How Do I Stop My Headlights from Flickering?

If you own a vehicle you may have seen your headlights have started flickering suddenly. So, if you are confused, tensed, and thinking “How do I stop my headlights from flickering”, we got you. 

There can be many reasons for the flickering and you can solve them by replacing different vehicle parts, inserting some tools, or ensuring proper connections. 

How Do I Stop My Headlights from Flickering?

If you want to stop your headlights from flickering, you must know the reasons first. This section is at your service with both the reasons and solutions.

Causes

Weak Battery 

Because your headlights are powered directly by your battery, flickering, dimming, or failing headlights are common symptoms of a dying battery. The average car battery will last anywhere from three to five years, depending on how well you care for your vehicle and whether you live in a hot or cold climate.

Even if your battery isn’t at fault, a flickering headlight can indicate a problem with your electrical system, which can also illuminate your battery warning light.

Loose Fuse or Connectors 

A loose connection or an improperly seated fuse can cause your headlights to flicker without proper contact, but this can be difficult to find.

A loose fuse or connector is usually easy to spot because your headlights will flicker more on rough road surfaces where the connectors or fuses are unable to make a proper connection to their seat and disrupt the electrical flow.

Internal Communication Faults

A faulty headlamp switch can disrupt communication between the electrical system and the computer system, resulting in flickering. You may need to investigate the computer and electrical systems, including relays, fuses, batteries, alternators, and switches.

Alternator 

When your alternator is unable to charge your battery, your electrical output suffers, resulting in flickering, dimming, or completely inoperable lights. 

Because your alternator is no longer fully operational, it will be unable to charge your battery, causing your battery’s existing charge to be rapidly depleted by your headlights and other electrical systems. A faulty or completely broken alternator will usually illuminate the battery light on your dashboard.

Incorrect Wires

Physical damage to the headlight component or melting from within the connector can both result in bad wiring. Sometimes the wire will begin to pull out the back of the connector, resulting in a poor connection.

Bad Bulbs 

If your fuses are all correctly installed and your battery has no faults, it could be as simple as a worn-out bulb or lamp that needs to be replaced. This is the quickest and simplest solution for all of the possible causes of your headlights flickering.

Car Accessories

If you have a large stereo system or other electrical accessories connected to your car, you should make sure that they are not interfering with the performance of your headlights.

Strong bass hits from a stereo system can cause your headlights to dim, resulting in flickering headlights. You may also discover that several faults from other components cause an excessive current draw as components heat up and shut down as internal resistance exceeds the power input.

Solutions

Check Battery 

A quick battery health check at home is an easy way to get a good assessment of your battery’s health and determine whether you need to replace it. Ensure that the battery is clean and dry, with no grime accumulating around the screws, clamps, and terminals.

Check for any loose connections or damaged wires, and if everything appears to be in order, check the battery’s state of charge. If your battery has grime build-up, you can clean it to see if it improves; if not, a battery replacement may be required.

Bulb Replacement 

The simplest solution for flickering headlights is to remove the headlight protection cover and inspect the bulbs for any damage or discoloration. Your bulbs should not wobble or feel loose.

Inspect Wire Fusing Panel

Check for damage to the wires in the fuse panel behind the steering wheel column on the driver’s side. If you notice any damage to the wire fusing panel, contact a mechanic immediately because attempting to repair electrical wires on your own is dangerous.

Unplugging Accessories

If you own an older vehicle, you may be missing out on cutting-edge technology and infotainment systems. You could be plugging in your own gadgets or dongles to try to get this technology into your vehicle, or you could simply be overloading your vehicle’s electrical system with too many draining devices.

Unplugging accessories such as phone chargers or other gadgets may help reduce the amount of excess power being drawn from your car, which may result in flickering headlights.

Check Alternator 

If your battery light is on, it could be pointing you in the direction of your alternator. Start your engine and disconnect the negative cable from the battery to test your alternator; if your vehicle stalls or dies, your alternator needs to be replaced.

Replacing and repairing an alternator is a job best left to a trained mechanic. It will take approximately 2 to 3 hours to complete and will cost between $100 and $350 for an aftermarket or new OEM alternator.

LED Decoder 

A LED decoder is a good product for this job. This is a component capable of storing and stably releasing electricity. Some vehicles are equipped with pulse power, a technology that reduces the heat and power consumption of halogen bulbs by providing intermittent power.

LED headlights, on the other hand, require a constant supply of current to function properly. This is where the LED decoder comes in to provide a high capacitance and a constant amount of power. 

Load Resistor 

A load resistor is another piece of equipment that can help with flickering. When switching from halogen to LED bulbs, the power draw decreases because LED bulbs require less power to operate. Load resistors solve this problem by compensating for the low power draw.

As a result, your car’s computer system will be able to communicate properly with the electrical system of the bulbs. 

Ensure Constant Supply of Current

The application of an unstable current to the LED can be fatal. This means that if it continues to receive inconsistent power, it could be permanently damaged. Flickering indicates that your LED is not receiving enough power.

Simply install a driver with your LED headlights. It will enable the electrical system to provide a constant and consistent supply of voltage to the headlight. Faulty plug might also hamper electricity supply. If your car’s wiring is too old, you can use the LED headlight driver instead.

FAQs 

Which load resistor can I buy?

The H7 LED Load Resistor is a good product to try for your vehicle.

What are the good brands to try for LED decoders?

LED decoders are widely available, Any car, Hikari, Koomtoom, and Auxbeam are some popular brands to look into.

Final Verdict

How do I stop my headlights from flickering – you should be able to recognize the reason and solve it singlehandedly. But make sure to consult with a professional mechanic if you don’t have much knowledge about the vehicle parts.