Topic: Headlights go out while driving

[Complete Loser]

Well, this is a weird one. Seems like a contactor/breaker is overheating or something.

While driving at night, sometimes (1 outta 40 night drives?) my headlights will just go out, then come back on, and continue this cycle with a very consistent amount of time that they are off (like 3 seconds). Basically resulting in a slow 'bliking' effect while im trying to get down the road.
But it only happens with the brights on.

I want to say it started when i changed from my crappy wagner headlights to some fancy 'Xtravisions'.  But i didnt drive with the crappy headlights for long. So really i dont know.

The first time this ever happened, i changed only one headlight and had to head to work. That night on the way home, it did it for the first time.
Changed the other headlight, and it hadnt done it for a long time. Then the other night, i rolled up to a stop sign out in the country, and poof, they went to blinking again.

I havent looked into it yet, thought i would just put it out there to see if this has happened to anyone else.

[TN00TJ]

Did you do any wiring mods related to the 'upgrade'?

First thing I would check if there were NO mods done would be your grounds.  Find them, remove the fastener and clean up the connection, reassemble.

If that doesn't give you good results, go with a cheap, standard replacement lamp just to get yourself back to a baseline.

If they don't fail, you'll know it was the hoity toity 'Xtravisions'.

Keep us posted on results - good luck.

[jfrabat]

Check the connector behind the lamp; mine was a bit melted for some reason (I take it over time, the heat of the lamp kills it) just enough to make the connection loose.  They sell replacements at Advanced Autoparts for a couple of bucks...

[sharpxmen]

there's a high beam relay, maybe that's the problem.

[Complete Loser]

Thanks fellers. Great input. I havent made any wiring mods (except install a stereo...?)
I will check the connectors out after a drive to see if they are getting hot from poor connection. A buddy told me about an anti corrosion pen he uses on all kinds of terminals and such.

But im kinda with sharpy thinking a relay is over heating from the draw of the fancy lamps, and it resets itself every 3seconds when cooled slightly. ?

[Bounty Hunter]

YJ?  It's the headlight switch.  Pretty common, most parts stores carry them.

[Complete Loser]

Kewl thanks. :)

[bootguy]

I had the same thing happen on my truck, exact same circumstances and it was the light switch.

[Jeffy]

Check one thing before buying anything.  Pull the lever back on the turn signal so it does the 'Flash-to-pass' and see if they turn on.  If they don't, try looking under the dash where the rod for the stalk enters into a switch.  There is a plug on the backside that sometimes works it's way loose.  If it's loose then push it back in and the high beams should works again.

[Clem]

YJ?  It's the headlight switch.  Pretty common, most parts stores carry them.

That's my vote.

[jfrabat]

YJ?  It's the headlight switch.  Pretty common, most parts stores carry them.

Forgot about that one: it was my first mod to the Jeep...

[Complete Loser]

Thanks for the help guys. I will let you know what i find.

[Complete Loser]

yup. appears to be headlight switch.