What Is Making The Lights On My Car or Truck Flicker
Mercedes-Benz of Clear Lake can help you identify the what is making the lights on your car or truck flicker.
If you see your car lights flickering while driving, it’s probably because of a dying battery. If the battery checks out fine, there are other common trouble spots that are likely causing the issue. No matter the cause, it is imperative that you have the problem fixed as quickly as possible. If your lights aren’t functioning correctly, you may become a danger to other drivers.
The three places dimming lights mostly happen are:
Headlights
Lights on the Dash
Interior overhead lights
Because the battery is the easiest component to replace, this is where most of us will look first. If you think the battery is bad, bring it to us so we can properly diagnose the issue and get the correct parts for your vehicle. While most cases result from a bad battery, there are other culprits to consider.
If the car battery isn’t the reason for your flickering car lights, you might be looking at a bad light bulb. Failing bulbs are an easy fix and present an opportunity to upgrade to new LED bulbs.
If it is a blown fuse, you might be dealing with a bigger problem than you had originally anticipated. A fuse fails when there is excess electricity flowing through it. For example, if the anti-lock brakes are installed with a 10amp fuse, and the fuse receives more than 10amps of electricity, the fuse will fail. In this situation, this would also cause your anti-lock brakes to fail. If you have a fuse that continues to fail, bring it in so we can accurately diagnose the larger, potentially more dangerous issue.
Alternator
Lights flickering on the dashboard could also be one of the signs your alternator is dying. Consider this, you start your vehicle with power from the battery, but the alternator supplies the power that keeps your vehicle running. If you have an older car with halogen lights, you may see them gradually get dimmer with a failing alternator. On newer cars with LED or HID lights, they may flicker on and off or stop working altogether.
Headlight switch going bad
A dying light switch, whether it’s the interior lights dimmer or the headlight switch knob, also needs to be considered when you have flickering lights on the car. In some uncommon situations, replacing a worn-out switch might solve the flickering light problem, especially in vehicles with excessive mileage or older cars. If your vehicle doesn’t fall into either category, there’s a chance it could be a sign of a bigger issue with the car’s electrical system.
Figuring out these issues can seem overwhelming, so if you see any problems with the lights flickering on your car, bring it in immediately. Our technicians will do a thorough investigation and offer you options for fixing your flickering lights.
Schedule Mercedes-Benz Service Near Houston
Mercedes-Benz of Clear Lake is a great place to get vehicle repair in the Houston area. We gladly service all makes and models of vehicles. Visit our dealership online or in person to schedule service and repair for your luxury car or SUV. Our knowledgeable technicians are ready to serve you.
