Headlights? Sometimes yes sometimes no

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Jun 14, 2008 | 08:29 PM

nickolbag

Thread Starter

Le Mans Master

Joined: Aug 2005

Posts: 5,130

Likes: 3

From: Winter Park FL

Headlights? Sometimes yes sometimes no

So my headlights will come on......sometimes. I am assuming step one is check grounds? Where and what to clean them with?

Jun 14, 2008 | 11:14 PM

ruffian

Instructor

Joined: Oct 2007

Posts: 214

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Me toooo. Seems to happen mostly if I drive around with parking lights on for any amount of time. Then it gets dark and try for headlights, nada. Pull off to the side of the road, shut er down and restart, then lights come up and on. Very odd.

bob

Jun 15, 2008 | 07:57 AM

ronwc

Burning Brakes

Joined: Sep 2003

Posts: 886

Likes: 87

From: Largo FL

Check to make sure your battery connections are clean and tight -

Jun 15, 2008 | 11:00 AM

nickolbag

Thread Starter

Le Mans Master

Joined: Aug 2005

Posts: 5,130

Likes: 3

From: Winter Park FL

Quote:

Originally Posted by ruffian

Exactly. I had to turn all the lights of for a few miles and then they finally came on again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronwc

Check to make sure your battery connections are clean and tight -

Will check it out. Thanks.

Jun 15, 2008 | 04:22 PM

kg54trains

Burning Brakes

Joined: Oct 2004

Posts: 925

Likes: 4

From: EXTON PA

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickolbag

So my headlights will come on......sometimes. I am assuming step one is check grounds? Where and what to clean them with?

If the lights do not operate at all and there is no high pitch noise on the attempt you will need to check the voltage to your headlight motors. This could be a battery related issue or a control modual that is on the passenger side just above the headlight in the engine compartment. I have repaired the headlight gear to the drivers side and how after a few months this headlight has no sign or sound of activity. I am trying to run down my options without replacing parts that are not the problem.

Good luck.

Jun 15, 2008 | 04:48 PM

DeeGee

Tech Contributor

Joined: Dec 2003

Posts: 19,384

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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England

2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified

If your headlamps are raising but you're not getting low or high beam, my guess is its probably the multi function switch on its way out. Do the lights come on if you recycle firmly a few times? Try squirting some electronics cleaner in the switch as a start. It may help.