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Headlight Flickering Random
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mu5tang71
Novice
Mar 9, 2016, 10:28 AM
Post #1 of 12
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Headlight Flickering Random
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Okay... I hope I can maybe get a solution to my problem here or at least somewhere to go next.... Okay now I own a 1993 Dodge Shadow... It only has 37,000 miles and in very good condition and was actually owned by one owner and elderly women and has sitting in her garage for the last 10 years. Anyway I have one issue with it .... It didn't start doing this right away maybe a month after I got it, but my Headlights flicker at random times and seems to happen more with the high beam engaged. I can drive 30 miles with no issues on low beam and as soon as I put on the high beam maybe 2-10 minutes later the lights start to flicker, but it has done it with the low beam on a few occasions..
Here is a list of the parts so far used to try to fix the issue.
Headlight Relay
2 Headlight Bulbs
Alternator
Battery
Now I have had people tell me it's loose ground but I can be on a flat highway not a bump and this start to happen and I can be on a old back bumpy road with it not happened were a loose wire could move.. I am thinking the headlight switch maybe..? It just happens at random tho.. All other lights work perfectly and only the headlights flicker. If it were a ground I would think all lights would flicker but that's why I am here... The running lights and tail lights never flicker... any ideas where to go next would be appreciated ....
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 9, 2016, 10:45 AM
Post #2 of 12
(1392 views)
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Re: Headlight Flickering Random
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It is most likely a ground issue so check that any and all ground straps to header panel are good.
IDK where they placed the battery in this model by year but some of these were put right over a mess of wires and stuff under it and if a battery failed and leaked or caused corrosion would cause whacked problems. If like that set up worth a good look UNDER battery and tray,
T
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mu5tang71
Novice
Mar 9, 2016, 11:43 AM
Post #3 of 12
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Re: Headlight Flickering Random
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I did look at those wires and they look fine I know that don't mean much but after I decided to pull the Headlight switch... The plug it self looks melted in 3 spots... I guess it's worth a shot to get one it only like a $25.00 part.... LOL You think this might be the issue may something in that switch not working right?
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 9, 2016, 11:56 AM
Post #4 of 12
(1385 views)
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Re: Headlight Flickering Random
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! Heat like what shows on orange plug is from too much current drawing so a breaker somewhere is late or why it's cutting off lights and when cool can come back on.
Are the bulbs at least the right OE ones or altered to higher output, more voltage that you know of?
If exactly correct I'm not sure where it's drawing too much current from other than failed sockets perhaps for the bulbs or the bulbs themselves most likely.
Back to "sounds like a ground" guess. If it had no ground intermittently it wouldn't be drawing current either so this is a higher than normal draw of power/current as said most likely at the bulbs or the bulbs.
Nice to have brighter light but if you did that or the prior owner it's too much for this car,
T
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mu5tang71
Novice
Mar 9, 2016, 12:29 PM
Post #5 of 12
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Re: Headlight Flickering Random
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No..... I purchased the OEM standard bulbs for that model car. Everything is left as stock but I did put in a new Pioneer stereo about 3-4 months ago no issues until now with those lights for about 2 of them... but I purchased the wiring harness at an extra $20 cost. It fit the OEM plug for the wiring in the dash for power and speakers. I also crimped all the wires to the harness and shrink tubed everything. No amp just stereo with 2 5" diameter Pioneer speakers on the door and 2 in the back and plugged them in the existing wires... I think I will unplug that radio and do a test later this evening to either rule that out or in....... I DO APPRECIATE THE HELP YOU HAVE BEEN
Is there anything in that switch that controls voltage or does it basically make and break the curciut
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 9, 2016, 12:36 PM
Post #6 of 12
(1379 views)
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Re: Headlight Flickering Random
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Stereo is out of this unless you used wiring for headlights.
With that now I'm suggesting you go check the plug to the bulbs. Got one of my own, lights would go out in that one was a ground wire to one serving both not burning up a plug like you showed.
Look right at the plug to headlamp bulb and back side of it as well. Anything funky going on? Do they fit snugly that you can tell?
