Q. Do most headlights just burn out or dim after time before going dead? --A.M., Chicago

A. Most headlights dim before burning out, but they do that gradually so a driver often doesn't notice it's going bad until it's too late. Evaluate them each year to ensure the best lighting performance. Replace headlights in pairs to avoid uneven illumination, which can diminish driving visibility. Don't forget to keep them clean -- you'll see better, as dust and dirt on headlight glass can intensify glare.

Q. I'd like to replace the rather dated headlights on my 2002 Ford Escape with more modern-looking ones. --M.B., Addison

A. Headlights have become a prominent styling feature on some late-model vehicles. Just look at references to "jewel-like" headlights in ads. But there are no "plug-in" replacements if you want the modern high-intensity headlights found on current vehicles. That would be a costly switch, partly because they require a special transformer to supply power to them.

Q. I've heard that some cars have had really quirky options, especially collector cars. Know of any? --E.N., Chicago area

A. Here are quirky and "outrageous options," says Hagerty Insurance, a collector car insurer: A 16 2/3 LP record player called Highway Hi-Fi could be had in 1956 Chrysler cars. (Road bumps, quick braking and taking corners fast disrupted the music.) The "swamp cooler" (sold from the late 1940s through the 1950s) helped cool car interiors before air conditioning systems were readily available. The cooler, offered in the aftermarket, was attached to a car window. There was a reservoir for cool water, a wick to soak it up, and it relied on air movement from traveling to force cooled air into the interior. And who could forget the "talking car?" An early 1980s Chrysler LeBaron would say via a taped voice such phrases as "Your door is ajar." (It sounded like "Your door is a jar.") If you obeyed the "Please fasten your seatbelt" command, it replied, "Thank you." The unpopular "talking" feature was dropped after three years.

Car question? Send it to Dan Jedlicka, Chicago Sun-Times, 350 N. Orleans, Chicago, IL 60654, or e-mail djedlicka@suntimes.com. Include name, hometown and a self-addressed, stamped envelope to ensure a personal reply.