Recently, I had noticed a great many cars and trucks with burned-out headlights and taillights. Soon after, while on an evening errand, I noticed that the illumination from my headlights was asymmetrical. When I parked, I found it was not merely an inconvenient accumulation of ice and snow, but that the driver-side headlight had burned out. In retrospect, I can see that the observations of other cars were a form of foreshadowing.
My vehicle is a Toyota RAV 4. It was chosen because its ground clearance, cargo volume, and cold-weather reliability rank it ahead of many other options. In general, the vehicle is laid out conveniently enough that I can do simple repairs with little difficulty. However, changing the headlight bulbs is a notable exception. This model houses the bulbs in cases on the sides of the engine bay. Each case is sealed against the weather by a gasket that is squeezed by the cover, which must be pressed in and rotated to remove and replace a bulb. Further complicating matters, the wires to the bulb go through the rotating cover, instead of through the fixed wall of the case.
Even in pleasantly warm weather, replacing a bulb is quite a chore. It requires strength, coordination, and the willingness to accept minor injury. Once the case is open removing the bulb is not too difficult, but there is a spring clip that covers the bump near the electrical connections and the three “wings” around the bulb have to be aligned carefully in order to press and twist the bulb back into its housing. I always end up with scratched hands and sore fingers.
With these past difficulties in mind, I was not enthusiastic about changing a bulb during the record cold weather we have been experiencing. However, in Alaska, in the winter, having operable lights is essential, because we often drive in conditions that reduce the view of another car to just two points of lights moving through the dark. Also, I recognized that to maintain my right to complain about other drivers, I was required to replace my own headlight.
Fortune intervened! The day after I purchased a replacement bulb, the temperature rose to -22F. It was still far from ideal, but it was much better than -40F. The difference between the -20s and -30s makes such work more difficult. The difference between the -30s and -40s makes such work ill-advised. Plastic parts break, metal parts can freeze skin on contact, and electrical insulation can crack when the wires bend.
After putting on my snow pants and parka and running the engine to warm up the engine compartment, I lifted the hood and braced myself for the possibility that the headlight case or wires might be damaged by my attempt to change the bulb. To my great surprise, the cover to the headlight case easily rotated and opened! The gasket that causes so much trouble in warm weather was not expanding and did not create any significant friction.
Unfortunately, the spring clip that holds the electrical connections could only be undone with a bare hand and the bulb could only be aligned for replacement with a bare hand. I had to pause for rewarming after each attempt, but only three tries were required and I suffered no injury from touching the cold parts.
Somewhat disappointingly, since regaining my privilege to complain I haven’t seen any more one-eyed cars. Did everyone seize the day, as I did?
I can’t personally imagine removing a glove in those temperatures, fearing flash freeze, but you seem to be strong-willed and well-prepared.
Br-r-r!