IS - 3rd Gen (2014-present) Discussion about the 2014+ model IS models

Headlamp flickering issue

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Old Feb 5, 2019 | 10:31 AM
  #16  
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Originally Posted by aznxdragon
It just started the headlights today so no not really, Ill keep an eye on it as i drive home after work. and tomorrow morning when i drive into work. just really dont want people to think im flashing them when im not..
Yeah definitely keep an eye on it and see if its both headlights vs just one. Then maybe turn on the high beams and see if it does the same. then look at the tail lights. if ALL the lights are flashing you can bet it's some computer problem and not isolated to one light
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Old Feb 5, 2019 | 10:35 AM
  #17  
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Originally Posted by E46CT
Yeah definitely keep an eye on it and see if its both headlights vs just one. Then maybe turn on the high beams and see if it does the same. then look at the tail lights. if ALL the lights are flashing you can bet it's some computer problem and not isolated to one light
Yea the hard part is, it was doing it while i was driving, I was behind a pickup when it was happening, and from what I can see it was both front headlights it was really quick so couldn't catch if it was high beams or not.

when I parked at my office i sat there for 5 min and waited walked around the car a few times and nothing. for all I know could be a "fluke"
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Old Feb 5, 2019 | 10:35 AM
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Originally Posted by E46CT
Yeah definitely keep an eye on it and see if its both headlights vs just one. Then maybe turn on the high beams and see if it does the same. then look at the tail lights. if ALL the lights are flashing you can bet it's some computer problem and not isolated to one light
STOP WITH THE "IT'S A COMPUTER PROBLEM"! You're going to give the OP an unnecessary heart attack with that.

It's probably something super simple that's just hiding from plain view.

It's clearly on the illumination circuit, so it's not like the car is falling apart.
The Body ECU controls a million things in the vehicle, the lights is just one...and that's the only one having an issue.
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Old Feb 5, 2019 | 11:05 AM
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The clock illumination is tied together with all the dash illumination...so if the clock was flickering, then everything on the dash should be as well.
That illumination circuit is fed by the 7.5A Panel fuse...which is in the same fuse box as the Taillight fuse you just replaced.
That would be the last thing I would confirm, just to make sure it's good.
Granted it won't effect the headlights or taillights, but the more you eliminate, the closer to the solution you get.
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Old Feb 5, 2019 | 11:49 AM
  #20  
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Originally Posted by Sasnuke
The clock illumination is tied together with all the dash illumination...so if the clock was flickering, then everything on the dash should be as well.
That illumination circuit is fed by the 7.5A Panel fuse...which is in the same fuse box as the Taillight fuse you just replaced.
That would be the last thing I would confirm, just to make sure it's good.
Granted it won't effect the headlights or taillights, but the more you eliminate, the closer to the solution you get.
I checked the fuse and it looks solid
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Old Feb 5, 2019 | 12:06 PM
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Originally Posted by aznxdragon
Yea the hard part is, it was doing it while i was driving, I was behind a pickup when it was happening, and from what I can see it was both front headlights it was really quick so couldn't catch if it was high beams or not.

when I parked at my office i sat there for 5 min and waited walked around the car a few times and nothing. for all I know could be a "fluke"
Hrm. I wonder if this problem only happens while moving.
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Old Feb 5, 2019 | 02:13 PM
  #22  
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ok so update - the issue is the DRL's are flickering ONLY when the headlights are ON. DRL alone they stay lit. switch to headlights the DRL flicker, seems to be random I actually caught it happening when they were pulling the car into the bay. they checked the battery and alternator anyways its free and they checked fine.\
I have a short video of it
https://www.dropbox.com/s/kf27zg5bzb..._8760.MOV?dl=0

Last edited by aznxdragon; Feb 5, 2019 at 02:19 PM.
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Old Feb 5, 2019 | 02:21 PM
  #23  
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Both DRLs flicker or just one?
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Old Feb 5, 2019 | 02:21 PM
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So when the DRL's are on, absolutely nothing else is flickering? The clock?

You can post a link to the video if you put the video on Youtube. You can do one of those unlisted/private video things...I haven't done it, but I see people suggest that, and it works.
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Old Feb 5, 2019 | 02:32 PM
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Originally Posted by E46CT
Both DRLs flicker or just one?
both of them
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Old Feb 5, 2019 | 02:32 PM
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Originally Posted by Sasnuke
So when the DRL's are on, absolutely nothing else is flickering? The clock?

You can post a link to the video if you put the video on Youtube. You can do one of those unlisted/private video things...I haven't done it, but I see people suggest that, and it works.
I added to my drop box and shared the link in the post above clock is also now
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Old Feb 5, 2019 | 02:38 PM
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It would be nice to disconnect the DRL's and see if the rest of the vehicle is now ok.
Seems weird that both DRL's would go at the exact same time.
Others have reported one DRL going...but never both.

LED's react differently when compared to a traditional halogen bulb.
Halogen's go dim when voltage drops, whereas LED's will flicker.
When LED's are starting to fail, they also flicker.
But since the battery and alternator are fine, and assuming the correct voltage is getting to the DRL's, then it sounds like they are dying.
Of course this doesn't account for the clock or the taillight fuse blowing.

There is definitely a piece of the puzzle we're missing here.
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Old Feb 5, 2019 | 02:41 PM
  #28  
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Old Feb 5, 2019 | 02:49 PM
  #29  
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Ok shop ran a test again on battery crank kicked 700
but 548 and said Battery test failed
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Old Feb 5, 2019 | 02:49 PM
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When the clock is flickering, is anything else on the dash or doors flickering?
I ask because the circuit that effectively supplies the clock illumination with Power and Ground feeds many other things on the dash and doors with their illumination Power and Ground.
So if the clock is flickering, the rest have to be flickering too...they would have no choice!
Unless, the clock illumination is failing only...which considering the DRL's are flickering, sounds like an impossibility.
That would mean that both DRL's and the Clock all failed at the exact same time.
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