Electric gremlin?? Headlights Help!!
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
Electric gremlin?? Headlights Help!!
Coming home tonight and the headlights went off twice.. My C7 is a 2014 Z51 M7 with 10,600 miles. Build date is May, 2014. My first thought is maybe the battery is getting weak/old.. Has anything like this happen to any of you guys? Thanks for your replies and time.
#2
Burning Brakes
I guess the consensus is the OE battery is good for about 3 years so I suppose that could play into this. I'm a bit skeptical though as the alternator is powering the vehicle (and charging the battery) when the engine is running. Did both go out? At the same time? If only one side I'd suggest ballast, or more likely the bulb. In that case, swap whichever is easiest to access and see if the problem follows. I don't have a wiring diagram so I don't have many troubleshooting ideas beyond the obvious.
BTW...whatever you do, do not touch the glass of the bulb. If you do, and don't clean it, you risk premature failure of the bulb.
Mike
BTW...whatever you do, do not touch the glass of the bulb. If you do, and don't clean it, you risk premature failure of the bulb.
Mike
#3
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Aug 2016
Location: MOUNTAIN HOME Arkansas
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Touch more info please. Were the lites off just momentary or longer? Anything else have a glitch, DIC-HUD-Radio, etc? These cars have so much electronic gizmos that perhaps when battery gets weak it would shut down the biggest draw on the battery to save the alternator even if for a few secs. If you can, check output of battery or run by any auto parts store & they will be able to check voltage.
#4
Safety Car
When your battery starts to go all kinds of electrical problems can arise. I have never heard of your headlights going off and on but anything can happen. As mentioned, get your battery tested.
Last edited by Red C8 of Jax; 12-11-2017 at 09:45 AM.
#5
Drifting
Thread Starter
I guess the consensus is the OE battery is good for about 3 years so I suppose that could play into this. I'm a bit skeptical though as the alternator is powering the vehicle (and charging the battery) when the engine is running. Did both go out? At the same time? If only one side I'd suggest ballast, or more likely the bulb. In that case, swap whichever is easiest to access and see if the problem follows. I don't have a wiring diagram so I don't have many troubleshooting ideas beyond the obvious.
BTW...whatever you do, do not touch the glass of the bulb. If you do, and don't clean it, you risk premature failure of the bulb.
Mike
BTW...whatever you do, do not touch the glass of the bulb. If you do, and don't clean it, you risk premature failure of the bulb.
Mike
#6
Le Mans Master
I keep my 2014 on a battery tender that also de-sulfates the battery. Have had the car nearly four years on the original battery and no issues yet...
#7
Drifting
Thread Starter
Touch more info please. Were the lites off just momentary or longer? Anything else have a glitch, DIC-HUD-Radio, etc? These cars have so much electronic gizmos that perhaps when battery gets weak it would shut down the biggest draw on the battery to save the alternator even if for a few secs. If you can, check output of battery or run by any auto parts store & they will be able to check voltage.
#8
Le Mans Master
#9
Drifting
Thread Starter
madrob, Yes the window on the driver side went half way down and stopped. It would no move in either direction for about 10 seconds, then it went back up.. After I got home I started the car up again after it had set for an hour. I opened the door and the speedometer and the radio screen were both blank. After starting the car both screens came back on. All connections on the battery are tight. Battery is 3 1/2 years old, so it looks like time for a new battery.
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madrob2020 (12-10-2017)