Fixing that Brake Light: the Cost-Effectiveness of Timely Repairs

In our last post, we reviewed techniques for diagnosing a faulty thermostat, and in that post we watched a how-to video showing how to replace the thermostat yourself. To be honest, my point in showing the video was to demonstrate how complicated and tedious attempting repairs like this yourself can be, unless you're very mechanically inclined.

Changing the brake lights or tail lights in your car is a far smaller task than changing the thermostat, yet it's one of those items that gets shoved to the back of the list. Changing the light yourself requires a trip to the automotive store, a hunt for the proper bulb and a wrestling match with screwdrivers, wires and even broken plastic in the garage that could last a long time. Yet putting that tiny repair off continuously (like I have done for the past month) could result in much greater inconveniences: getting pulled over, getting ticketed and even getting into an accident at night.

The time and cost of having minor repairs like this done by your local auto repair specialists is minimal, and the convenience far greater. Having your tail light or brake light changed at Cars for Keeps while you drink coffee and catch up on work in our pleasant waiting room will cost about 1/3 the cost of the traffic ticket you might otherwise get, not to mention saving the cost of potential accidents. For the majority of us, having Mike or Bobby change burnt out bulbs will take far less time than it would take for us to change it ourselves, and we instead can use that time to be more productive.

If you still think changing your vehicle's tail light or brake light is something that's worth changing yourself, take a look at the how-to video below. Perhaps you'll find it useful. If you're like me, you'll find the "simple" steps much more complicated and time consuming than they're worth.




Save driving!