Headlights flickering - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

Paul A · 08-06-2008, 12:21 AM

Has anyone had this problem.
My headlights on low beam flinker slightly while driving at any speed. If I have them on high beam it will do the same but you can hear a clicking sound coming from the LH side of the dash.
My Dealer so far, has checked for a loose ground. Changed out the turn switch. which didn't help. Now my light in the radio will go off sometimes when I use my turn signal. It will come back on if I turn the radio off and on. And yesterday my headlights went off then on when I used my right signal. My Dealer has ordered a new sam unit, which hasn't come in yet. But not sure if that will fix it.

Amethyste · 08-06-2008, 05:06 AM

Check your battery cable connections!! Mine were doing that too and that was all it was. Are you sure your dealer did check that correctly?

Paul A · 08-07-2008, 12:10 AM

I don't know if he checked that or not, But I can do that myself so I'll check it out. If it fixes it I'll let you know.

Thanks

SmarTek-TNG · 08-07-2008, 04:20 AM

I had a car come in the other day with similar symptoms and it was the battery ground cable (it was loose). Your symptoms do sound more serious... the car I was working on just had flickering lights (all around the car) when the engine was running, but they looked normal when the engine was off.

Paul A · 08-11-2008, 12:13 AM

I checked my ground cable, and I could move all the wires and turn the ground screw with my fingers. Tighted it up, and so far so good.
Thanks for the reponse.

Macaw · 09-07-2008, 04:07 PM

7,000 miles and just now driving in the dark and noticed the flickering lights. Battery cable was ok but one of the ground nuts on the chassis by the battery was loosey-goosey....

Fredvon4 · 09-07-2008, 04:50 PM

I think it real interesting that Automotive technicians for the last 10~20 years rarely seem to be trained to find the simple things FIRST

One o One for any electrical troubleshooting when I was training young aircraft repairmen; was to verify all power and ground connections FIRST... then ensure good connectivity on every electrical connector in the circuit before even suspecting a bad black box..................

"ordered a SAM unit"... there was a goodly expense for the dealership....

Please all you ASE certified Master Tecnicians out there ...do not read this as a Bash on ALL technicians...

But if you can accept that there is a lack of good training out there, perhaps you could take the time to mentor some of the younger guys and gals to not overlook the simple stuff

I hate to say how many alternators I have seen replaced on a car or truck with battery terminals damned near falling for for all the corrosion

Old smart · 09-07-2008, 05:05 PM

I can say that during my own PDI (POST delivery inspection) I found my battery ground strap barely tight - on both ends!

bigcritter · 09-07-2008, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fredvon4

I hate to say how many alternators I have seen replaced on a car or truck with battery terminals damned near falling for for all the corrosion

Replaced a "good" alternator on a Chevy once, then had to take it back off after finding the ground cable on the battery (at the engine/chassis) was bad!

click....click......click.......