Headlight issue

My passenger headlight randomly goes off and comes back on when I turn my lights off and back on again. Do you know what can cause this?
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hi there:

Depending on what type of vehicle you have, the problem is either caused by a loose electrical connection, a bad headlight switch or a faulty electrical relay. You might want to contact a local mechanic to complete a headlight is not working inspection.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :

Connect the test light to battery power. Touch the test light probe to the socket`s ground on the connector terminal. If the test light glows, check the bulb socket and connector for corrosion or a bad contact. If the test light doesn`t glow, check the ground side of the circuit for an open.
A bad alternator, ageing headlight lenses and a corroded ground wire could also be the cause of dim headlights. Dim headlights may also point to a bigger issue with the vehicle`s electrical system or battery.
Extreme Temperature. Thermal stress in a light bulb can shorten the bulb`s lifespan, which can cause the glass to break or the bulb to fry itself. A halogen bulb is just a filament sealed inside a glass bulb so that it can`t be burned out by anything outside it. The filament needs to get hot to light up.
A standard headlight normally lasts five years or so, but that`s not the case with some replacement bulbs. Most cars have had at least one headlight replacement during their lifetime, especially considering that the average age of cars on the road is about 12 years.
Fortunately, it`s often easy to change a headlight. Most of today`s halogen high-intensity-discharge (HID) or light-emitting-diode (LED) bulbs are simple to replace. They are held in place by thin wire clips or rotating bayonet-style retainers.
Generally speaking, a bad headlight bulb will not directly cause further damage to your car. However, if you drive with a bad headlight—especially at night or during adverse weather conditions—you run the risk of getting into a severe accident, which most likely will cause extensive vehicle damage.
The good news is you have options. You can either replace your headlight housings or restore them using a headlight restoration kit. These can cost from $10 to $20. Essentially they help you sand off the damaged lens coating, then reapply a protective layer.
The blown fuse will be apparent because the wire element within will have melted or burned from the higher electrical current. You can also use a test light or a multimeter to identify the dead fuse without having to pull it out. Both tools are affordable and easy to use.
A bad headlight relay is among the more common reasons we see for low beam headlights not working while the high beams do. You see, the low and high beams each have their own relay, which is essentially an electrical switch. Like fuses, sometimes relays go bad.
As your car gets older, its headlights may be giving you far less visibility than you think, according to a new study. Over time, the plastic coating on headlights can become so clouded or yellowed that they give off only 20 percent of the light they had when you first bought the car, the AAA study says.
The Cause. The most common cause of this problem is the dimmer switch. This switch or set of buttons allows you to make your dash lights dimmer or brighter to match your needs. The switch or buttons can sometimes be bumped, causing them to lower the brightness of the dash lights beyond what is comfortable.
The Cons of LED Headlights

The glare associated with LED headlights is one of the biggest disadvantages of this technology. The glare can get so bad that it could affect other people on the road. Experts also worry that it can cause long-term retina damage. Also, LED headlights are more expensive than halogen lights.

Vehicle headlights are a source of light pollution that must be regulated to minimize its impacts on the dark environment. One aspect of headlight pollution is called Glare.
Depending on where and how the vehicle is used, headlights can begin showing signs of deterioration in as little as three years to five years, AAA says.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Headlight Issue
ANSWER : Hello.

The daytime running lights are not supposed to function at the same time as the headlights. The daytime running lights are only supposed to come on during the day, to provide additional visibility for daytime driving, independently of the headlights. When the headlights are turned on the daytime running lights should turn off. If they are not turning on it may be possible that perhaps the bulbs have burned out, or there is an issue with the fuse or relay. If you run into any issues, consider contacting a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic, as certified technician can diagnose any issues with your lights firsthand and help you make the right repair.

Read Full Q/A … : Headlight issue

I turn my high beam headlights on and both headlights go out.
ANSWER : Hello, thanks for writing in about your Nissan Frontier. The only way to tell if it is the light bulbs or the switch is to check for power to the bulbs when you switch to high beam. Most of the time both bulbs are bad. The connections to the bulbs could be faulty as well. If you’re unable to pinpoint the issue, have a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic, diagnose your lights firsthand for an accurate repair.

