Dec 22, 2023

You need properly functioning headlights to drive safely at night. If you notice issues with your headlights, visit your local Toyota dealership to have them inspected and replaced right away. Watch out for the telltale signs that it might be time to get new headlights for your Toyota.

A close-up photo of a car's headlights near Noblesville, Indiana

Flickering Headlights

If your headlights sporadically flicker on and off, the most likely culprit is a failing bulb filament due to excessive use over time. Flickering lights can also indicate a loose battery connection, a failing alternator, or a bad harness. The only way to be sure is to visit your dealer and have the headlights inspected. The technicians will diagnose any underlying electrical issues before replacing the bulbs.

Dimming Lights

Gradual dimming and loss of brightness mean your headlight bulbs are aging and ready for replacement. This problem can also be caused by a corroded ground wire or faulty connections leading to the headlight assembly. Even if you replace the headlight alone, you won’t solve the underlying problem. Go to your Toyota technician so they can replace both the headlights and the faulty wiring.

High Beams Not Working

You may notice that your high beams aren’t working, but your low beams are. The likely culprit here is a bad bulb. You can swap the high-beam bulb with the low-beam bulb to test whether it will work.

If the low-beam bulb works in the swapped location, you need a new high-beam bulb. But if the bulb doesn’t work after swapping, you should check for electrical issues like loose connections or blown fuses in the headlight assembly.

Broken Light

Cracks and chips on the headlight can allow moisture or dirt inside the light, leading to failure. Even minor damage can compromise the seal and cause the bulb to burn out quickly. If you have a broken headlight, replace it immediately to improve visibility at night and prevent damage to the housing and the bulb.

Burned-Out Headlight

If one of your headlights is burned out, you should replace it immediately. Although the other light may provide illumination, it will be inconsistent and lopsided, which can compromise your safety at night.

When replacing a headlight, it’s advisable to swap both and not just one. This is because if one bulb dies, it’s likely that the other one will burn out soon as well. Replacing both headlights also ensures uniform and consistent illumination at night.

Hazy or Yellow Headlights

After years of use, headlight lenses can become clouded, hazy, or yellow from UV exposure and wear. Hazy or yellow headlights scatter the beam, which reduces brightness and visibility at night. You should replace the deteriorated lenses with high-quality ones that are resistant to yellowing.

Compromised headlights endanger you and other road users at night. At the first sign of issues, visit Ed Martin Toyota for a professional diagnosis. Our technicians will replace the old headlights and inspect your electrical connections for faults.