1971 Pontiac Firebird Convertible Top Component

FAQ

For the most part, no. The stock replacement headlight assemblies are a direct equivalent to what is being taken out of the car. You can reuse your old bulbs and sockets, which should fit right in with no modifications needed. Some of the aftermarket units do use different Halogen bulbs than the stock ones. In those cases, we sell the requisite bulb, and really, with the great deal we have on PERDE light bulbs, you can't go wrong with fresh, new bulbs.

HID stands for "High Intensity Discharge". These bulbs use an electric arc rather than the glowing filament in a Halogen bulb. HID headlamp bulbs do not run on low-voltage DC current like a Halogen Bulb, so they require a ballast, which controls and regulates the flow of current. This ballast will require an ignitor to light the bulb. This is either integrated directly into the bulb or as a separate unit which is occasionally part of the ballast, similar to fluorescent bulbs in your home. In a vehicle, HID bulbs tend to be much more expensive to replace than a Halogen bulb.

Your old lights probably had moisture or condensation in them too, but the older, dulled and oxidized lens makes moisture less noticeable. Now that you have those new clear lights on your nice car, all of sudden you’re really looking at them, which is completely normal. Without going into too much detail, It's a fact that condensation happens just about anywhere. If there's a temperature difference between the inside and outside of the lens, moisture will occasionally develop, and, since your Halogen headlight bulbs put out some heat, the inside of the headlight is full of warm air while the outside is cooler. This is sort of like how the front window on your car can fog up and you have to turn on the defroster vent to clear it all away: The condensation in your headlights will usually dissipate after the headlights are turned on, as the heat of the lights evaporates the moisture. Your high beams will usually produce more heat to clear any condensation more quickly.

Xenon is an inert gas that allows a bulb to produce a brighter light with a longer life than a standard halogen bulb.

Before purchase, we advise you to verify your year, make, and model by referencing the VIN tag by your driver side door to make sure you are starting with accurate info. If you have any questions, please contact us before placing an order, and we will help you determine the correct parts for your vehicle.

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