Read Full Q/A … : Headlight issue

My headlights came on and drained my battery I put a new battery in and my headlights still wouldn’t go off I took out the bulb an
ANSWER : The common thread between the headlights and the signal lights is the combination switch. The combination switch controls your signal lights, turns the headlights on and off, as well as controls the high beam function. Most like;y the switch or wiring to the switch has an electrical short. This can cause constant power going to the functions the switch controls. While the combination switch is the most likely cause, wiring can also be a problem so I suggest having a certified technician look into the lights staying on to determine if there is a wiring issue before replacing any components. If the combination switch is found to be the culprit, the technician can replace it for you.

Read Full Q/A … : Headlight issue

I changed the lightbulbs on my cars headlights but the driver side headlight won’t turn on…
ANSWER : Hello. Ironically, I happen to have a 2000 CLK 430 as well and I experienced an almost identical scenario as you did. I had a fog light out on my vehicle, thinking it was a bulb I went ahead and replaced the light bulb but once I replaced it it still did not fix the issue. Upon further inspection of my vehicle I found that the some of the insulation around the wiring leading to the fog light was brittle and causing wires to be exposed. I taped the wires with some electrical tape because Mercedes-Benz has a very sensitive electrical system and if a wire is exposed it will cause resistance. If the electrical system senses too much resistance it will cut power off to that component to help protect other electrical parts. I suggest to have a technician such as one from YourMechanic inspect the wiring of your fog light that is out, check the fog light fuse in the side fuse compartment, and also check the clearance light bulb. The clearance light bulb is a small bulb located under the fog light and is integrated into the fog light circuit. If the clearance light is out it will interrupt the fog lights power. On my vehicle it was a clearance light being out and the damaged wiring to the fog light causing my fog light to be inoperative. You are able to find a technician and schedule an appointment to evaluate your vehicle here https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/fog-or-driving-lights-are-not-working-inspection

Read Full Q/A … : Headlight issue

Car jerks when accelerating in reverse & makes grinding noise. Is this a transmission or computer issue?
ANSWER : Hi there. Typically when you hear a grinding noise when you move forward or in reverse it’s usually an indication of a gear fault either in the transmission or another driveline component. If this occurs only when in reverse, it’s likely a damaged reverse gear. It is also possible that it’s a hydraulic fluid issue not supplying enough lubrication or pressure inside the lines to fully open the gear. I would recommend having a professional mechanic come to your location and complete a car is hard to shift inspection, so they can diagnose the source of your issue and recommend repairs that should resolve this problem.

Read Full Q/A … : Headlight issue

Passenger headlight wiring issues
ANSWER : If the area is fairly open, parts do not have to be removed to gain access to the terminals where the connector has to be repaired and if the broken wire is the only issue (defect) in that headlight circuit, the cost will be manageable. It would have to be looked at and estimated though so that there are no surprises (in particular, a technician would check for power in undamaged potion of circuit).

Sometimes there are pre-made wiring "pigtails" that are made just for these sorts of repairs because they are so common. That part, if available, might make sense as it provides a most durable and effective solution. You should ask about that possibility.

The bottom line is your car would have to be viewed in person to give you the best, most authoritative answer. Feel free to inquire further at YourMechanic and a mobile technician will be able to diagnose your headlight issue and fix your issue accordingly. Thanks for your question, headlights are important for safety!

Read Full Q/A … : Headlight issue

For some reason one of my headlights looks dirtier than the other. I’ve tried just about everything to get it to look new again an
ANSWER : Hi there. Over time, many different items can cause headlights to fade. In most cases, it’s a caused by debris that naturally builds up on the lens that causes it to become cloudy. In other cases, the inner seal that protects the headlight from water can wear out and condensation can collect inside the headlight. It is also possible that a loose electrical connection or a relay is damaged and can cause a consistent restriction of power to illuminate the bulb. It’s always best to have a professional mobile mechanic come to your location to complete a headlight not working inspection to determine what is causing this issue before deciding to make repairs.

Read Full Q/A … : Headlight issue

Turn signal issue
ANSWER : A ground issue, or short, is a good place to start. There are a few ways to go about tracing down a turn signal issue. Either way you will want to use a voltmeter to trace the flow of electricity.

Since it happens when the headlights are on, the short is likely related to that circuit. Find where the two circuits come in contact with each other and test there first. This is likely from the driver controls to the headlight themselves. The issue could be in the fuse box as well.

Start with the bulb, and trace the wires. Test for available voltage along the wire. Check about every foot or so. You can use sewing pins to probe the wire, and connect the voltmeter lead to it instead of accessing the wire or doing damage.

Be sure to have a professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, come to your home or business and inspect for any electrical problems and get the turn signal issues resolved.

Read Full Q/A … : Headlight issue