Continued from Part 1 of Replacing or Changing Car Light Bulbs…

Can I touch the glass when changing the car bulbs?
If you are replacing headlight bulbs or sidelight bulbs filled with either halogen or xenon gas, then you should not touch the glass, because the natural oils on your skin will leave a residue on the glass bulb, which creates a hotspot when the bulb is illuminated and can lead to the bulbs premature failure. To prevent this it is a good idea to wear latex gloves when changing your headlight bulbs. For all other car bulbs like indicator bulbs, number plate bulbs or brake light bulbs it does not matter if you touch the glass.

When buying replacement car bulbs how can I tell if they are good quality?
Although car bulbs from different manufacturers can look identical, they can differ quite considerably in terms of quality of construction, materials used and the testing process that they have undergone. The best quality car bulbs are labelled as OEM and this stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer and it means the these car bulbs are built to exactly the same standards as the bulbs that were fitted to your vehicle when it first left the factory. The other mark to look for is the testing standards E1 mark. The E1 code denotes that the bulb has been tested in Germany, which is widely regarded within the car bulbs industry as superior.

When it comes to buying your replacement car bulbs, it is a good idea to shop around between the internet, large chain stores and small independent accessory shops. However never buy your car bulbs simply on price alone, always look for the OEM and E1 marks so you can be assured of buying a high quality product. Working car bulbs are something we all take for granted, but good quality cars bulbs are vital for road safety helping you to be seen and to see more clearly, so always aim to fit the best for your own safety and added piece of mind.

Jo Alexander is an online, freelance journalist and keen windsurfer. Jo lives by the sea in Essex.
Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/frequently-asked-questions-when-replacing-or-changing-car-bulbs-870943.html