Headlights dim when braking

I have noticed recently that my headlights dim for a split second as soon as I hit the brakes then they go back to normal. Should I be worried? Also, my damn SES light keeps coming on about every other day but only comes on when I put it in gear. If it is idling it doesn't come on. It's the SES light on the right side of the column, not the left side light. I have a 2000 SE.

Thanks for your input.

TonyR,
From what I have been told...this is normal for the GA's, the issue is the fact that they are electrically under powered. There are so many electrical components on the cars that the Altenator is too weak. They should have put a hicher output alt. on the car. I have a 96 GAGT and changed the alt. at about 90,000miles when it went bad, I put a higher outout alt aon the car and it seemed to take care of the problem. I was reassured by a Pontiac service rep (Direct from Pontiac Head Office) that it is not a problem and neither the brakes nor the headlight would go out. I never had any problems in that respect.

I hope this helps,

Ok tonyr the light on the right would be a SVS you probley hav a headlamp out, and its probley the highbeams burnt. Only does it when you put it in geaar because the DRL's turn on ans sense the lamp is blown.

I'd agree with Dan on the underpower'd Alternators, they should hav used the 120amp or more. My Ga does the same thing when I hit the breaks, 130Kmiles and still on the original alter. Believe that one Lol!

That all makes sense. What's weird is the SVS light comes on one trip then not on the next but more often than not, it does come on. Thanks for the information!

My regular lights work so if I try and hit the brights I will be able to tell if the high beam is burnt??

I forgot one thing, when I put the car in gear, the brights symbol on the dash flutters in and out quickly and then the SVS light comes on.

Tonyr, If you want to check the lights for proper operation just pull up to a building or a store front window and go through the paces you will be able to see if the lows and highs are working, Wait till dark...its much easier to see the lights. It sounds like sarcasim but I do not mean it to I told my neighbor to do that so he tried the store front glass...on a sunny day, he could not see the lights because of the sun, so he brought his car home and pulled up against the garage door but the only way to see the lights on the doo was to pull up so close that he could not see unless he got out of the car. I told him he should have waited until night time, he later admitted that it was much easier at night. :screwy:

Good call guys. I tried my brights in the garage and the passenger one is out. The regular headlight is working fine. There is just one bulb that needs replaced right? Thank you for the help. I probably would have never figured this one out since I rarely use the brights.

Glad we could help, that's why we're here, We like it when we get one right :lol: Seriously, I'm glad we were able to help you get to the bottom of it. Now all that needs done is to go a head and change out the bulb. Make sure that you do not touch the bulb (glass portion) with your bare hands, use a cotton glove or rag, the oils from you fingers can get on the bulb and can cut the life of the bulb in half.

Good luck.

By the way if you have trouble getting at the bulb give us a hollar, we will be glad to help.

I changed the bulbs but had trouble with the black plastic ring. I broke one of the clips on it. The bulb fits pretty snug without the clip but what I wanted to know is does that black ring tighten on by turning it or does it "snap" into place and lock?

My car has always been a little weak with the alt. output. My headlights also dim when I hit the brakes and also when I use my power-up windows....both the driver's and passenger side at the same time really give my alt. a hard time. The only time I get scarded and think my car will die out is if I have my rear defrost. on and I'm trying to raise my windows or such. I've thought of replacing my alt. with a more powerful one before mine dies out, but I figure I'll just wait til it completely dies on me. By the way, I've got a 2000 Grand AM GT here with about 64,000 miles.

After doing some searching and running across several posts elsewhere referring to "Hypergrounding" and deciding that "Hypergrounding" is just a fancy term and a temporary fad, I decided to check a few of the ground points on the car. I found that the factory had installed the 8 guage ground wire that runs from the battery to the body of the vehicle, had been left painted, therefore reducing significantly the effectiveness of the ground. I sanded the paint down to bare metal, applied a little dielectric grease and reinstalled the ground wire. The car actually runs better, more responsive throttle, smoother idle, and slight increase in horsepower/torque...and the headlights DO NOT dim anymore, not at low speed, high speed or anywhere in between. You may want to check your vehichle's grounding points. YMMV

Thankx for the input gskuhn and welcome to AF.

Though, please do not bring up threads older then 3 months. this is out lined in the Community Participation Guidelines (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/guidelines.html) which you should have read.
This one, is over a year old :disappoin

If you need furture assistance please post your own thread.

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