Sterling McCall Acura can help you identify what causes the lights on your car to flicker.
If you notice your lights flickering while driving, it’s likely going to be from a dying battery. If the battery checks out fine, there are other common trouble areas that could be causing the issue. Whether it’s your battery or something else, you should have the problem fixed ASAP. If your lights aren’t functioning properly, you might become a danger to other drivers.
Dimming lights generally occur in three areas:
Because the battery is the easiest item to diagnose, this is where a mechanic will look first. If the battery is dying, bring it to us so we can properly diagnose the problem and get the specific OEM battery for your vehicle. While there are cases that result from a dying battery, there are other factors to consider.
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If the battery isn’t the reason for your flickering car lights, you might be dealing with a failing light bulb. Failing light bulbs are an easy fix and present an opportunity to upgrade to new LED bulbs.
If it is a bad fuse, you may be looking at a more significant issue than you had originally realized. A fuse fails when there is excess electricity flowing through it. As an example, if your anti-lock brakes are connected to a 10amp fuse, and the fuse gets over 10amps of electricity, the fuse will fail. In this situation, your anti-lock brakes would fail due to the failed fuse. If there’s a fuse that continues to fail, bring it in so we can thoroughly diagnose the larger, potentially more dangerous issue.
Lights flickering on your dash could also be signs your alternator is failing. Think of it like this, you start your vehicle with battery power, but the alternator provides the power when the vehicle is running. If you have an old car with halogen headlights, you may notice them slowly get dimmer with a failing alternator. On newer cars equipped with LED or HID lighting, they may flicker or just stop working altogether.
A bad light switch, whether it’s the headlight switch knob or an interior lights dimmer, should also be checked out when you have flickering car lights. In some uncommon situations, replacing a worn switch may solve the flickering light problem, especially in vehicles with excessive wear or older cars. If your car doesn’t fall into either category, it could be symptoms of a more serious problem with the car’s electrical system.
Diagnosing these concerns can feel overwhelming, so if you are experiencing any problems with flickering lights on your vehicle, bring it to us immediately. Our knowledgeable technicians will diagnose the issue and give you options for fixing the flickering car lights.
Sterling McCall Acura 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 car or SUV. Our knowledgeable technicians are ready to serve you.
