights were before, but it looks like may have been replaced with sockets for a trailer's ...
- 2,457
5
votes
2
answers
3k
views
What's an effective way to protect headlight lenses from fading?
I just ordered a pair of rather expensive LED headlights for my Jeep (KC Gravity Pro).
These have a polycarb protective "lens" which means that it will eventually fade, turn yellow, get chipped by ...
- 1,557
5
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Trailer socket problems
I have a tow bar and a seven pin plug to operate the lights, fitted on my car. I recently took my boat for repair and when they brought it out of the workshop they dropped it from a forklift truck ...
- 51
5
votes
1
answer
805
views
Parking Light Switch Engages Head Lights
On my 1996 Ford Explorer when I turn the knob for my headlights (3 positions, 1 for off, 2 for parking lights, 3 for headlights) to position 2 it turns on my headlights, when I turn to position 3 it ...
5
votes
1
answer
13k
views
2002 honda civic a/c not working
a/c and re-circulation light stay on my 2002 Honda civic.The only way the compressor will come on ,is by grounding relay,then it blows ice cold
Relays are all good.There is power to the compressor ...
- 51
5
votes
1
answer
699
views
Dash Lights and Headlight Angle Adjust Stop Working
I have a 99 Nissan Almera on which the horn was replaced a few days ago and I just noticed that the dashboard lights and the headlight angle adjuster are no long working. A more powerful aftermarket ...
- 15.7k
4
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Why are VW tail light bulbs listed as 12W / 5W?
My VW Polo 6R left tail light is off and it seems there are several kinds of bulbs available for purchase:
12V 5W
12V 12W
12V 5W + 12V 12W
12V 12W + 5V 5W
...
My first guess is that the 5V is just a ...
- 143
4
votes
3
answers
6k
views
Why are taillights usually colored red?
Why do taillights usually use red glass?
And why are the indicator lights usually with yellow/orange glass?
- 143
4
votes
2
answers
643
views
What is the name of this part on a 2003 Mazda Protege5?
I'm coming up empty-handed on a Google search so maybe I'm not searching with the right vocabulary.
I have 2 LEDs out and I'm not sure if the single bulb can be replaced or if it's one single part ...
- 163
4
votes
2
answers
552
views
What's this inside my gear shift?
Is there a laser or something in there because it's really bright and looks weird and has a different look I'm pretty sure it isn't but it's weird .
- 177
4
votes
3
answers
144
views
My low beams don't work
My low beams on my 2007 Honda Accord are out. The high beams work, the day lights work, Just the lows don't work. I have changed both bulbs. I have checked all fuses and all relays and they are all ...
- 41
4
votes
2
answers
7k
views
Volvo V60 Daytime Running Light - what is the bulb type? Instructions to replace bulb? Or what relay/fuse to replace?
That ^ is a 2010 Volvo V60, UK, with one daytime running light that doesn't work. (The one on the other side is fine).
So I want to replace the bulb rather than drive to the Volvo dealer (which isn't ...
- 165
4
votes
1
answer
287
views
What type of crimping pliers do I need for these connectors
I have to run some cables in the bumper and I want to use waterproof connectors housing. The problem is that I don't have any crimping pliers and I don't know what type should I buy for this type of ...
- 43
4
votes
2
answers
464
views
Audi A6 : brighter reversing lights?
On my 2007 A6 the reversing lights are very feeble, enough to make it quite difficult to reverse in my own driveway in the dark. I understand that I can't simply use higher-wattage bulbs or LED ...
- 273
4
votes
3
answers
8k
views
Electrical - Low beams out, high beams still work
I have a 2001 Mitsubishi Lancer CE, unfortunately both low beam headlights don't work. However, high beams and parking lights both work. I've checked the fuse, relay and bulb, all appear to be working....
- 41