MY14 D4 Headlights Flickering?

**cjc_td5** · 13th June 2018, 12:28 PM

Has anyone else had the experience of their headlights occasionally flickering in intensity? When driving at night, occasionally the headlights will give a single flicker to a lower intensity. It is usually when the brakes are applied or sometimes the turn indicators operated, though I haven't been able to reliably use this as a trigger. It can be on low or high beam lights (which are the same bulb, there is a shutter to switch between the two levels). The flicker only lasts a fraction of a second but is noticeable especially when the lights are reflecting from a vehicle in front. This is only something that has developed in the last couple of months, though this also corresponds with the winter season and more night time driving.

Cheers,
Chris

**DiscoJeffster** · 13th June 2018, 12:45 PM

It will be related to a current draw dropping the vehicles voltage. It might however indicate an alternator that’s suffering?

**cjc_td5** · 13th June 2018, 01:12 PM

Originally Posted by DiscoJeffster

It will be related to a current draw dropping the vehicles voltage. It might however indicate an alternator that’s suffering?

You may well be very close to the mark there. I have a squeeking/squealing noise from the front belts area that I suspect is the alternator. The noise starts when cold and corresponds to when the alternator comes under load. When the engine warms up (and possibly the alternator load comes off when it has charged the battery) the noise stops. This makes it hard to demonstrate at the dealer.

At the last service the dealer said not to worry about it.... grrrr

Tombie · 13th June 2018, 04:55 PM

Age of vehicle?
Battery may be failing - it’s a huge filter for the electrical system as well, so if you’re battery isn’t holding charge the power dip can be notable.

**Celtoid** · 13th June 2018, 05:59 PM

Check the condition and tightness of earth leads and attachment lugs.

I had an issue with my earlier D4 where I got inexplicable radio channel changes, window direction changes (after opening a door), a static discharge sound through the Hi-Fi and headlight flickering.....which was kinda funny when I was 'flashing' a police car coming the other way …. that got some stern looks

.

LR couldn't find the cause at first and it started with the flickering lights but it got worse as time went on and they finally found a loose earth lead off the battery(?) that was causing sparking UNDER the attachment lug. You couldn't see it from above. I'd had a 'body-off' turbo change and that activity was the suspect …. maybe the lead being pulled around after they removed the battery?

Lead needed replacement as it was pitted and burned.

**cjc_td5** · 13th June 2018, 06:08 PM

Originally Posted by Tombie

Age of vehicle?
Battery may be failing - it’s a huge filter for the electrical system as well, so if you’re battery isn’t holding charge the power dip can be notable.

MY14 D4 (May 2014) 130,000km.

The battery is a couple of years old and sometimes throws the low battery level warning. I have isolated my 2nd battery to see if it reoccurs.

**cjc_td5** · 13th June 2018, 06:09 PM

Originally Posted by Celtoid

Check the condition and tightness of earth leads and attachment lugs.

I had an issue with my earlier D4 where I got inexplicable radio channel changes, window direction changes (after opening a door), a static discharge sound through the Hi-Fi and headlight flickering.....which was kinda funny when I was 'flashing' a police car coming the other way …. that got some stern looks

.

LR couldn't find the cause at first and it started with the flickering lights but it got worse as time went on and they finally found a loose earth lead off the battery(?) that was causing sparking UNDER the attachment lug. You couldn't see it from above. I'd had a 'body-off' turbo change and that activity was the suspect …. maybe the lead being pulled around after they removed the battery?

Lead needed replacement as it was pitted and burned.

Thanks.
I will check the earths etc tonight.

**justinc** · 13th June 2018, 07:14 PM

Id be proactively replacing the alternator before it leaves you stranded... and they WILL strand you when they fail....

**cjc_td5** · 13th June 2018, 07:48 PM

Originally Posted by justinc

Id be proactively replacing the alternator before it leaves you stranded... and they WILL strand you when they fail....

Yes I have been worried about it Justin and was ****ed that the dealer was not interested in investigating at the last service. Tomorrow I'll be visiting my new local dealer (yay!) armed with complaints of noise, flickering & low battery and asking for a replacement alternator under my extended warranty. I don't really want the alternator to fail and take the battery with it.

**Celtoid** · 13th June 2018, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by cjc_td5

Thanks.
I will check the earths etc tonight.

No worries.

I forgot another thing, because this all occured in 2010 .... I was having constant 2 to 3rd gear change issues as well.

LR re-loaded the adaption software several times. Would be smooth as silk for the first drive or so and then started going to crap again.

It's amazing how much interference was caused by those stray volts.

I lived with it for quite a long time (car probably went back 5 times) and doubts started creeping in about the car and the ability to find a fix. The issue was found, lead replaced (and tightened

) ... never another issue.

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