Intermittent flickering issue with Bi-Xenons

Rob C

Rob C

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I have a 2007 S3 and recently when I start my car and turn the lights on (Bi-Xenons with auto lights) occasionally they flicker quickly between different brightnesses. This only happens on dip beam, main been seems to work ok. It is both sides and they flicker at the same rate as each other. This problem will normally sort itself out after a few minutes or can sometimes be stopped by turning the lights off and on again but obviously something must be wrong!

Does anyone have any idea what could be causing this?

Thanks, Rob
 
Usually bulb related, but could be module fault, I would swap bulb out 1st but best in pairs.
 
NHN said:
Usually bulb related, but could be module fault, I would swap bulb out 1st but best in pairs.
Click to expand...
Hi Nige, If both bulbs are doing it at the same time and at the same rate would this still be bulb related? Seems strange to me that both would do this at the same time?
 
I've experienced the same thing with my car, but only happened once or twice and has never happened again. It was very strange when it happened as they just started flickering, and then stopped. Probably some weird gremlin in the system.
 
There is another post on here covering the same subject. I had a read because my lights were doing the same, I think one of our American cousins suggested that it may be water deflecting off the top of the battery during washing and getting into the back of the light units. I only had it happen twice and the second time resulted in a bulb out warning on the DIS. I left it for a while and it cleared with both lights ok.
I have just watched what I'm chucking water at with the Karcher on Saturday mornings since reading it and all has been well since.
Just as well with bulbs at £55.00 a throw.
 
Mine used to do the samething if the car was running and I turned the lights on they were fine but if I turned the ignition on then lights on then started it or left the lights on while getting fuel and came back to start it they would flicker. Now the weird thing is mine have sorted them selves out.

I can't prove it but I think it's your battery cause I changed mine in the summer and it hasn't done it since last winter (only noticed it in the winter cause its so dark!)
 
Granta said:
Mine used to do the samething if the car was running and I turned the lights on they were fine but if I turned the ignition on then lights on then started it or left the lights on while getting fuel and came back to start it they would flicker. Now the weird thing is mine have sorted them selves out.

I can't prove it but I think it's your battery cause I changed mine in the summer and it hasn't done it since last winter (only noticed it in the winter cause its so dark!)
Click to expand...
Thats a good point!

Mine used to do exactly the same as you mention with the fuel. It was intermittant, so never really bothered me. But now that i think about it, I had a battery issue a few months ago and replaced it and havent had the issue since :)
 
Rob C said:
I have a 2007 S3 and recently when I start my car and turn the lights on (Bi-Xenons with auto lights) occasionally they flicker quickly between different brightnesses. This only happens on dip beam, main been seems to work ok. It is both sides and they flicker at the same rate as each other. This problem will normally sort itself out after a few minutes or can sometimes be stopped by turning the lights off and on again but obviously something must be wrong!

Does anyone have any idea what could be causing this?

Thanks, Rob
Click to expand...
Mine has done the same thing 2-3 times lately at night when its been cold, scanned it and no faults. Am thinking it could be battery related as its only started now the nights are getting colder.
 
When you go to start yours and the engine is turning over does your dash briefly display esp fault with a beep and as soon as the car starts it goes away?
 
I was going to post a thread with the same question...

Mine flickers when I switch the lights on then start the car, but doesn't if I start then car then switch the lights on.

And.... I occasionally have ESP fault 1 when I start the car, so I'm guessing it's battery related same as yours Granta.
 
No esp light yet but on my previous s3 8p I got the light and beep, that was the battery.
 
My one did this again yesterday, I think I'll try starting with the lights on to see if I get the error coming up.
 
the esp error on startup is a voltage issue and have seen it go when a new battery is installed.
 
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