Headlight flicker?
#1
Headlight flicker?
Hello,
Lately I've been noticing that my driver's side headlight 'filckers' ever so slightly (especially when braking or going over bumps). It doesn't seem like anything is loose and is causing it to vibrate, but rather a very slight (very hard to see sometimes) and quick series of dips in intensity. Has anyone else had this? I'm wondering maybe if there is a lose wire or perhaps a bad ballast? So far, it only seems like it's on the driver's side... I know this is going to be very difficult to reproduce for the dealership.
Thanks!
Lately I've been noticing that my driver's side headlight 'filckers' ever so slightly (especially when braking or going over bumps). It doesn't seem like anything is loose and is causing it to vibrate, but rather a very slight (very hard to see sometimes) and quick series of dips in intensity. Has anyone else had this? I'm wondering maybe if there is a lose wire or perhaps a bad ballast? So far, it only seems like it's on the driver's side... I know this is going to be very difficult to reproduce for the dealership.
Thanks!
#3
hey, as a truck driver I see this happen all the time. it might be a flicker like you say it is, but i see cars dip on the road ofter with HID's and the light look like they are flickering, but they are not. I can't explain it in words. but have you ever been in front of a car with HID's and think he's flashing his lights at ya, but then you look and he's not?
well i think is the fast flash that the car goes through when it hits a dip. remember the hids are focust on lighting the roads and all of a sudden they point upward or downward cause of a dip, it may seem like they are flickering for sure.. since they are being projected to a certain spot on the road, if they are pointing down for the bump even for a second and then back up is going to seem like a flicker.
I hope this make sence, I just can't explain it. you have to see it happen I guess.
well i think is the fast flash that the car goes through when it hits a dip. remember the hids are focust on lighting the roads and all of a sudden they point upward or downward cause of a dip, it may seem like they are flickering for sure.. since they are being projected to a certain spot on the road, if they are pointing down for the bump even for a second and then back up is going to seem like a flicker.
I hope this make sence, I just can't explain it. you have to see it happen I guess.
#4
Originally Posted by Tek-Niq
hey, as a truck driver I see this happen all the time. it might be a flicker like you say it is, but i see cars dip on the road ofter with HID's and the light look like they are flickering, but they are not. I can't explain it in words. but have you ever been in front of a car with HID's and think he's flashing his lights at ya, but then you look and he's not?
well i think is the fast flash that the car goes through when it hits a dip. remember the hids are focust on lighting the roads and all of a sudden they point upward or downward cause of a dip, it may seem like they are flickering for sure.. since they are being projected to a certain spot on the road, if they are pointing down for the bump even for a second and then back up is going to seem like a flicker.
I hope this make sence, I just can't explain it. you have to see it happen I guess.
well i think is the fast flash that the car goes through when it hits a dip. remember the hids are focust on lighting the roads and all of a sudden they point upward or downward cause of a dip, it may seem like they are flickering for sure.. since they are being projected to a certain spot on the road, if they are pointing down for the bump even for a second and then back up is going to seem like a flicker.
I hope this make sence, I just can't explain it. you have to see it happen I guess.
Oh, and yeah.. I do have HIDs (and love them!). I'll probably ask the dealer about this next time I bring it in for maintenance. Thanks.
#6
Well, I think I may have figured it out last night... not sure though. I was stopped somewhere where I was facing a white wall, but unfortunately at the edge so that only my driver's side headlight was hitting it (so I couldn't see the passenger's side light). Anyway, I noticed that the level of the cutoff was dipping ever so slightly as the engine vibrated slightly (I know, the VQ is generally very smooth, but once in a while it will vibrate). Now, maybe my driver's side cutoff is vibrating when I go over small bumps or brake (my rotors are very slightly warped, maybe enough to jiggle the cutoff)? This would actually make the low beam seem just a tiny bit brighter for an instant until it returned to normal (or perhaps it goes the other way too.. maybe it seem dimmer). Either way, I think this might account for the flicker.
So, if this is true does this mean that my driver's side headlight aiming screw is loose or something else needs to be adjusted? If not, I think I can live with it...better than a dying balast or something.
Thanks!
So, if this is true does this mean that my driver's side headlight aiming screw is loose or something else needs to be adjusted? If not, I think I can live with it...better than a dying balast or something.
Thanks!
#8
Originally Posted by Monotaur
Well, I think I may have figured it out last night... not sure though. I was stopped somewhere where I was facing a white wall, but unfortunately at the edge so that only my driver's side headlight was hitting it (so I couldn't see the passenger's side light). Anyway, I noticed that the level of the cutoff was dipping ever so slightly as the engine vibrated slightly (I know, the VQ is generally very smooth, but once in a while it will vibrate). Now, maybe my driver's side cutoff is vibrating when I go over small bumps or brake (my rotors are very slightly warped, maybe enough to jiggle the cutoff)? This would actually make the low beam seem just a tiny bit brighter for an instant until it returned to normal (or perhaps it goes the other way too.. maybe it seem dimmer). Either way, I think this might account for the flicker.
So, if this is true does this mean that my driver's side headlight aiming screw is loose or something else needs to be adjusted? If not, I think I can live with it...better than a dying balast or something.
Thanks!
So, if this is true does this mean that my driver's side headlight aiming screw is loose or something else needs to be adjusted? If not, I think I can live with it...better than a dying balast or something.
Thanks!
just incase you need it, this explains where the adjustment screws are...
http://www.6thgenmaxima.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=64
#9
Originally Posted by Tek-Niq
just incase you need it, this explains where the adjustment screws are...
http://www.6thgenmaxima.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=64
http://www.6thgenmaxima.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=64
#12
I have a similar problem and hope someone can help as the dealer can't figure it out. I love my 2004 Maxima but in the last 2 years the headlights flicker very quickly and then go back to normal. There is no correlation between speed or bumps. I can see it in the back of other cars/trucks when it happens and I have people pull over to let me pass because they think I'm doing it on purpose. I'm afraid of a road rage incident if this continues. I took it to the dealer and described the problem but of course they couldn't replicate it and there is no rhyme or reason to when it happens. I have halogen lights and 86,500 miles on it. Did have corroded battery wire replaced with no change. Help. Would have posted a new message but due to 15 post rule I can't.
#13
I have a similar problem and hope someone can help as the dealer can't figure it out. I love my 2004 Maxima but in the last 2 years the headlights flicker very quickly and then go back to normal. There is no correlation between speed or bumps. I can see it in the back of other cars/trucks when it happens and I have people pull over to let me pass because they think I'm doing it on purpose. I'm afraid of a road rage incident if this continues. I took it to the dealer and described the problem but of course they couldn't replicate it and there is no rhyme or reason to when it happens. I have halogen lights and 86,500 miles on it. Did have corroded battery wire replaced with no change. Help. Would have posted a new message but due to 15 post rule I can't.
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