Headlight Flicker/Turn Off when BRAKING

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 10, 2012 | 02:28 PM
  #1  
Tharussian45's Avatar
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 46
Likes: 3
Headlight Flicker/Turn Off when BRAKING

like the title says... when i hit the brakes and the car weight shifts forward, the headlights seem to flicker one time off and on real quick... sometimes the driver bulb just turns off and i have to turn the lights on and off to get both on again... the problem seems to be occurring only when i brake semi hard/hard, if i brake smoothly the headlights seem fine... what im wondering is if this could be a battery ground issue? or just a bulb issue... if anyone has had anything similar happen when braking feel free to chime in... thanks
Reply
Old Jan 10, 2012 | 02:51 PM
  #2  
mitchkramez's Avatar
Instructor
 
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 197
Likes: 34
Sounds like the bulb is failing to me, someone else suggested in another thread to swap the bulbs and see if the problems transfer to the other lights - seems like a good place to start and will get you familiar with the bulb replacement process anyways...
Reply
Old Jan 10, 2012 | 03:38 PM
  #3  
Tharussian45's Avatar
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 46
Likes: 3
ya, figured it could be the bulb... but why flicker on and off when braking hard? shouldnt it flicker and turn off other times as well?
Reply
Old Jan 10, 2012 | 03:42 PM
  #4  
mitchkramez's Avatar
Instructor
 
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 197
Likes: 34
As hid bulbs get older they require more power to stay light and ignite in general, i'm guessing braking with the lights and the ABS etc may be just enough power draw to cause them to flicker. You might also want to get your battery and charging system checked...
Reply
Old Jan 10, 2012 | 04:00 PM
  #5  
Tharussian45's Avatar
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 46
Likes: 3
looks like ill be making a quick trip to autozone to get my battery checked...
Reply
Old Jan 11, 2012 | 12:20 PM
  #6  
oo7spy's Avatar
Senior Moderator
 
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 31,897
Likes: 7,251
From: Austin, TX
I would check the terminal connectors to the battery for tightness. I have heard here that the battery testers will pass a battery that the RL will have trouble with. Also, if the car is on, the battery voltage/current should have little effect. The terminal connection will effect the electronics with the car on. How old is the battery?
Reply
Old Jan 11, 2012 | 09:17 PM
  #7  
DiabloSVRacer's Avatar
Racer
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 460
Likes: 24
From: Boston, Ma
same with me, before i would take really hard turns because i would think im drifting, and the lights would flicker and then turn off. just replace both bulbs. if the driver side is flickering the passenger side will follow soon and u might as well do it.
Reply
Old Jan 11, 2012 | 10:40 PM
  #8  
mitchkramez's Avatar
Instructor
 
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 197
Likes: 34
I concur that I think the primary culprit is likely the bulbs going bad... my reasoning behind it was mostly conjecture and comparing it to the DLP bulbs that I have more familiarity with from projectors and TV's
Reply
Old Jan 13, 2012 | 04:47 PM
  #9  
Tharussian45's Avatar
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 46
Likes: 3
Originally Posted by oo7spy
I would check the terminal connectors to the battery for tightness. I have heard here that the battery testers will pass a battery that the RL will have trouble with. Also, if the car is on, the battery voltage/current should have little effect. The terminal connection will effect the electronics with the car on. How old is the battery?
battery is new, less than 6mo... i have noticed some corrosion on the terminals... what im thinking is that when im braking, the battery could be shifting and causing a quick loss of power maybe... (possibly a grounding issue) so i will go this weekend and buy some new terminals and new ground wire... hopefully thats the issue and nothing more serious...
Reply
Old Jan 13, 2012 | 05:02 PM
  #10  
Tharussian45's Avatar
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 46
Likes: 3
ummm.... is this too good to be true? a d2s bulb for this cheap???? if so, i'll buy em now and replace mine asap!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/D2S-D2R-HID-...ht_3470wt_1163
Reply
Old Jan 13, 2012 | 07:52 PM
  #11  
HEAVY_RL's Avatar
Suzuka Master
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 1,045
From: RVa
if not it claims there is a warranty

WARRANTY
The Xenon bulbs will come with two year warranty under normal use. Warranty will cover all normal defects, any physical damages will void the warranty
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2012 | 03:03 PM
  #12  
Tharussian45's Avatar
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 46
Likes: 3
Originally Posted by HEAVY_RL
if not it claims there is a warranty

[/COLOR]
ya, worth a try... a little update btw, cleaned the hell out of the battery terminals and so far the lights havent flickered again... could be coincidence... but im ordering new bulbs either way... what color temp are the stock ones? 4300? im thinking of getting 5k...
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2012 | 03:22 PM
  #13  
oo7spy's Avatar
Senior Moderator
 
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 31,897
Likes: 7,251
From: Austin, TX
They are 4300K, but 5000k is my next step.
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2012 | 10:46 AM
  #14  
Zelaya's Avatar
2012 TL SH-AWD
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,646
Likes: 119
From: Maryland
I noticed this last night on my way home. I was working on my car this past weekend and I accidently left the headlights on and I remembered my alarm went off and all my lights were flashing until my battery die.
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2012 | 12:07 PM
  #15  
getakey's Avatar
Safety Car
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,920
Likes: 421
Even if you leave your headlights in "on" position (not auto), they will still turn off automatically.
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2012 | 01:17 PM
  #16  
oo7spy's Avatar
Senior Moderator
 
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 31,897
Likes: 7,251
From: Austin, TX
^ After much time?
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2012 | 01:52 PM
  #17  
getakey's Avatar
Safety Car
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,920
Likes: 421
^ only a few minutes - can't remember if you can set the time
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2012 | 04:17 PM
  #18  
oo7spy's Avatar
Senior Moderator
 
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 31,897
Likes: 7,251
From: Austin, TX
Are you sure the battery voltage just doesn't drop below the ballast threshold?
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2012 | 05:21 PM
  #19  
getakey's Avatar
Safety Car
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,920
Likes: 421
No, I'm sure. 1) I believe it is in the manual. 2) I left my lights on one day. Remembered after several hours and thought I would return to car with dead battery.
Lights were out and battery fine.
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2012 | 05:56 PM
  #20  
getakey's Avatar
Safety Car
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,920
Likes: 421
Just confirmed lights go out automatically in the manual whether in On or Auto position. Uses the same timeout period for both that you can set through the MID menu. Default is 90 seconds
Reply
Old Feb 22, 2012 | 09:43 AM
  #21  
Black Widow Gen2's Avatar
Intermediate
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Petersburg, VA
OP, I am having the same issue with my passenger side light, only mine flickers and goes out when I make right turns, and hit a bump in the middle of the turn while the AFS is activated. I've read about the AFS light staying on in other threads, and it annoys me when mine comes on, but I really think this is a bulb or voltage issue. I'm gonna swap my bulbs and see what happens.

Anyone have a link to some good 5000K bulbs?
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
rp_guy
Member Cars for Sale
9
Jul 16, 2017 07:33 AM
GWEEDOspeedo
Car Parts for Sale
4
Jan 15, 2016 10:39 PM
blacktsxwagon
5G TLX (2015-2020)
42
Oct 27, 2015 10:12 PM
AmplifiedDetails
3G TL Problems & Fixes
9
Sep 24, 2015 02:55 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:11 AM.