Headlights are the most important safety feature of your car. When they are working correctly, they can be seen from far away and provide a warning to other drivers. Headlights also help you see the road better in low-light conditions.
When headlights start to flicker, it means that they are not working properly. The most common cause of flickering headlights is a loose connection between the headlight and the car.
The problem is usually caused by a broken ground wire near the battery. If this is not the case, then there may be an issue with the electrical system, such as a short circuit or a blown fuse.
What Are The Causes Of Flickering Headlights On Honda Civic?
If your headlights flicker on the road, it can create unsafe driving conditions as it can cause distractions not just for you but also for other drivers.
If you’re wondering why your dash lights and headlights flicker when your car is running, you’ve come to the right place.
If your headlights are flickering, there are many reasons for it. Here are some helpful tips to help you find out the cause of flickering headlights.
1. Headlamp Switch Failure
You may suffer from flickering headlights if your car’s electrical system and computer system aren’t communicating. In some cases, this condition is caused by a faulty headlamp switch.
It may be possible to resolve this issue with a new headlamp switch. However, your car’s computer or electrical system may need to be examined further, including fuses, relays, switches, batteries, and alternators.
2. Wiring Is Defective
The flickering of a headlight may be caused by physical damage to the headlight components. There is a possibility that the inside of the connector will start to melt, resulting in a poor connection to the bulb.
A poor connection may also result from the wire pulling out the rear of the connector. The damaged components may need to be replaced in order to resolve this issue.
It might be beneficial to get a qualified technician’s inspection since it involves disconnecting electrical components.
3. The Bulb Is Not Working
It is possible that flickering occurs when the filaments of halogen bulbs become damaged or worn out. It isn’t common for halogen headlights to flicker in that manner.
In some cases, a flicker may occur if the ends of the broken filament touch intermittently, but that’s more likely to happen if the filament is broken in two.
Different types of headlight bulbs have different lifespans. The service life of halogen headlights usually is shorter than other types of headlights, due to their tendency to burn hot and fail faster.
Your headlight assembly is likely to have halogen bulbs if your vehicle is an older model or even a newer model. Even so, it’s not unheard of to find halogen bulbs lasting over 100,000 miles.
So, you don’t have to worry about a flickering light or even needing to replace one in the future. While they fail, parts suppliers sell headlight bulbs, and they are not very expensive.
4. Fuses Or Connection Loose
It could be that the fuse is not properly seated or that the connection is loose when the headlights flicker. If you drive on a rough surface, such as a gravel road, you may notice this problem more often.
Taking your vehicle to a service center to diagnose electrical system issues can be tricky because loose connections and fuses can be hard to find.
5. Bulbs Or Lamps That Are Wearing Out
If you have old or damaged headlight bulbs or lamps, the headlights can flicker. The good news is that this can be a relatively quick fix.
If your vehicle’s bulbs or lamps are old or damaged, they can replace them for you at any Honda-certified service center.
6. Failing Alternator
You will notice an increase in the electrical output of your car when the alternator fails. In this case, the vehicle’s battery might not be able to provide power to the headlights, which could cause flickering, dimming, or inoperative functioning.
The vehicle’s electrical system drains the battery quickly if the alternator is not able to charge the battery. You should have your alternator checked by a qualified technician in this scenario to determine whether it needs to be fixed or replaced.
In most cases, when your car’s battery light illuminates, it signifies that your alternator is not working properly or that there is a problem charging the battery.
7. Battery Dying
An expired battery is one of the most common causes of headlight flickering. For your headlights to work properly, you need power from your battery. Flickering, dimming, or flickering headlights may be caused by failing batteries.
The best thing you can do in this situation is to visit your local auto service center for a free battery inspection. It may be time to replace your battery if your headlights are flickering.
It is typical for a car battery to last between three and five years. Batteries can become less effective when they are used frequently, left parked for long periods, or driven with an excessive number of aftermarket electric accessories.
The flickering or dimming of your headlights shouldn’t be ignored, regardless of whether your battery is to blame.
In addition to compromising your safety on the road, flickering headlights may reduce your visibility to other drivers. The flickering of your vehicle’s headlights could also indicate a serious electrical problem.
8. Problem With The Headlight Circuit
It is also possible for circuit problems to cause flickering headlights. Damaged wiring or a bad connection can cause the issue, for example. There is also the possibility of a bad headlight switch or relay.
When a short circuit occurs in the headlight switch assembly, the headlights can flicker, but they won’t flicker separately – both will do the same thing.
This is because older cars have a built-in circuit breaker, and a short circuit will cause both headlights to flash when it occurs.
Older models were more likely to have flickering headlights, but nowadays, the headlight switch circuit breaker usually lasts a long time.
Final Words
It is often a loose or corroded connection to the affected circuit that causes flickering like that. Flickering is caused by the difference in resistance between the two connections.
Most likely, the engine’s vibrations coupled with the voltage spikes at the connection resolved the issue. However, it could return at any time. Finding the problematic connection is the hard part.
It is usually a faulty bulb or a problem within the headlight circuit that causes flickering headlights. You will need to determine the type of headlights you have to diagnose the problem if only one headlight is flickering.
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