but I just started noticing that when I hit my brakes my headlights dim slightly....battery problem? alternator??

 

never heard of that before.....could it be that when you hit your breaks the nose of your car tips down and the beam of light is directed more to the ground, perhaps causing the illusion that the light is dimming?

 

thought that....but it happens when at complete stand still...

for example, sitting at a red light, foot off the brakes and the light reflecting off the bumper in front of me gets brighter...tap the brakes and it dims...

i'm stumped/confused as well....

 

Get a voltage meter to be sure but it could be grounding or your alternator.

 

While I was running a search using "Alternator" and a couple of other terms I can't recall right now, I saw this problem posted over and over and over.
This is apparently a very common behavior with the ES. I would hesitate to call it a "problem" because there are no real negative effects posted thus far.
The one thing I've not seen is - does this behavior completely go away after an alternator upgrade, e.g. the Highlander alternator install. and/or after the Big Three upgrade?

 

I've read something about this before too. If I remember correctly, the over-abundance of bulbs in the taillight assemblies was blamed for drawing so much current that the headlights would dim when the brakes were pressed, and probably even more so if the headunit and/or AC were operating at the same time.
One solution to the problem (if it is a "problem") is installing HID headlights which connect directly to the battery. After that there's no headlight dimming at all.

 

My subi does the same thing to a lesser degree and Slooooooow your right it really doesn't hurt anything unless you have a system.

 

I have the same issue with my 94. I asked my brother about it who's a toyota mech and he says its common and not considered a problem.

 

well it looks like i need a new battery anyways....and honestly can't tell ya if it's just started happening or if it's always been that way and I just haven't noticed it....but now that all this other stuff is happening (tranny failure, cracked engine mount, valve covers needed, dying AC compressor, needles dying (again), climate control LCD failing, antenna stuck in up position...) maybe I'm paying too much more attention to little things....

it's something I can live with, just need to stop worrying about it!



a hundo here...a grand there....still better than a car payment!

 

Lexucan hit it right on. This has been discussed before I think. The fix is to clean the grounds. If you just swap the battery there will be no difference. Corrosion increases resistance and causes a higher voltage drop. It wont be nor ever was perfect though, just not as much; and its in no way a problem. Its an ES 300 thing.

 

If your antenna is stuck in the up position then its most likely because the plastic chain (antenna mast) broke. You'll need to buy another antenna mast and here's a link on how to repair/fix it.

http://www.carstereohelp.com/stereor...S300PwrAnt.htm

 

my car does the same thing. When idling, my headlights, taillights, interior lights, any lights, are flickering very slightly. When i roll up my windows, the lights dim noticeably. it's weird but i think it's just one of the quirks of owning an ES300.