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.

Kia

Kia Motors Corporation (widely known as Kia Motors) is South Korea’s second-largest automobile manufacturer, behind their parent company, the Hyundai Motor Company.

They were initially established in December 1944, over 70 years ago, as a steel tubing and bicycle parts manufacturer who started building cars in the 1970s.

Coming from a background of building cars under licence for the likes of Fiat, Mazda and Peugeot, it wasn’t until the 1980s when Kia started to produce vehicles under their own brand name, and only more recently were they to become minority owned by Hyundai, who currently holds a 33.88% stake in the company, in 2015.

How popular is Kia in the United Kingdom?

From the mid-1990s, the amount of Kia cars on UK roads has seen a steady increase to the current number of around 800k today.

Given their reliability, value for money and market-leading 7-year, 100k mile warranty, Kia is a marque that is heading for further popularity, greater sales and added respect.

Superb value for money

With an extensive range of models to choose from, Kia cars offer excellent value. From their city car Picanto starting at under £10k, through to their luxury spec SUV Sorento at £30k, Kia cars compete with more established mainstream brands, offering not only strong price-points but with advanced levels of technology and the extended benefits you’d expect from a car of a higher price.

Kia Sportage: The 10th best selling car in the UK

Given the rise in growth of the Korean car brand, it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise to see its best selling model sneak into the top 10 best selling cars of 2018. This great value and practical SUV is ideal for family motoring; not only is it rugged and good looking, but it’s also backed with Kia’s impressive reliability and extensive warranty.

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.