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.

Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation is a Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer.

It is part of the Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance but has had connections with many other vehicle manufacturers throughout its history—as shareholders, part owners, and suppliers of parts and components.

How popular is Mitsubishi in the United Kingdom?

Mitsubishi celebrated 100 years of automotive manufacturing in 2017 and has created a solid position for itself in the UK market with around 350k vehicles on the roads today.

Making a mark in an SUV orientated market

The selection of Mitsubishi models does feature the Mirage hatchback and the L200 pickup, but the rest of the range is predominantly SUVs. Even the Mirage has strong SUV overtones.

And why not? They’re sturdy, versatile and roomy enough for families of all sizes, and the Outlander PHEV is perfect for company car drivers with its low fuel bills and plenty of interior space.

Outlander PHEV: The world’s first plug-in hybrid SUV

In 2013 Mitsubishi introduced the world’s first plug-in hybrid SUV. As a company that continues to make significant breakthroughs in driving technology, their work with renewable fuel types is establishing them as a leader in ecological systems.

The Mitsubishi Shogun: the beginnings of the SUV generation

The roots of the Shogun can be traced as far back as 1934 with a prototype for the Japanese Government, but it wasn’t until the Tokyo Motor Show in 1973 that Mitsubishi presented their first commercial prototype.

The Shogun was launched in 1982, and along with other 4x4 originals: predominantly by Land Rover, Jeep and the Toyota Land Cruiser, it helped boost the popularity of rugged go-anywhere motoring into the mainstream.

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.