Dodge Challenger Taillights
The taillights on your Dodge Challenger play an important role when it comes to safety. Not only do they alert other drivers to your presence on the road, especially at night, but they also let other drivers know that you are braking or preparing to turn. If you find that you need to replace your Challengers taillights, you will find a wide variety of options.
What components make up a taillight?Taillights are generally made up of three main components. These components include:
- Bulbs: The bulbs are the components that actually produce a bright glow when you hit the brakes or turn on your vehicles turn signal. Taillight assemblies generally have multiple bulbs that all do different things.
- Lens: The lens is the acrylic piece that amplifies the beam produced by the bulbs. This component can also provide some protection for the bulbs if your Dodge Challenger goes over large bumps in the road.
- Housing: This component holds the wiring, the lights, and the lens in place. It also provides the point of connection to the body of your Challenger. The housing can have a number of different finishes that change the appearance of your car.
Taillights generally have several options when it comes to the types of lights that can be used. They include:
- Incandescent: These bright lights burn hot and allow other drivers to easily see them. They have a small amount of halogen gas inside. When it is turned on, the tungsten is evaporated. When it is turned off, the halogen gas helps redeposit the tungsten on the filament so that it can be turned on again. This cycle allows incandescents to be burned for about 1,000 hours before they need to be replaced.
- Xenon: The lights reach full intensity almost instantly, meaning they are safe and allow drivers to see them as soon as you hit the brakes or the turn signal. They contain a cathode and an anode. An electric spark passes between the two, igniting the small amount of xenon gas inside.
- LEDs: Tail lamps that utilize LEDs usually have clusters that work together to create a strong glow. LEDs are energy-efficient and use very little of the Dodge Challengers battery and alternator.
There are two main styles of lenses that can be used in taillights for your Dodge Challenger. They are:
- Tinted: Tinted lenses are commonly found in taillights. These lenses are tinted the color of the lights you need. For example, the lenses over the brake lighting will be tinted red, while they are tinted amber for turn signals.
- Clear: In some types of taillights, the lenses are clear. The lighting components are tinted instead, creating unique taillights for your Dodge Challenger.