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Group 1 Chevrolet Northwest can help you identify the what is making your vehicle lights flicker.
If you notice your vehicle lights dimming while driving, it’s probably due to a dying battery. In the case when it’s not the battery, there are other common trouble spots that could be responsible for the issue. Whether it’s your battery or something else, it is imperative that you have the problem repaired as quickly as possible. When your car lights aren’t working properly, you could become a danger to yourself and other drivers.
Dimming car lights generally occur in three places:
Since the battery is the easiest component to replace, this is where a technician will look first. If you think the battery is on its way out, bring it here so we can properly diagnose the issue and get the right parts for your vehicle. While there are cases caused by a dying battery, there are other culprits to consider.
READ MORE: Chevrolet Warning Light Guide
If your battery isn’t the cause of your flickering car lights, you might be dealing with a bad light bulb. Dead bulbs are an easy fix and present an opportunity to upgrade to new energy-efficient LED bulbs.
If it’s a blown fuse, you might be looking at a larger issue than you had originally anticipated. In most cases, a fuse only dies when there is excess electricity flowing through it. For example, if your anti-lock brakes are installed with a 10amp fuse, and the brake system gets over 10amps of electrical current, the fuse will fail. In this situation, your anti-lock brakes could fail due to the blown fuse. If there’s a fuse that consistently fails, bring it in so we can thoroughly diagnose the bigger, potentially more dangerous problem.
Lights flickering on your dash can also be one of the signs that your alternator is going bad. Think of it this way, you start your vehicle with power from the battery, but the alternator provides the power when running. If you have an older car with halogen headlights, you may notice them slowly get dimmer with a dying alternator. On new cars with LED or HID lighting, they may flicker on and off or stop working altogether.
A bad light switch, either the headlight switch or an interior dimmer, also needs to be considered if you have flickering lights on the car. In some rare situations, replacing a worn-out switch may solve the issue, especially in vehicles with excessive mileage or older cars. If your vehicle doesn’t fall into either category, there’s a chance it could be symptoms of a bigger problem with the electrical system.
Diagnosing these problems can be overwhelming, so if you see any problems with flickering lights on your car, bring it in immediately. Our trained technicians will diagnose the problem and give you options for fixing your flickering dashboard lights.
Group 1 Chevrolet Northwest is an ideal place to get vehicle service in the San Antonio 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.
