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Bob Howard Toyota can help you identify what flickering car lights mean.
If you see your lights dimming while driving, it’s probably because of a battery that is dying. In the rare case when it’s not the battery, there are other common trouble areas that may be causing the issue. No matter the cause, it’s imperative that you have the problem diagnosed and repaired as quickly as possible. When your lights aren’t working properly, you might become a hazard to other drivers.
The 3 places dimming car lights can occur are:
Because the battery is the most convenient item to diagnose, this is where a technician will look first. If you think the battery is on its way out, bring it to us so we can diagnose the problem and get the right parts for your car. While there are cases caused by a dying battery, there are other factors to consider.
If your car battery is not the cause of your flickering car lights, it might be a bad bulb or a bad fuse. Bulbs are an easy fix and present an opportunity to upgrade to new energy-efficient LED bulbs.
If it’s a bad fuse, you may be dealing with a larger problem than you had originally thought. In most cases, a fuse fails when there is excess electrical current flowing through it. As an example, if the anti-lock brakes are connected to a 10amp fuse, and the brake system gets over 10amps of electricity, the fuse will fail. In this example, your anti-lock brakes would fail due to the failed fuse. If there’s a fuse that continues to fail, bring your vehicle in and we’ll accurately diagnose the bigger, potentially more serious issue.
Flickering lights can also be signs your alternator is dying. Consider this, you start your car with power from the battery, but to keep your car running, the power comes from the alternator. If you drive an older vehicle with halogen headlights, you may notice them gradually get dimmer with a failing alternator. For new cars equipped with LED or HID lighting, they may flicker or just stop functioning altogether.
A failing light switch, either the interior dimmer or the headlight switch, should also be checked out when you have flickering lights on the car. In some uncommon situations, replacing a worn switch could solve the issue, especially in vehicles with excessive wear or older vehicles. If your vehicle doesn’t fall into either category, there’s a possibility it could be a sign of a more serious issue with the vehicle’s electrical system.
Diagnosing these issues can be overwhelming, so if you see any issues with the lights flickering on your car, bring it in immediately. Our trained technicians will do a thorough diagnosis and provide you with options for fixing your flickering lights.
Bob Howard Toyota is a great place to get vehicle repair in the Oklahoma City 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, truck, SUV, or minivan. Our knowledgeable technicians are ready to serve you.
