# Are any of your vehicle lights burned out? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 2, 2022, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-of-your-vehicle-lights-burned-out/958795 "2022-02-02T12:54:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-of-your-vehicle-lights-burned-out/958795/1 "2022-02-02T12:54:51Z")
Last night, for the 3rd time in the 10 years I’ve owned my car, I was stopped by a State Trooper. Once it was for a tail light out, once for a brake light out, and last night, it was for one of the lights over the license plate. I think it’s pretty safe to say that I don’t routinely check any of the lights in back. Headlights and front turn signals are easy - I can see reflections in the vehicle ahead of me, especially when stopped. Sometimes when backing down my driveway in the dark, I can verify the brake lights are working, and maybe the tail lights. But the light over the tag would never have occurred to me. It’s not a biggie - the “ticket” was a warning and I’ll get a replacement bulb when I run errands later today. I don’t have to get the repair verified and I’m not angry or anything - just somewhat amused. On the other hand, as I drove to pick up my grandson this morning, I saw THREE vehicles with a headlight out. Where the heck were the troopers ?? How are your lights? Do you have any idea? Does it ever occur to you to check? ---
**Author:** ![Yodalicious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yodalicious/32/8195_2.png) [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-of-your-vehicle-lights-burned-out/958795/2 "2022-02-02T14:02:18Z")
One of my license plate lights is out too. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-of-your-vehicle-lights-burned-out/958795/3 "2022-02-02T14:09:06Z")
Don’t hate me – my Chrysler mini-van tells me when a light is out and which one, to boot! ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-of-your-vehicle-lights-burned-out/958795/4 "2022-02-02T14:10:43Z")
I check all the lights every time I top-off the tires, or at least every oil change. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-of-your-vehicle-lights-burned-out/958795/5 "2022-02-02T14:21:58Z")
I was going to say I don’t check, but I realize that when I lock the car, the signal lights all flash, so if one were out, I’d notice. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-of-your-vehicle-lights-burned-out/958795/6 "2022-02-02T14:39:49Z")
Most of the newer vehicles use LED lights, even for headlights, so it’s less likely for those to fail, but not impossible of course. I live in a rural area and see lots of vehicles with headlamps and tail lights inoperative. It’s dark out here, how do they find their way home? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-of-your-vehicle-lights-burned-out/958795/7 "2022-02-02T15:03:34Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > I check all the lights every time I top-off the tires, or at least every oil change. Seems like something a “full service” oil change place could and maybe should check, but I don’t know whether they do. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-of-your-vehicle-lights-burned-out/958795/8 "2022-02-02T15:40:07Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > I live in a rural area and see lots of vehicles with headlamps and tail lights inoperative. It’s dark out here, how do they find their way home? I recall the guys on Car Talk addressing burnt out headlights in one episode. People were calling in claiming that both their headlights went out at the same time. Their theory was that headlights are so bright, you wouldn’t necessarily notice when one burns out, so you drive along oblivious till the other one blows. Made sense to me… ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-of-your-vehicle-lights-burned-out/958795/9 "2022-02-02T15:40:48Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Seems like something a “full service” oil change place could and maybe should check, but I don’t know whether they do. My car guys do an inspection with every oil change, but I don’t know if that includes lights - I’ll have to ask next time. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-of-your-vehicle-lights-burned-out/958795/10 "2022-02-02T15:48:18Z")
I’m kinda anal about my Jeep’s lights. I don’t want to give LEO an excuse to pull me over. ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-of-your-vehicle-lights-burned-out/958795/11 "2022-02-02T16:08:30Z")
I don’t understand the need for license plate lights. Does your car have headlights? Do they illuminate my plate? Then why do I need fiddly little bulbs that burn out unnoticed? Smokey once pulled me over at night in the middle of a downpour to give me a warning ticket for burnt out plate lights. Stupidest ticket ever. But once I got the lights replaced the ticket was rescinded. ---
**Author:** ![mcgato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@mcgato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mcgato)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-of-your-vehicle-lights-burned-out/958795/12 "2022-02-02T16:10:54Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Don’t hate me – my Chrysler mini-van tells me when a light is out and which one, to boot! My car tells me that a light is out, but not which one. It took me a while to find the dead light the only time that it came on. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-of-your-vehicle-lights-burned-out/958795/13 "2022-02-02T16:13:49Z")
The light in my Mustang’s trunk hasn’t worked for years – I think that there is a loose wire somewhere. All of the exterior lights work, however. I double-check that the taillights and brake lights work from time to time, when I pull into the garage at night, and check them against the reflection on the closed garage door. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-of-your-vehicle-lights-burned-out/958795/14 "2022-02-02T16:24:26Z")
> [@Reeses\_Monkey](#): > > I don’t understand the need for license plate lights. Does your car have headlights? Do they illuminate my plate? Then why do I need fiddly little bulbs that burn out unnoticed? My WAG is those lights for the license plate are a legacy from the days when plates were not reflective. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-of-your-vehicle-lights-burned-out/958795/15 "2022-02-02T16:37:13Z")
I had one burn out on me. But it wasn’t just the bulb, the whole damned assembly melted. Cost me $600 to repair. And the kicker is, I think the last guy who replaced my headlight fucked something up causing it to melt. But i couldn’t prove it. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-of-your-vehicle-lights-burned-out/958795/16 "2022-02-02T16:41:07Z")
My full service oil guys routinely check all exterior lights when I get an oil change (Valvoline). On my current car everything is LED, so I’ve never had any problems with burnt out lights. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-of-your-vehicle-lights-burned-out/958795/17 "2022-02-02T16:44:31Z")
Was going to say this, I get mine checked the same way. They even have you turn on your turn signals and tap your brakes, to make sure those lights work. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-of-your-vehicle-lights-burned-out/958795/18 "2022-02-02T16:54:31Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > The light in my Mustang’s trunk hasn’t worked for years – I think that there is a loose wire somewhere. My neighbor had that problem with his Mustang. It took me about 5 seconds to find the problem, the mercury switch that turns the light off and on was bent and would not close when the trunk was open. Bent it back into position and the light works. Had the same problem years ago with a 64 Mercury Comet I owned. I check the lights on my pickup every time I hookup my travel trailer. My wife does the walk around while I turn them all on and off. We check her car every few months. I keep a nice supply of bulbs in my garage just in case. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-of-your-vehicle-lights-burned-out/958795/19 "2022-02-02T16:57:23Z")
Perhaps they installed one of the high power bulbs marked “For Off Road Use Only” and created too much heat in the assembly. The same guys who blind oncoming traffic with bulbs not matched to the reflector design. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-of-your-vehicle-lights-burned-out/958795/20 "2022-02-02T17:08:09Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > The same guys who blind oncoming traffic with bulbs not matched to the reflector design. I’ve got astigmatism, so I have been avoiding night driving as much as possible. About halfway down [this page](https://www.visioncenter.org/blog/astigmatism-lights/), you’ll see how I see lights at night. Bright oncoming lights are the worst, especially on the dark country roads around here. If I have to drive when it’s dark, I have to guide myself by the white line along the right side of my lane, even along roads I’ve been driving for years. Mostly, tho, I don’t drive after dark. So who knows how long my license plate light has been out… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-of-your-vehicle-lights-burned-out/958795.md?page=2)