Headlights, tail lights, power windows, door locks and the switches that control them all fail eventually, and most of them are same day repairs. AutoTech Clinic fixes them at our shop on Michigan Ave in Dearborn, on foreign and domestic vehicles.
These are small jobs with real consequences. A burnt out tail light is a traffic stop, a window stuck down in a Michigan winter is a ruined interior, and a failed door lock actuator can leave you unable to open a door.
- How Long
- From 30 minutes for a bulb to several hours for a window regulator.
- Same Day
- Usually finished the same day.
- Vehicles
- Foreign and domestic, cars through trucks.
Signs You Need Lights, Windows and Locks
- A headlight, tail light, brake light or turn signal that does not work
- A turn signal that flashes much faster than normal
- A power window that moves slowly, grinds or will not move at all
- A door that will not lock or unlock from the remote or the switch
- Interior lights that stay on or will not come on
- Headlights that look dim or yellowed and do not light the road well
What We Do
- 01
Test the Circuit, Not Just the Bulb
We check power, ground and the switch. A repeated bulb failure usually means a voltage or moisture problem rather than bad bulbs.
- 02
Identify Regulator Versus Motor
On a window fault we determine whether the regulator mechanism or the motor has failed, since they are different parts and different costs.
- 03
Check Actuators and Switches
Lock faults are usually a failed actuator inside the door or a worn switch, and we test which before opening the door panel.
- 04
Inspect Door Harnesses
The wiring that crosses from the body into the door flexes thousands of times and breaks inside the insulation. It is a classic cause of windows and locks failing together.
- 05
Repair and Test Everything
After the repair we test every position of every switch, including the driver master switch, before the car goes back.
A Fast Turn Signal Means a Bulb Is Out
If your turn signal suddenly flashes about twice as fast as normal, one of the bulbs on that side has failed. The flasher measures the current on the circuit, and losing a bulb cuts the load, which speeds the flash rate.
On vehicles converted to LED bulbs the same thing happens even with working bulbs, because LEDs draw far less current. That is a wiring solution, not a bulb replacement, and we can explain the options.
Windows Stuck Down Cannot Wait Here
A window stuck down in Dearborn in winter means snow in the cabin, soaked carpet and mold. It is also an open invitation for a break in.
When someone calls us with a window stuck down we will do our best to get it closed the same day, even if the full repair has to wait for a part. Call (313) 277-7200 and tell us it is down.
What Affects the Cost
We quote your vehicle specifically after inspecting it, because these are the things that move the number up or down:
- Whether a bulb, a switch, a motor or a regulator has failed
- Access, since door panel removal is required for window and lock work
- Sealed headlight assemblies where the bulb is not separately serviceable
- LED lighting units, which usually replace as a complete assembly
- Broken clips and brittle plastic panels on older vehicles
Call (313) 277-7200 with your year, make and model and we will tell you what to expect before you come in.
Why AutoTech Clinic
AAA Approved
An inspected facility that has to meet AAA standards for equipment and training.
Photos First
You see what we found and approve the price before anything is taken apart.
Same-Day Service
Parts on hand for the vehicles we see most, so you are not waiting on a delivery.