DIY Advice Blog

Recently a friend asked why his headlight bulbs burned out so often. He replaces the bulbs himself and each time the bulb burned out, he noticed that the glass had shattered as well. The glass surrounding a headlight bulb gets very hot during use. Oil from your hands can form a weak spot in the glass and cause it to bulge out and shatter. To eliminate the possibility of getting oil on the bulb, wear latex or nitrile gloves when you replace the capsules. Also, wipe the bulb with a clean cloth right before you insert it. That way, your headlight bulbs won’t shatter, and you’ll get the expected life out of them.

— Rick Muscoplat, Automotive Editor

For more vehicle maintenance and repair tips, visit our Auto Repair section.