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Does Your Chevy Need New Headlights?

Does Your Chevy Need New Headlights?
Get new headlights in Sterling at your local Chevy dealership, Ted Britt Chevrolet! Problems with visibility lead to a great many road accidents after dark. It's always worth making sure your headlights are shining as brightly as possible. Let's take a look at five indicators that tell you when it's time to visit your local Chevy dealer for a pair of new headlights.

Your Bulbs Begin to Fade

There are three main types of headlight bulb, which tend to fade at varying rates. Firstly, you have old-fashioned halogen bulbs, which have a shorter lifespan but maintain near-maximum brightness until the day they fail. On the other hand, longer-lasting, high-intensity discharge (HID) bulbs and light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs begin to dim as they age. In fact, both HID and LED bulbs can lose up to 70 percent of their brightness before they die. So if you use HID or LED bulbs and you find it's getting harder to see the road ahead at night, then your headlights are probably fading. It's time for replacements.

What Type of Bulb Are You Using?

Many drivers are unsure which of the three bulb types their vehicle uses. This is often the case when you haven't yet had to change your bulbs since initially purchasing the car. Fortunately, there are two easy ways to find out which bulb type you have. To start, park your car facing a wall or garage door. Set the engine to idle and turn on your headlamps. If they cast a warm yellow color, then they're halogen bulbs. Both HID and LED bulbs cast a bright white light. The difference between the two is that LED bulbs instantly shine at full brightness when turned on. Whereas HID bulbs flash for a few seconds and then slowly build to peak brightness.

Your Headlights Are Flickering

Whichever type of bulb you use, a clear sign of trouble is flickering light. While flickering might be caused by problems in the connections or wiring, it's most commonly caused by a loose filament in the bulb itself. That bulb is on its last legs and needs to go.

One of Your Bulbs Dies

If both of your headlights suddenly fail at the same time, then the source of the problem probably lies with your battery or electrical circuits. But if a single bulb dies, it's more likely that the bulb itself gave out. And when one bulb goes, it's good practice to replace both at once because the second of the pair is rarely far behind.

Your Bulbs Near the End of Their Lifespan

It pays to know the expected lifespan of your headlight bulbs, and roughly how many miles you've driven since you bought them. That way you'll know more of less when it's time for replacements, and you won't be taken by surprise. Halogen bulbs generally last for only 500 to 1,000 miles. HID bulbs can last anywhere from 2,000 to 8,000 miles. And LED bulbs can keep on shining for an impressive 30,000 miles. To know for sure, look up the expected lifespan for your specific type and make of bulb.

Your Chevy Dealer Suggests Replacements

During your regular servicing visits, the technicians at your local dealership will examine the circuitry and bulbs of your headlamps. If they find that your bulbs are near to giving up the ghost, they'll let you know it's time for a new pair. To have your headlights inspected, repaired, or replaced by certified technicians, visit Ted Britt Chevrolet. We have an inventory of over 500 new and used cars, with friendly, knowledgeable staff ready to provide for your automobile needs, whatever they may be.
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Visit Your Chevy Dealer for a Brake Repair

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Not sure if your brakes need to be repaired? Find out with our blog and schedule your brake repair at your local Chevy dealership. Your Chevy's brakes are vital for keeping you, your passengers, and other drivers safe. They allow you to control your speed at any time. Brake components can suffer metal fatigue, leaks, or other damage, and this will compromise your braking system. Your Chevy dealer is on hand to help you when you need your next brake repair in Sterling. These are some problems to be aware of that your brakes need to be checked. Screeching Brakes When you mash the brakes, the master brake cylinder release brake fluid into the hoses. This fluid is pressurized, and as it travels down the hoses it exerts hydraulic pressure on the calipers. The calipers are attached just above your wheel rotors, and due to the pressure, they will close on either side of the wheel rotors. The brake pads inside the calipers have a special friction coating that improves the stopping ability of your brakes. more This friction covering starts to wear off from the first time the new pads are used. Over time, this covering will wear thin. When it reaches 1/8" thick, a piece of metal will be revealed. This metal piece will scrape against the rotors the next time you apply your brakes. The horrible screeching noise that follows is an audible reminder that it's time to change those pads. Hot Brake Fluid If you're facing the prospect of frequent, last-minute braking in hot conditions, it's important to know the effect on your brakes. As brake fluid gets older, it doesn't perform as well as it previously did. When you apply the brakes, the fluid is forced down the hoses. The brake fluid is pressurized, which increases its heat. Constant braking will lead to the brake fluid heating up. The old brake fluid isn't able to cool down, and it can start to boil. Boiling brake fluid releases a nasty burning chemical smell that's very distinctive. Not only is the smell bad, but the safety of you and your car are affected too. Boiling brake fluid loses the hydraulic properties you need for your brakes to work. If you smell a hot chemical smell and your brakes aren't working properly, pull over and call us right away. Grinding Brakes If your brake pads aren't replaced when they start to screech, they will continue to wear down. Once the friction covering has worn off, the bare metal of the brake pads is exposed. When you use the brakes, the metal of the pads will dig into the metal of the wheel rotors. This produces a horrible grinding sound as the pads begin damaging your rotors. A grinding sound means you should pull over and call our service department ASAP. If you continue to drive without replacement brake pads, you risk damaging the rotors. Damaged rotors can be time-consuming and expensive to replace. If you have any problems with your brakes, call us immediately at Ted Britt Chevrolet and our technicians will repair them for you.

6 Signs Your Chevy Needs a Radiator Repair at Your Sterling Dealership

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