Car Care Guide: Lighting and Wipers
Lighting and wipers don’t sound like a big deal, right? Your car still runs even if the wipers don’t work. You can still get to the grocery store if a headlight is out.
But your safety – as well as the safety of other people on the road – is at stake when these components fail. Let’s look at why your vehicle’s lighting and wipers are so important, what they do, what affects how they function and how you can know if there’s an issue that needs attention.
Here’s what you need to know.
Get to know the parts of your car’s wiper and lighting systems
Several components make up your vehicle’s wiper system:
- Wiper arm.
- Wiper blade.
- Wiper motor.
- Washer fluid reservoir and fluid.
Your car’s lighting system also has a variety of elements:
- Fog lights (your vehicle may or may not have them).
- Headlights, both high beams and low beams.
- Parking lights.
- Emergency flashers.
- Turn signals.
- Fuses.
- Instrumentation lighting.
- Interior lights.
- Brake lights.
- Reverse lights.
What do the wipers and lighting systems do?
The wipers are not just helpful, but they’re also one of the most important safety features on your vehicle. They keep your windshield free of water from rain, dirt, and snow so that you can see clearly.
Your vehicle’s lighting system allows you to see well for nighttime driving. They alert other drivers when you’re stopping, slowing, or making a turn. And they illuminate the instruments on the inside of your car so you can monitor speed, your fuel gauge, and other important functions.
Regular wear on your wipers and lights
Both the wipers and lights on your vehicle are components that will need to be replaced periodically.
These factors influence the frequency of when you’ll need to replace your wipers and lights:
- The conditions your vehicle is operating under.
- How frequently your vehicle is used.
- The material your wipers and lights are made of.
- If your car gets a lot of direct sunlight, the wipers will need to be replaced more frequently.
- The amount of snow and ice that accumulate. The rubber on your wipers can be torn easily.
How to tell if something’s wrong
Pay attention to these warning signs that it’s time to change out your wipers or lights:
- Your wipers are leaving streaks on the windshield.
- Your turn signals begin blinking more quickly than usual.
- Your interior or exterior lights are dim.
Let the pros help with your wiper and lighting needs
While there are things you can do to extend the life of your vehicle in general, the wipers and lights will need to be changed periodically.
Trust your routine maintenance – including your wipers and lighting system – to the skilled auto technicians at your nearest Conrad’s location.
