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Need help with headlights: flickering

Need help with headlights: flickering
F

freedom

Jeeper
Posts
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Location
jerzee shore
Vehicle(s)
mostly stock Cj-7 1985.
only thing memorable is that it's fuel injected.
Hey all...

My headlights work for about 5 minutes then just flicker on and off.
My mechanic thought it was the ground wire, but after fixing/replacing that the headlights still flicker on and off.

There seems to be a heat build up with the headlights on for a few minutes. I can just smell burning plastic, then the headlights usually start flickering.

I pull over and shut them off, wait a few minutes and then keep going.
I can get about a mile or two down the road, then the flickering starts again.

I replaced the switch and the wiring harness about a year ago.

Any suggestions as to what to replace/look at?
thanx in advance...
 
Dimmer switch would be my next guess, double check all of your connections. Also check your headlight fuse, if the socket is wore out it can cause a bad connection with the fuse and melt it (dont ask how i know that, heater issue) and it will cause your headlights to act as you described.

Sent from my DROID2
 
My money is on the light switch. IMHO the terminals on the light switch are not sufficient for the amperage the lights draw. I think that is where you will find the BB-Q.:cool:
 
hott damn!
just 30 minutes and two awesome replies.

i'll post up after a look see...
 
IOPort51 said:
My money is on the light switch. IMHO the terminals on the light switch are not sufficient for the amperage the lights draw. I think that is where you will find the BB-Q.:cool:
Click to expand...

Consider running the HL`s off a relay. That way the switch only see`s an amp at most. Instead of full current.
 
Check the 3 prongs on the back of the headlamp itself. One will pull away from headlight and will start to melt the plug on the wiring harness.
 
Yeah... Flickering lights pretty much means loose connection somewhere.

Is anything else flickering? Radio? Dash lights? Could it be the alternator or the alt. ground? How long has this been happening? Long enough for your battery to have run dead off a full charge (~2 weeks)?
 
Mine did that, the light switch was getting hot and it kicks out and on like you said. I replaced the light switch and also hooked up relays. I haven't had any more problems since I did all that.:D
 
relays are a very cool thing :cool:

 
Is it one or both headlights that flicker?

If it's both, that pretty much rules out the plugs and the bulbs.

I'd recheck the ground to make sure it's securly connected to clean metal on the grill. Like others have said, the dimmer switch could easily be the problem. You said you have a new switch and wiring harnass. Make sure the switch plug is clean and pressed all the way in.

Good luck!
 
all good replies, thanx...

My mechanic replaced the dimmer switch, some wires but more importantly,
he said the bulbs were "90 watt and pulling too much juice" and something about 1985 technology and an upgrade that went too far.

He changed the bulbs to 55 watt and no more flickering...
 
freedom said:
all good replies, thanx...

My mechanic replaced the dimmer switch, some wires but more importantly,
he said the bulbs were "90 watt and pulling too much juice" and something about 1985 technology and an upgrade that went too far.

He changed the bulbs to 55 watt and no more flickering...
Click to expand...

90 Watt! Wow! I bet you could see those from space! :eek:
 
didn't see that one coming. :laugh:
 
I'm not a head light expert by any means, but I thought 55 watt was pretty much the standard. I didn't even know anyone made 90 watt headlights? :eek:
 
You could donate those 90W headlamps to a tanning salon!

But yeah... Didn't see that one coming... Which is awkward considering how bright the lights were!
 
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