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South Pointe Chevrolet can help you identify what flickering car lights mean.
If you see your car lights dimming while driving, it’s most likely because of a battery that is failing. If the battery is normal, there are other common trouble areas that could be responsible for the issue. Whether it’s your battery or something else, you should have the problem fixed as quickly as possible. If your lights aren’t functioning correctly, you might become a danger to yourself and other drivers.
The three places dimming lights mostly happen are:
Since the battery is the easiest item to diagnose, this is where most of us will look first. If you think the battery is on its way out, bring it to us so we can diagnose the problem and get the right battery for your car. While there are cases that result from a failing battery, there are other components to consider.
READ MORE: Chevrolet Warning Symbol Guide
If your car battery isn’t the reason for your flickering car lights, it may be a dying bulb or a bad fuse. Light bulbs are an easy fix and present an opportunity to upgrade to new LED bulbs.
If it is a bad fuse, you could be looking at a larger problem since fuses are a safety feature. A fuse fails when there is too much electricity runs through it. As an example, if your anti-lock brakes are connected to a 10amp fuse, and the brake system gets over 10amps of electricity, the fuse would fail. In this situation, your anti-lock brakes could fail due to the failed fuse. If there is a fuse that continues to fail, bring it in and we’ll accurately diagnose the bigger, potentially more dangerous problem.
Flickering dashboard lights could also be signs that your alternator is dying. Consider this, you have battery power to start your car, but the alternator provides the power when the vehicle is running. If you own an old car with halogen headlights, you may notice them gradually get dimmer with a dying alternator. On new cars with LED or HID lights, they may flicker or just stop functioning altogether.
A bad light switch, either the interior light dimmer or the headlight switch knob, should be considered if you have flickering lights on your car. In some rare situations, replacing a worn-out switch might solve the flickering light problem, especially in old vehicles or vehicles with excessive mileage. If your vehicle doesn’t fall into either category, there’s a possibility it could be a sign of a more significant concern with the vehicle’s electrical system.
Understanding these problems can seem overwhelming, so if you are experiencing any issues with the lights flickering on your vehicle, bring it in immediately. Our trained technicians will do a thorough investigation and give you options for fixing the flickering dashboard lights.
South Pointe Chevrolet is an ideal place to get vehicle service in the Tulsa area. We happily service all vehicle makes and models. One of our factory-trained technicians will inspect your car or truck to determine if there are any needed repairs and will suggest the best resolution for you and your vehicle. Schedule your car, truck, SUV, or van service online or in person today.
