Headlights Flicker
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,865
Likes: 6
From: Saraland Alabama
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Headlights Flicker
I have an '02 vert and I have noticed that my headlights flicker almost constantly like I have a loose ground wire. I have also noticed that my DIC shows that the battery amps constantly fluctuate from around 12.8 to 14.5 or so.
I am hoping that it is merely a loose ground wire somewhere. I am under GMPP with 0 deductible but I don't want to take it to the dealer unless absolutely necessary.
Can someone tell me where to start checking ground wires. I recently replaced the battery but this problem was happening long before I changed the battery. I changed the battery myself so I know that the cable is tightened properly. There was no corrosion on the previous battery or on the battery cables so I am ruling this out.
Is there more than one ground to the chassis and where is it located?
Thanks,
Sanford
I am hoping that it is merely a loose ground wire somewhere. I am under GMPP with 0 deductible but I don't want to take it to the dealer unless absolutely necessary.
Can someone tell me where to start checking ground wires. I recently replaced the battery but this problem was happening long before I changed the battery. I changed the battery myself so I know that the cable is tightened properly. There was no corrosion on the previous battery or on the battery cables so I am ruling this out.
Is there more than one ground to the chassis and where is it located?
Thanks,
Sanford
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,011
Likes: 9
From: Dublin GA
Flach
Thankfully I have not had that issue on mine yet, so I can only give you a suggestion, but it might be your alternator going bad. I noticed the headlights my late model Chevy pickup had started "flickering" a little over the last couple of weeks. Last sat. the battery light came on and the voltage gauge went to "battery voltage" I pulled the alt. and had it rebuilt; problem solved!
It's just a thought; I'm sure some of the guys on here will chime in
Thankfully I have not had that issue on mine yet, so I can only give you a suggestion, but it might be your alternator going bad. I noticed the headlights my late model Chevy pickup had started "flickering" a little over the last couple of weeks. Last sat. the battery light came on and the voltage gauge went to "battery voltage" I pulled the alt. and had it rebuilt; problem solved!
It's just a thought; I'm sure some of the guys on here will chime in
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,865
Likes: 6
From: Saraland Alabama
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
I may have used the wrong term in describing the problem. My lights seem to dim and then brighten almost constantly. Set your DIC on battery setting and look at the readout. Mine constantly fluctuates from the 12's to the 14's. A friend of mine has an '04 and his runs fairly constant rather than changing.
Many years ago I had a Pinto which I had bought used and didn't know the service history on it. The headlights on the Pinto dimmed just like my Vette's lights do. After months went by, I finally started asking friends what might cause this problem and was told it could be a loose ground wire. Upon checking for loose ground connections I found a braided ground wire attached to the rear of the engine block and it was just dangling from the engine and the other end was not attached to anything. I attached it to a nearby bolt on the firewall and "Voila" my problem with the dimming lights was gone.
I am hoping that I can find something as simple to fix on the Vette if someone can tell me where to start looking for the problem.
Many years ago I had a Pinto which I had bought used and didn't know the service history on it. The headlights on the Pinto dimmed just like my Vette's lights do. After months went by, I finally started asking friends what might cause this problem and was told it could be a loose ground wire. Upon checking for loose ground connections I found a braided ground wire attached to the rear of the engine block and it was just dangling from the engine and the other end was not attached to anything. I attached it to a nearby bolt on the firewall and "Voila" my problem with the dimming lights was gone.
I am hoping that I can find something as simple to fix on the Vette if someone can tell me where to start looking for the problem.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,865
Likes: 6
From: Saraland Alabama
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
My battery cables still look like new and are tight as I did it myself to make sure they were done properly and as I previously stated this problem existed with my previous battery. I'm thinking there is a ground wire that goes from the engine to the chassis that is loose or corroded. Can someone tell me where to look for the ground wires/straps?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,865
Likes: 6
From: Saraland Alabama
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
I think I have found the info that I need up in the "sticky" section. Bill Curlee has a great "sticky" on electrical problems and it covers the locations of the various ground wires.
If anyone else is having electrical problems of any kind I would recommend reading that "sticky".
If anyone else is having electrical problems of any kind I would recommend reading that "sticky".
