Headlights intensity changing while shifting...

[Amethyste]

Tonight I was coming back from a friend and I noticed that my headlights intensity would change when I was shifting: Per axample, when I would shift up, there would be a small, but detectable variation in "the power that the headlights are putting out", then would come back to normal as the car went through the gear change. I didn't detect a change when shifting down.

It's not really a big deal, I was just wondering if one of you noticed that as well?

[toogrvy]

hmmm, are you sure that the car isn't lifting in the front when you shift to a higher gear, causing your lights to appear brighter? Just a thought since it's been reported that the suspension is very soft. Obviously when you downshift the car would dip in the front, but maybe not enough to notice less light?

[Amethyste]

Actually, the intensity of the headlights is seems lower when I upshift, like its using "juice" from the alternator and resume to normal after the gear change has occured.

[Evilution]

Originally Posted by toogrvy

hmmm, are you sure that the car isn't lifting in the front when you shift to a higher gear, causing your lights to appear brighter

Right answer, wrong conclusion.

As the car tips back the headlights are focused further down the road so less light returns so they seem darker.

Quite often people will think you are flashing your lights at them as you pull away and change gears.

[SMART]

Ah, makes sense with the enormous amount of lift from the front end when taking off...

[Karl Roth]

Half of my commute is in the dark and I did notice the same thing and wondered if it was reflections that made it look that way or what the deal was. It did appear to momentarily dim.
karl
my car is not doing all the bobbing anymore...

[eqwalker]

Actually, it is causing a dip in voltage from the alternator. I have noticed the same thing since day one and really haven't paid it much mind, other than it is a regulator issue. When the solenoids operate in the tranny, it causes it. Mine is not due to the car "tilting" when the shifts occur since I have seen it with the A/C kicking in and out as well as the cooling fan in the front kicking on and off while the headlights are on. I suspect that it is a normal occurance on this vehicle.

[Karl Roth]

you would think that a car this dependant on the electronics would have a smoother power supply.
karl

[eqwalker]

Yes, you would think. There will probably be a third party solution sometime in the future (possibly a change to the existing alternator or a new alternator altogether) that will address this for those of us that want to eliminate it.

[SmartDigger]

Better Ground and a bigger battery would do the trick.