Headlights flickering?

[ZoomZoom]

Ok, I was driving the wife's P5 the other day and I noticed that occassionally, the healights would kind of flicker. I don't really mean dim, it is almost like they would blink off and then back on REALLY QUICKLY. Like I said, it isn't really a dimming, like when you come to a stop light and the alternator slows reducing , charge output and causing the headlights to have a reduced output. I also believe that it is all the lights, both headlights and both foglights. Anybody ever have this happen or have any experience with something similar. Any suggestions would be great!

peace
Griff

 

[gjmoreo]

IS THERE A AFTERMARKET DECK INSTALLED?
IF SO, i KNOW IT SOUNDS WEIRD BUT MY FRIEND HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS 626 AND IT ENDED UP BEING THE WIRING OF HIS HU SOMEHOW? I DONT KNOW HOW, BUT WHEN HE HIT BUMPS THE HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR DASH LIGHTS FLICKERED.....DUE TO BAD WIRING,......

 

[ZoomZoom]

IS THERE A AFTERMARKET DECK INSTALLED?
IF SO, i KNOW IT SOUNDS WEIRD BUT MY FRIEND HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS 626 AND IT ENDED UP BEING THE WIRING OF HIS HU SOMEHOW? I DONT KNOW HOW, BUT WHEN HE HIT BUMPS THE HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR DASH LIGHTS FLICKERED.....DUE TO BAD WIRING,......

Yes, there is an aftermarket head unit in the car and an amp. I would hope that there is not a wiring problem, I have been an MECP certified 1st Class Installer for almost 10 years and I did the install myself. I also used a Metra harness adapter. The only wiring that can be found at the plug that leads to the radio is that of the parking light circuit and that is a seperate circuit from the headlights/foglights. Actually, the head and fog lights are a seperate circuit with the exception of the wiring that leads from the fog light relay to one of the headlights. This energizes the coil of the fog light relay when the headlights are on low beam and turns the relay off when they go to high beam. Anyway, I digress, I don't believe it can be the radio at all.

peace
Griff

 

[KYREDP5]

Only thing I've noticed (not attributed to my stereo that is) is in alost of cars the headlight wil dim/flicker when the heater kicks on and off, not seure why but My Escort, Celica, Probe, and P5 have all done this.


Yay 100th post

 

[RyanBlueP5]

Only thing I've noticed (not attributed to my stereo that is) is in alost of cars the headlight wil dim/flicker when the heater kicks on and off, not seure why but My Escort, Celica, Probe, and P5 have all done this.


Yay 100th post

Power drain.... Heat takes a lot of juice. (flame)

 

[Equinox]

I'm sure if you installed a voltage gauge like every domestic car comes with - you'd notice when your lights flicker, your amprage draw on the battery increases to.

As for an aftermarket stereo, I have something that is called a "Capacitor" and is just one big ass...well...capacitor that stores energy for the stereo to use. You could also just invest in an Optima Dry Cell Yellow Top Battery.

 

[ZoomZoom]

I'm sure if you installed a voltage gauge like every domestic car comes with - you'd notice when your lights flicker, your amprage draw on the battery increases to.

As for an aftermarket stereo, I have something that is called a "Capacitor" and is just one big ass...well...capacitor that stores energy for the stereo to use. You could also just invest in an Optima Dry Cell Yellow Top Battery.

Again guys, I don't believe this is stereo/amp related in any way. Especially since this happened three times tonight on the way back from the movies and the radio was turned down because we were talking. Yea, I have a 1 farad cap (not installed) but I at this point in the system, it is not needed. I will probably install 2-3 farads worth of capacitance once I redo everything and install a complete system. Anyway, I am kinds thinking it may be caused by the something else cycling on and off, but the only thing that concerns me is this is happening at speed while the alternator should be putting out full voltage. I would take it to Mazda, but I know they would just blame the stereo too. Maybe I will run some wires into the car and hook my DVM up to it for a while.

peace
Griff

 

[mp5]

When I first got my car I noticed the same thing and took it to the dealer for repair. I was informed that if the HVAC controls are in the floor, defrost/floor, or deforst mode, the a/c compressor cycles to dry the air in your car. The drain on the electrical system from the a/c compressor kicking on and off causes the lights to flicker. There is no fix for the problem. If yours is doing this while not in one of those HVAC positions, you have something else going on. Hopes this helps.

 

[ZoomZoom]

When I first got my car I noticed the same thing and took it to the dealer for repair. I was informed that if the HVAC controls are in the floor, defrost/floor, or deforst mode, the a/c compressor cycles to dry the air in your car. The drain on the electrical system from the a/c compressor kicking on and off causes the lights to flicker. There is no fix for the problem. If yours is doing this while not in one of those HVAC positions, you have something else going on. Hopes this helps.

Ahhhh, well at least somebody else has had the same experience. That seems like the most logical cause of the problem. Only recently, have we really needed to start using those positions on the HVAC controls, and those are exactly the ones that get used. The only thing that really bugs me is that, this happens at speed, the alternator should be able to compensate for this since it should be at full charge output. This concerns me as far as putting in a "serious" sound system in the future. I have never had to upgrade an alternator to meet the demands of any of my multi-amp systems. Ahh well, I will cross that bridge when I come to it. Thanks for your response mp5.

peace
Griff

 

[mazdadan]

Ahhhh, well at least somebody else has had the same experience. That seems like the most logical cause of the problem. Only recently, have we really needed to start using those positions on the HVAC controls, and those are exactly the ones that get used. The only thing that really bugs me is that, this happens at speed, the alternator should be able to compensate for this since it should be at full charge output. This concerns me as far as putting in a "serious" sound system in the future. I have never had to upgrade an alternator to meet the demands of any of my multi-amp systems. Ahh well, I will cross that bridge when I come to it. Thanks for your response mp5.

peace
Griff

My '01 ES has also done the same thing since the first day I have owned it. Other Mazdas I have owned in the past have done it too, so it didn't worry me too much. A while ago I figured out that is was related to the A/C compressor. For some reason, the A/C compressor puts such a large draw on the engine that it causes the lights to flicker. Unfortunately in our cars, you have no control over the compressor if you are using any of defrost climate control settings. However, once it gets below a certain temperature outside (50 degrees or lower I think it is), the compressor will not cycle on. I remember reading that in a few Mazda shop manuals.

Also at night, if you start your engine and turn the headlights on really quick, when you blip the throttle they will get brighter. Talk about sketchy alternators....lol.