IDK - just tossing out ideas of likely spots. If this is drawing current from wires somewhere else or the headlight switch the behavior is new to me but not impossible,
T
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mu5tang71
Novice
Mar 9, 2016, 1:31 PM
Post #7 of 12
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Re: Headlight Flickering Random
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Well I just looked at the headlight plugs and they look very clean... I did notice a small area that may be a bit melted but dont really see anything that shows wrong like the switch plug...
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 9, 2016, 1:48 PM
Post #8 of 12
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Re: Headlight Flickering Random
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Second picture.........
That's too much heat right there and probably the problem! No clue WHY but there shouldn't be current seeking ground there rather just to the bulb so IMO that is where there is a problem.
Unless somehow the bulb prongs or whatever they are aren't correct I'd be looking to replace that plug with a pig-tail new if possible, used more likely only bet but exact duplicate as what you have - wire colors and all,
T
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mu5tang71
Novice
Mar 9, 2016, 2:13 PM
Post #9 of 12
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Re: Headlight Flickering Random
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I just ordered 2 of those new plugs will update when i get them installed and tested. There is just 3 wriers coming off those plugs High and low beam bulb.. Thanks again for all of your help!!
Darrin
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 9, 2016, 4:42 PM
Post #10 of 12
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Re: Headlight Flickering Random
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That melted plastic on the headlamp connector is not caused by an over current draw. It caused from a poor electrical connection. Terminals that are corroded or have poor contact will heat up as the current for the circuit runs through them causing them to melt the plastic connector. That was a common problem on a lot of older Fords with almost same type of switch and connector design yours uses. You have to replace the connector pigtail and the head lamp switch. If you just replace the switch and not the pigtail, you'll end up with the same issue.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Mar 9, 2016, 4:53 PM)
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mu5tang71
Novice
Mar 9, 2016, 6:26 PM
Post #11 of 12
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Re: Headlight Flickering Random
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Okay I just got back from the Advanced Auto Parts Store.. I purchased the Switch... The Switch Plug pig tail, and both healing pig tail plugs connectors and shrink tubing.... But as stated earlier and I know you said unless I used the power from those headlights, but I did disconnect the Stereo from the Plug and it never flickered one time for 45min ride... I don't know if that is because I removed the switch earlier.. Sometimes removing something and tapping on it may make it work temporally.. It actually did that with the relay... The light around the key would never go out after removing the key and shutting doors.. I took it out tapped on it and put it back in and it started working but ended up replacing it New anyway.... But could it possibly be the cause.. I am going to replace the new parts tomorrow and plug the stereo back in for another test... Thanks for all your help... It's pretty unnerving going down the thruway or any road and the lights go out completely... LOL will be happy to finally find the culprit.....
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 9, 2016, 11:25 PM
Post #12 of 12
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Re: Headlight Flickering Random
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You seem very capable for a tricky problem - I'm trying from here with what I've witnessed and done which isn't easy to just know exactly what - you are doing great for a tricky problem.
Stereo somehow does seem to come into some of it IDK why. When they make those plugs for using your own harness then it shouldn't mess up anything else but OE might have and new stereo might just use up more power than OE using wires and things that can't tolerate it?
So true - no fun when headlights quit while driving at night. Said my own did that a couple times till problem found all before I left so OK and carried alligator wires to run at least one from battery to get home if stuck as I hadn't found where for sure yet and now have. Different problem then yours but same issue - no lights.
Now asking YOU. Is the adaptor plug right? Do you trust it's correct for your car or is there a better one available? By rights the whole reason is not to mess up you OE wiring a real NO, NO.
I'm not a "stereo/sound system" tech but had to replace two. Bought from car audio place they called an interface, was quite involved as both cars used heat sinks in trucks OE but when done no wire touched on the cars just the new radio set up wired to plain plug in and go was all more $$ for parts than you speak of?
Good luck and said you seem well aware to find and handle this. I stereo guy is at this site user name " kenray " I think not here all the time. Others may have some or lots of OE wiring diagrams for the headlights and if they are involved at all but I think and guessed not - no software on hand from me to find out.
Side note thinking back. Heat damage to plug the goes right to headlight not the orange one. Headlights are known to get VERY hot so use or should be better material. Other parts should never get that hot at that location so the issue is real and trust you being there is the best way to find exactly what and where better than myself and a keyboard but trying for you,
Tom
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