Help!!! My headlights are acting strange!!!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,306
Likes: 5
Help!!! My headlights are acting strange!!!
When I first start the car up, sometimes my headlights won't come on. It does it on the first try. I have to turn them off, then turn them back on, then they flip up and come on. Anyone know whats causing this? Thanks. :confused:
Team Owner
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 25,344
Likes: 222
From: Frisco, TX
Re: Help!!! My headlights are acting strange!!! (KillerVette99)
If it's any consolation, mine does it too. I thought maybe it was the battery getting ready to die (or, I hoped that, b/c at least it's an easy fix :nopity ).
Anyone else? :confused:
Anyone else? :confused:
Drifting
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,815
Likes: 0
From: Eventus stultorum magister. Texas
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'12
Re: Help!!! My headlights are acting strange!!! (Nick Williams)
Same here and i have a optima redtop. Also sometimes when im taking off my lights will get dim for a second. gauge doesnt move when this happens. :( :( :crazy:
[Modified by Doubletap, 2:39 AM 1/26/2004]
[Modified by Doubletap, 2:39 AM 1/26/2004]
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,306
Likes: 5
Re: Help!!! My headlights are acting strange!!! (Doubletap)
Thats really strange. I thought it would be the battery too, but that doesn't make sense. The battery is new. It's like a couple of months old. I'm not getting any codes or warnings. I also noticed when I do certain things like step on the brakes, sometimes my lights dim for a second.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,064
Likes: 18
From: Arizona
Re: Help!!! My headlights are acting strange!!! (KillerVette99)
I had this happen to me.... do this test.
check your bulbs... Try and open and close the lights with the high beams on. If they work as normal when high beams are on then your low beam bulbs are going bad. Check the connector to the PCM. If that gets wet and corrosion sets in then take a wire brush to the pins and carefully remove the corrosion.
I had the dealer do mine and it cost me $400.00; just to change the bulbs :mad
check your bulbs... Try and open and close the lights with the high beams on. If they work as normal when high beams are on then your low beam bulbs are going bad. Check the connector to the PCM. If that gets wet and corrosion sets in then take a wire brush to the pins and carefully remove the corrosion.
I had the dealer do mine and it cost me $400.00; just to change the bulbs :mad
Drifting
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,576
Likes: 0
From: Austin TX
Re: Help!!! My headlights are acting strange!!! (ICULUKN-C5)
Just went thru this after a collision repair.
Check that both battery terminals are tight. My ground was finger tight, and I had no trouble starting the car - just all the electronics were hosed.
F
Check that both battery terminals are tight. My ground was finger tight, and I had no trouble starting the car - just all the electronics were hosed.
F
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,306
Likes: 5
Re: Help!!! My headlights are acting strange!!! (ICULUKN-C5)
I had this happen to me.... do this test.
check your bulbs... Try and open and close the lights with the high beams on. If they work as normal when high beams are on then your low beam bulbs are going bad. Check the connector to the PCM. If that gets wet and corrosion sets in then take a wire brush to the pins and carefully remove the corrosion.
I had the dealer do mine and it cost me $400.00; just to change the bulbs :mad
check your bulbs... Try and open and close the lights with the high beams on. If they work as normal when high beams are on then your low beam bulbs are going bad. Check the connector to the PCM. If that gets wet and corrosion sets in then take a wire brush to the pins and carefully remove the corrosion.
I had the dealer do mine and it cost me $400.00; just to change the bulbs :mad
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
From: Salisbury NC
Re: Help!!! My headlights are acting strange!!! (KillerVette99)
My problem was actually cause by the alternator. Took a few trys and then the lights would flip up. The lights would dim everytime I hit the brakes also. Problem went away with changing the alternator. I also needed a new battery after the alternator problem. Autozone can check it for you for free.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,576
Likes: 0
From: Austin TX
Re: Help!!! My headlights are acting strange!!! (Nick Williams)
So, if I can summarize:
One of the first indications of a failing battery, alternator, or poor battery connection would be failure of the lights to extend.
I was also seeing some flickering in the flouro displays on the temp control and radio.
F
One of the first indications of a failing battery, alternator, or poor battery connection would be failure of the lights to extend.
I was also seeing some flickering in the flouro displays on the temp control and radio.
F
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,306
Likes: 5
Re: Help!!! My headlights are acting strange!!! (ICULUKN-C5)
Ok. Thanks for all the info guys. I appreciate it. I don't really have the money right now to start replacing parts that aren't causing it so I'm going to try and narrow down the problem a little better. I'm going to try and find a pattern or something. The car has been sitting for 2 days without being started and I just reached in and flipped the lights on and they worked with no problem. So far its done this when I first flip the lights on after starting the car. That may have something to do with it. Do you think that might point to the alternater?
