Car headlights are essential to keeping drivers safe on the road. Whether it is just a dark day with poor visibility, or you are driving at night, your car’s headlights help you to see and will alert other road users to your presence.
Driving with headlights that are too dim is a driving offense that may just land you with a hefty fine. Also, every time you drive with dim headlights you are putting yourself and other people at risk.
Sometimes you may notice your headlights are too dim or too bright, and there are several reasons why this may be happening. We discuss the main causes of car lights dimming and brightening randomly and we also share simple solutions to this problem.
It is common for drivers to notice their headlights randomly dimming and getting brighter from time to time. This flickering can also happen with the interior dashboard lights and taillights.
There are several reasons why your headlights may be malfunctioning, here is a list of the most common causes:
It is not uncommon for drivers to drive with dim headlights, simply because they do not know what is causing the problem. However, once you get to the root cause of the issue, fixing your dimming headlights should not be too difficult.
Driving with headlights that are too dim or that keep flashing too bright can be disruptive to other users and can make it difficult for you to focus and concentrate on the road.
Before we share the solutions to this problem, let’s delve a little deeper into the causes of dimming and brightening headlights.
There may not be any technical faults with your headlights at all, your lights may just be dirty! It is no surprise that your headlights can become dirty, there is a lot of grime and dust on the road that can cover the face of your headlights.
Over time, the dirt can build up so much on the car headlights that it creates a thick film that makes it difficult for light to be evenly distributed across the road. Dirty lights can make it seem like your bulbs are too dim, but really the outside of the light just needs a good clean.
It is also important to note that if water and grime get inside your light, this can damage the bulb and impair visibility.
This problem has a very easy solution, all you need to do is clean your headlights. Using hot soapy water should be enough to remove built-up dirt and grime from the outside of your headlights.
If you notice the dimming continues after you have cleaned the lights, the dirt causing the problem may be on the inside. To clean the inside of your headlights you will need to be very careful. Watch this video to see exactly how you can clean inside your car’s headlights.
Issues with your car’s wiring can also be to blame for your headlights randomly dimming and brightening. The headlights, as well as lights on your dashboard, may malfunction because there is an issue with one or more connections in the wiring.
If wires have become damaged and worn out, this can cause the lights to behave erratically. Short-circuiting may also be to blame or the problems could be down to a faulty electrical unit. Whatever the root cause, wiring issues should never be ignored and you will need to get the problem fixed as soon as possible.
Fixing a wiring issue is a job best left to the professionals. If you notice that your car lights are only dimming when you hit the gas, there may be a voltage issue. When you accelerate and your headlights dim, this can be due to a low voltage supply.
The car doesn’t have the power to keep the headlights fully lit while the speed is increasing. This may be due to problems with
Your headlights may be dimming due to corrosion on the car battery or debris build-up on the battery terminals. If your battery is struggling to hold its charge, this may also result in issues with the lights.
When you notice your lights getting brighter, this can also be indicative of a problem with the alternator. If the alternator is the cause of your light issues, you may also notice your car is stalling when idle.
If you think the alternator, car battery, or electrical wiring unit is causing your headlights to dim and brighten, you will need to take a visit to your local mechanic.
The professional advice may be to have the battery or alternator replaced or the alternator belt may need to be repaired. A mechanic will also be able to check the wiring and fix any loose or damaged connections.
If your headlights are flickering or behaving strangely, it makes sense to check the bulbs. If you have poor quality, cheap bulbs in your car, they may not be as bright as the original bulbs from the manufacturer.
If your headlights aren’t as bright as they once were, it may also just be because the bulbs are coming to the end of their life. It is not unusual for headlights on one side to be dimmer than the other, you may just have a better bulb in one light than on the other.
The average life of a car bulb is approximately 5 years, but dirt deposits can build up over time. Also, if you are using halogen bulbs, a film may form over the bulb due to the gases used inside the lamp.
When you are noticing issues with your headlights, it may just be time to replace the bulbs. Have a close look at the current bulb, is there any color change or damage to the structure of the bulb?
If you have a separate circuit, connect the bulb to test the brightness. If the bulb is still too dim or the brightness is flickering, you know the bulb is faulty.
Replacing the bulb is easy and you will be able to find many tutorials online for your specific car model. It is important you use a bulb that matches the socket in your car. Trying to connect an incorrect bulb may just lead to more problems down the line.
Check out this video to see how to replace a car headlight.
If you have noticed your headlights have a yellow tinge to them, you are not alone. In fact, yellowing headlights is a very common problem with modern vehicles. The lens on your headlights can become yellow due to sunlight exposure and dirt.
The yellowing of your car headlight lens will reduce your visibility and may make your bulbs appear to be dimmer than they actually are.
Fixing yellowing headlights is a fairly easy process. You will need to clean the lens and be careful not to make any smudges as this may further impair visibility.
There are many tricks to restoring yellow headlights to look new, some car owners use sandpaper and others use toothpaste to get the job done. This video shows exactly how you can restore yellow headlights back to looking their best.
Once your headlights are clean again, they should no longer appear too dim while you are trying to drive.
A weak car battery can cause dim headlights or cause your lights to flicker and randomly flash more brightly at times. The car battery is responsible for all the electrical components in your vehicle, this includes the headlights and all of the interior lights.
If you notice your headlights are too dim or not working correctly, this may be due to issues with the battery not having enough power.
There are many reasons why car lights appear dimmer and you will need to determine the root cause before trying to fix the issue. Sometimes, all it may take is cleaning your headlights for you to notice an improvement in visibility.
However, the problem may be more complex and you may need a professional to take a close look at the battery, alternator, or electrical wire unit. Replacing the light bulbs can also make the car lights brighter, as bulbs have a life span and will stop working overtime.
If one headlight is dim and the other is bright, this may be because the bulbs are different. There may be a poorer quality bulb in the dim headlight or the brighter light may be much newer than the other. This issue can easily be fixed by replacing both of the bulbs so they are exactly the same.
If the problem still persists, check how clean the headlight lens is on the dimmer side. If the problem persists, you may need to ask a professional to check the wiring as there may be a loose connection or an issue with the circuit.
Lights can become dim on your car for several reasons. The most common causes are dirt build-up on the exterior of the headlights and bulbs coming to the end of their life span. Issues with the alternator and car battery can also cause dim lights.
LED headlights are different from halogen headlights. When there is an issue with the voltage powering LED headlights, they will often flicker, whereas the halogen bulb will just become dimmer over time.
If your LED headlights are flashing it may be an indication that there is a problem with the car battery and it is not delivering the correct voltage to your lights.
This issue may also be because of problems with the CAN-bus system or a communications failure between the car’s computer system and the light’s electrical system.
Driving with headlights that are not working correctly can be an inconvenience at best and a risk to life at worst. Headlights keep everyone on the road safe and they need to be bright enough for you to have optimum visibility.
However, sometimes car headlights dim and brighten randomly.
If you notice your lights are too dim or too bright, there may be problems with your car’s battery, electrical wiring, or alternator. It may just be dirt causing your headlights to appear dim, but whatever the issue, it is important to resolve it as soon as possible.
