Headlights flicker when car is off
Vic@HUUU
05-31-2006, 08:28 AM
The headlights on my 2002 Concorde flicker on and off sometimes when the car is off. By sometimes, I mean for short periods almost every day. I took it to the dealer and they said they couldn't reproduce the problem. I had them change the battery and that seemed to do the trick, but a couple of months later I noticed it was doing it again.
I found a two year old thread here that mentions the same problem, but there was no resolution there. Anybody here have any suggestions regarding this problem?
I found a two year old thread here that mentions the same problem, but there was no resolution there. Anybody here have any suggestions regarding this problem?
Vic@HUUU
06-03-2006, 06:50 PM
Ok. This forum officially sucks.
denco
06-05-2006, 12:36 PM
Give it some time.
I read posts once a week.
If the right person reads it, they will try to help.
I have three other vehicles that I watch forums for.
The Concord forum seems to lack participation.
Intermittent electrical problems are never easy to find.
Give as much information as you can about your problem.
Try to send a private message to the person that had your problem, they may help.
Now my theory:
Headlight power is fed through relays. If you have one sticking and not completely open when off, it could be the problem.
If this is the case it should burn the contacts from arcing soon and fail.
When you don’t get a reply, give your post a BUMB by posting a short sentence like hoping for quick reply please!
I read posts once a week.
If the right person reads it, they will try to help.
I have three other vehicles that I watch forums for.
The Concord forum seems to lack participation.
Intermittent electrical problems are never easy to find.
Give as much information as you can about your problem.
Try to send a private message to the person that had your problem, they may help.
Now my theory:
Headlight power is fed through relays. If you have one sticking and not completely open when off, it could be the problem.
If this is the case it should burn the contacts from arcing soon and fail.
When you don’t get a reply, give your post a BUMB by posting a short sentence like hoping for quick reply please!
windowpane
06-05-2006, 07:22 PM
I don't KNOW if this is your problem but it MAY be the headlight switch, or the BCM, my opinion is it's probably the headlight switch. Does the concorde have a setting for automatic on/off of the headlights and do you have it on that or if it does have that feature do you leave them in the always off position?
Vic@HUUU
06-05-2006, 08:56 PM
Thank for the replies, guys.
My Concorde has automatic headlights and daylights. I never touch the switch. I keep it on "A".
Since the lights shouldn't come on when the ignition is off, my first thought was some fault in the ignition switch.
My Concorde has automatic headlights and daylights. I never touch the switch. I keep it on "A".
Since the lights shouldn't come on when the ignition is off, my first thought was some fault in the ignition switch.
windowpane
06-06-2006, 05:41 AM
That's a possibility, but in most if not all cars, the headlight switch has constant power so you can turn your lights on without the key in the ignition I haven't tested that in my car but it has been true for every car I've owned/driven. The only difference with this car, for me, is that my M is supposed to have a safety 'battery rundown' protection where if I leave something on too long w/o a key in the ignition or w/o the car running the bcm is supposed to shutoff power to it.
In your situation where if the headlight sw is failing the power is only intermittent so if your concorde has the same run down feature it wouldn't kick in since its not a constant drain.
Since you have yours on Automatic there may be someting wrong with your ignition switch as you mentioned making it think the lights should be on but only if its dark since they are on Auto. You can try to test this by seeing if they continue to flicker with the switch set to off, it would be worth it to try if the switch is good you shouldn't have any flickering even if the ignition switch is bad.
In your situation where if the headlight sw is failing the power is only intermittent so if your concorde has the same run down feature it wouldn't kick in since its not a constant drain.
Since you have yours on Automatic there may be someting wrong with your ignition switch as you mentioned making it think the lights should be on but only if its dark since they are on Auto. You can try to test this by seeing if they continue to flicker with the switch set to off, it would be worth it to try if the switch is good you shouldn't have any flickering even if the ignition switch is bad.
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