head lights flashing on and off

I have a "98" Aurora. I went out this morning and my head lights were flashing on and off, first thing i thought of was the alarm was going off or something. So i started the car and it still was doing it, I turned the headlights on manually and they quit flashing when i turned them off they started flashing again. This is the strangest thing i ever seen on a car. (lights flashing with car off). I finally disconected the battery. Also when the lights are flashing there is a buzzing sound coming from under the driver side dash, sounds like maybe a relay or something. Has anyone else had this problem or does anybody have any idea what may be causing this. Thanks.

Unfortunately, that is your multi function headlamp switch (Almost Positive). I just got my 98 Aurora out of the shop because of that- when it happened to me I thought my car was possesed! Make sure you take it to someone that has worked on this problem before, when I called around everyone seemed very confused as to what I was talking about and said they weren't sure if they could fix it. I called an Olds dealership and they knew exactly what it was and had it fixed in 3 hours ($700 though). It is actually the whole turn signal stick and all the wires that run out the bottom and through your steering wheel with a plug on the end. If it continues doing this the only thing I found that works is to disconnect the battery until the morning I took it in (it killed my battery after 6 hours and had to jump it). I hope this helps.

Look here for some excellent directions on cleaning your existing switch before throwing big $ at it.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=198519

Look here for some excellent directions on cleaning your existing switch before throwing big $ at it.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=198519
I just read the forums in that link, I'm going to try and clean it and save some bucks. That makes sense if theirs too much greese in the switch and its making contact where its not supose to. Thanks for that pointing me in the right direction, I'll let ya know how things turn out.

I have a '98 that had same problem: followed "Thumpin455" 's advice from post #9 - a lot of elbow grease, but cost nothing! And it's been over a month with no more problems!

I finally got some time to work on my flashing light problem. I followed thumpin455 instructions on how to clean the switch and everything is working like its suppose to, was pretty easy really. I want to thank dsatt12 for pointing to thumpin455 instructions and thanks to thumpin455 for writing the detailed instructions on how to clean the multi function switch
You guys saved me a bunch of cash!!!!!
Thanks again, Randy

Thanks for the help, I have a 98 Olds Aurora. Problem just started today. It does look posessed! I read posts that sometimes the problem was the lamp control module, and others the multi-switch. To troubleshoot, locate the control module (LCM) located on the left side of the instrument panel. It has a 2 connectors 6 pin and 16 pin. Measure voltage on White wire (B1) in reference to ground. This is the control wire from the multi-switch. It should read battery voltage when manual switch is off, and ground when lights turned on manually. ( When connected to LCM, a trouble light to ground on this pin will turn on the headlights, and won't detect problem) If problem is in switch, the voltage should fluctuate as the light flashing problem occurs. If it does not fluctuate, then the problem is most likely the LCM. If it does fluctuate, disconect the 16 pin connector from the LCM, and connect an ohmmeter between the white lead of the wire harness and ground, or a test light between battery and the white lead. To verify proper connection, turn on headlight switch, and the ohmmeter will show a short to ground, or the test light will light. Then turn off headlamp switch, and wait. If it is the switch, you will see the ohmmeter fluctuate, or the test lamp; flash intermittently, as the headlights were doing. My problem was in the switch. I did not have time tonight to clean the switch, as someone had mentioned, but intend to this weekend. For an interim solution, I removed the white wire from pin B1 of the connector, and tapped it back to harness. This pin on it has ground potential when active so it is relatively safe. I never use my manual light switch anyway, I let the light sentinel turn my lights on/off automatically, so I won't miss it. Be cautious, as you will no longer have option to manually turn on your lights if somehow the automatic feature failed, but that would be unlikely. Note, this method still allows the parking lights, and the fog lights to be used normally with manual switches. Note, to remove pin, there are four rows of holes on the LCM side of the connector, I inserted a mini-screwdriver in the hole adjacent to the one with the white wire, and got pin to pop out undamaged.