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.

Skoda

Skoda Auto is a Czech automobile manufacturer originally founded in 1895 as Laurin & Klement. In 1925 Laurin & Klement was acquired by the industrial conglomerate Skoda Works, which itself became state-owned in 1948.

In 2000 Skoda became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group.

How popular is Skoda in the United Kingdom?

Skoda’s growing success has been down to strong support from its parent VW Group and its credibility as a mainstream supplier of great value sensible cars.

The number of Skoda cars on the road in the UK has grown consistently over the past 20 years to over 740k and rising.

Great value, solid, sensible motoring

With models so closely related to those of Volkswagen, Audi and Seat, it’s no surprise that the mechanics behind Skoda’s straightforward range of practical town and city cars has proven so reliable and increased in popularity over time.

They deliver models from city car to saloon, and as you’d expect in today’s market, there’s a couple of SUV models thrown in to complete the set.

Skoda supply an abundance of choice and trim for differing budgets

There are a plethora of trim levels available for every model—and that’s not forgetting Skoda’s entry into the electric car market too.

The Skoda Citigoe iV

Skoda’s 4-seater city car electric model is powered exclusively by a 36.8kWh lithium-ion battery allowing for a range of 265km. With zero emissions and compact dimensions, the Cititgoe iV is the ideal city car, taking into account its practical interior storage, nimble footprint and ecological performance.

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.