What does an indicator bulb do?

Your indicators are used to make other road users aware of your intentions making them an important safety feature. Indicator bulbs are typically located in both headlight units next to your dipped beam and main beam, rear light units and they will be located at the side of wing mirrors on many modern vehicles. Broken indicators should be fixed as soon as possible. Without them other drivers will not know your intentions on the road which could cause dangerous accidents.

Ford

The Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker, founded by Henry Ford in 1903. One of the most long-standing giants of the motoring industry with an estimated asset wealth of around $256 billion, Ford became a popular household name throughout the UK in the 1960s with the introduction of the Ford Transit, the Ford Escort and the Ford Capri.

How popular is Ford in the United Kingdom?

With the Ford Fiesta consistently winning accolades as the best selling car in the UK, it’s no surprise to hear that in 2018 there were approximately 5.5million Ford cars on the roads by the end of the year.

With a proven track record for good value and sensible, practical driving, along with a dealership just around every corner, Ford has developed a method of sustaining great sales by giving drivers just what they need.

Popular well-priced cars with a sturdy reputation

There’s a Ford car for practically every sensible driver. Actually, there are a few Ford cars for the more daring driver too. Take a look at the history of RS and Cosworth models, both making an impact in the world of rally driving and touring car racing.

While they’re better known for providing family transport that includes the Ka, the Fiesta and the Focus, Ford also produces the lavishly equipped Edge SUV, and also the S-Max and Galaxy people carriers too.

And for something quite a lot less mainstream, Ford deliver some muscle

From a very traditional and mainstream marque, it’s refreshing to see that they still deliver a great big slice of larger than life America—and the latest model Ford Mustang is no exception. If a Mondeo or a Focus isn’t really your thing, and even the RS models aren’t sporty enough, then the new Mustang’s brawny delivery of sleek lines powered by its 5-litre V8 engine could be just the thing. Failing that, the Ford GT supercar with its twin-turbo V6 won’t fail to turn heads. All £420k of it.

How often should an indicator bulb be replaced?

Generally, indicator bulbs will last around 4,000 hours, however they may stop working before this due to damage, bad wiring or water in the casing. When your indicators are broken, other road users will not be aware of your intentions which could be confusing and potentially dangerous. In the worst case scenario, not having indicators could cause a serious accident, so it’s vital to regularly check and replace them.

The law, vehicle regulations and your MOT

Indicators and reflectors are checked during an MOT to ensure they work, and that they're secure and undamaged. Their brightness, position and the flash frequency of indicator lights (60 to 120 times per minute) will be checked by the inspector. If your indicators are found to be faulty or damaged this will result in an MOT failure.

What causes an indicator bulb to break?

Indicator bulbs can break for a variety of reasons. For example, because of a blown fuse, if water has seeped into the light or over time they can simply wear out. The most important thing is that you replace the bulbs as soon as possible as it can be very dangerous to drive without them.

What are the signs of a bad indicator bulb?

Usually, there a few signs you can look for:

• If your indicators no longer light up when switched on

• If your indicators are dimmer than usual

• Your indicators work sometimes but not always

What happens during an indicator bulb replacement?

During the repair our certified mechanics will:

• Inspect all the indicators and test to see which bulbs need replacing

• They will then disconnect the indicator bulb power wires

• Unscrew the old indicator bulb(s) that need replacing

• Fit the new indicator bulbs, ensuring they’re the correct size and type for your car make and model

• They’ll reconnect the power wires and test that the new bulb is working

What is the average life of an indicator bulb?

The lifespan of indicator bulbs varies depending on how often they’re used and the type of bulb you have. Generally, indicator bulbs will last around 4,000 hours. The best way to avoid being without your turn signals is by taking the time to inspect them on a regular basis.

Can you drive with a broken indicator bulb?

No, it can be very dangerous to drive without functioning indicators. Other road users will not be aware of your intentions which could be confusing and potentially dangerous. In the worst case scenario, not having indicators could cause a serious accident, so it’s vital to regularly check and replace them.