Will Upgrading Your Jeep’s Headlights Affect Your Extended Warranty?
Picture this: it is late at night, you’re driving your Jeep in an unfamiliar road, suddenly it’s foggy, and you can’t clearly see far ahead. Last thing you want is to put your life and your passengers’ lives in danger. Let’s face it: most of the time, stock headlights just don’t cut it. This is why upgrading old and dull bulbs shouldn’t be considered a luxury. It’s a must for visibility and safety. If you want to be safer on the road, you need brighter lights to give you the clearest view on your windscreen. But will upgrading your Jeep’s headlights affect your extended warranty? How do you ensure you don’t void the warranty?
Keep reading to find out what you need before you perform any upgrade to your Jeep’s headlights!
Key Takeaways
• Upgrading Jeep’s headlights is a practical solution to improve visibility at night or when driving tricky road situations.
• Benefits of upgrading your Jeep headlights include better visibility, improved safety, and improved styling.
• Common headlight upgrades are sealed beam, HID retrofit kits, and LED headlights.
• Upgrading your Jeep’s headlights will not affect extended warranty, as long as it is performed professionally and it does not cause damage to the headlights and other components.
Why Upgrade Your Jeep Headlights?
People get Jeep for one thing – for the thrill of off-road adventures. This includes late-night drives, as off-roading destinations are mostly far from the city. And if that’s your thing too, you need dependable headlights to help you see better at night. While functional, stock headlights, unfortunately, are not the brightest.
Benefits of Headlight Upgrades
Better visibility
Upgrading your Jeep headlights, be they LED or HID, will give you brighter and whiter lights that mimic daylight. This makes any obstacle, bump, or animal crossing the road easier to spot.
Improved safety
Brighter lights help you see better and make your vehicle easier to see, even from a distance. This is extremely important for avoiding accidents, especially during adverse weather conditions (foggy, snow, hard rain, etc.) and low-light conditions.
Modern look
Replacing your car’s headlights means hitting two birds at one stop – it’s both for practical and aesthetic functions. In terms of Jeep, modern headlights will make your vehicle stand out on the road.
Common Jeep Headlight Upgrades
When it comes to upgrading the headlights, there are common options. Here’s a quick rundown of the most popular headlight upgrades:
Sealed Beam Upgrades
For Jeep Wranglers, older CJs (current generation 2007), and the new JK Wrangler, the Sealed Beam provides a step above the stock lights. It’s a minimal investment; you can get a cooler white pair of headlights for your Jeep, which are far better-looking than the existing yellow-ish lights.
H4 Housing Upgrades and Bulb Upgrades
Another upgrade option would be to switch the old-style sealed beam light to an H4 housing and use a pair of H4 bulbs. While the JK Wrangler already has the same housing as stock, it is specifically designed for an H13 bulb, which doesn’t have many options in the aftermarket. Thus, the best route is to go for the H4-sized housing.
LED Headlights Upgrades
Light-emitting diode (LED) light is the go-to choice, as it provides the best bang for your buck. LED headlights are extremely energy efficient, can last long, and provide superior brightness on the road. Not to mention, they can also give your Jeep that sleek modern look.
There are two types of LED upgrades for Jeeps: reflector and projector housing. Both provide good light output. The difference is how they project the light to the road and their lighting pattern.
The Reflector style looks and works similarly to the stock style light: a clear lens paired with fluted reflectors from behind. The light is positioned at the center of the housing to bounce the light output off. The lights are divided into upper and lower halves for low—or high-beam options.
On the other hand, a projector-style LED headlight places the LED behind the lens and pairs it with a cut-off shield. This allows the light to project a sharper and more focused light on the road. Projector-style LED headlights have separate LED bulbs for both low and high beam.
HID Headlights Retrofit Kits
High-Intensity Discharge Light or HID lights are brighter than the stock halogen bulbs with older Jeep models. They have a longer lifespan than halogen and they come in bluish-white in color for improved visibility. Simply replacing your old lights with an HID retro kit (made only with ballasts and bulbs, and not the full housing) into the existing housing designed for H4 bulb is usually illegal in most states. Not to mention, the housing is not designed to accommodate such upgrade. Recent developments in LED technology make HID kits for Jeep less popular in the aftermarket.
How To Choose the Right Headlights for Your Jeep
As with most functional and aesthetic upgrades for your vehicle, there are no right or wrong answers. It all depends on your needs and your driving habits.
Your usual driving route
When choosing a new pair of headlights, consider your usual driving environments. If you drive mostly in the city, then the LED will do. If you often go to rural areas for off-roading, then the HID lights will give you better visibility.
Know the law
For safety reasons, there is a maximum brightness requirement for your vehicle’s headlights. Each state may have different specifics, so ensure you know and comply with the local laws to avoid issues.
Your budget
Sealed beam and H4 housing and bulbs are the cheapest upgrade options. LED upgrade is also not the most expensive, especially the reflector type. Projector headlights often have a complex system that focuses the light beam more precisely. These systems can also use different bulbs, including LED and HID. The projector housing itself is also expensive.
Will Upgrading Your Jeep’s Headlights Affect Your Extended Warranty?
The simple answer is NO. Any modifications or upgrades to your headlights will not void your extended warranty. However, you must ensure that the headlights you upgrade to are of high quality and professionally installed.
Otherwise, any damage to the headlights and electrical components due to faulty headlights or improper installation can affect your extended warranty. It can affect the headlights warranty, if this happens, which means you must pay out-of-pocket if you need repair or replacement for the covered parts.
The Takeaway
Upgrading your Jeep’s headlights may not be the cheapest modification you can make with your off-road vehicle, but it is one of the most important. Make sure to upgrade based on your needs. Remember, the brighter, the better. But make sure to keep it within the legal and safety parameters.
FAQs
Does upgrading headlights affect warranty?
No. Headlight upgrades won’t avoid or affect your extended warranty, especially if you choose high-quality components that won’t modify the electrical system.
What voids a warranty on a Jeep?
A Jeep warranty can be void if the vehicle is not properly maintained or neglected and abused. It is especially impactful to your warranty if the neglect directly resulted to damage or malfunction.
Can aftermarket headlights damage your car?
It depends on where you buy your headlights from. Some can cause damage to the wiring system and affect other electrical components. Therefore, you must be cautious where you have them installed.
