How to service your car’s lighting system
Treat your electrics to a thorough health-check before the winter
Many of us like to keep driving our classics over the winter months. Indeed, regular use is likely to keep a car’s vital systems in better shape than prolonged hibernation. However, venturing out when the days are short and the visibility is poor means that its lighting system needs to be in top condition.
We’re accustomed to the idea of servicing the more glamorous moving parts of our classics – but we often forget about servicing its electrical systems, assuming that they’ll keep on working indefinitely. Sadly, they won’t. If left to their own devices for many years, deteriorating connections will cause bulbs to go dim, brake lights to glimmer or flash with the indicators and ultimately lights to stop working altogether. Treat your lighting system to a little maintenance and perfect performance will be restored for many subsequent winters.
The basic principle of each lighting circuit is identical. Current flows from the battery to the light’s switch or relay, often via a fuse. From there it goes via the bulb holder to the bulb’s terminal, then to the bulb’s filament. It then earths back to the battery through the car’s chassis or body, usually via the bulb cap and bulb holder.
There are many connections along the way in each circuit – and every one is a potential source of trouble. Use this guide to give your lighting system a thorough health-check. At the end, we’ve suggested a few upgrades to boost its performance. Get everything working as it should before you consider these… you might find that you deem them unnecessary.