If you think about the safety equipment on your truck, chances are you think about your brakes, the marker lights or other semi truck parts that stand out. However, you may not think about your headlights. However, these are among the most important safety parts. They let you see what is ahead of you during dark conditions and also alert other drivers to your location.
Taking care of the safety equipment on your truck is an essential part of maintenance. However, if you are like many truck drivers and owners, you may be uncertain when it is time to replace your headlights.
Signs Your Lights Need Replacing
Many people avoid changing their lights until they burn out. This is a mistake because lights can dim over time. This could leave you with significantly reduced light output. If you have incandescent bulbs, their light output may have reduced by 20% within the first two years. Even more modern LED lights should be replaced regularly.
Over-the-road truckers should be especially careful about replacing their headlights. You don’t want to be a hundred miles into a multi-day route when you realize that your headlights need to be replaced.
Changing your headlights on a regular basis is a good idea and relatively inexpensive. Consult your owner’s manual for the specific intervals recommended for your vehicle and headlights. Always change them both at the same time. If one is on its last legs, the other is almost certainly following close behind.
If you notice that your lights seem dim or inconsistent, it is time to replace them. It is almost always better to be safe than sorry with your lights. Headlights are typically different for each vehicle model. For example, Freightliner Century headlights are different from Mack headlights.
For semi-trucks, most people replace the entire headlight assembly. This can be easier than just replacing the bulb and avoids the possibility of the lenses getting cloudy or dirty. Plus, trucks undergo a lot more wear than passenger cars and need parts replaced regularly.
Replacing the Headlights
Typically, replacing headlights is fairly simple. The steps vary depending on the model, so consult your owner’s manual to find what you need to do. Most people can perform this in an hour or less. All you will need to do is remove the mounting screws that hold the headlight assembly in place, unplug the lights and replace them with the new ones. Always turn them on when you are done to ensure they are working.
If you want a little more style, you can find headlights in all sorts of designs. You may also be able to switch to colored lights but check the local laws before making this modification.
Get Started
Changing your headlights is easy to do and well worth the time and expense. Make sure you get the right replacements. For example, you will need to get specific Peterbilt 389 headlights for that model. Keep in mind that the fit may change over different model years. Get started replacing your headlights today by ordering the parts.
