Headlights flicker when ESP/ABS activated.

[tschmale]

Noticed tonight driving in the snow...Had the issue intermittantly but it was an every time thing tonight.

Any ideas?

[haus4]

sounds interesting. My guesses are either A) your alternator is weak and with most of the accessories on and then the quick use of power from ABS draws some power and drains the rest of the system.
B)You have a bad ground or open wire and when the ABS kicks in, it creates a draw on the system that isnt normal.

Im guessing you see this in your dash lights as well? Does it get worse when you have the stereo and defroster on?

[MacDaddy]

you need a new battery

[tike0rz]

Maybe you were hitting snow bumps and your bulbs got loose?

[Chknkatsu]

ground?

[s2the4]

you need a new battery

I have to agree with the above your battery has seen better days. I had the exact same problem when abs or when esp kicked in, in the winter time. I was also using a Odyssey PC-680 basically a lightweight battery for a motorcycle. Whens the last time you change your battery?

[tschmale]

not sure when the battery was replaced last, I would think I would see another symptom though.

[haus4]

Did you hook your car up to a vag-com? Did you test your battery and alternator?

[tschmale]

Did you hook your car up to a vag-com? Did you test your battery and alternator?

Only code I have right now is for the Outside temp sensor. Previous owner felt it was fine to let it dangle and drag so it is toast. I have the new sensor just been too lazy to replace it. Have not tested the battery or alternator. I'll look for a date sticker on the battery.

[SilverStr33k]

check the conectors on the back of teh HL housings, then check the conectors to the bulbs inside, i had one fall off last winter

[Dr.Duct]

it sounds like a complex wiring issue.. do you have any aftermarket electrical things?? boost gauge, other gauges, ghey lights?? lol.

It sounds like something is crossed or power is being drawn out of it..

Some people I SWEAR dont even think before they post some of the dumb responses.

[fshowcars]

what does your voltage gauge look like?

could it just be the ABS vibrating the car making it look like the headlights are flickering?

[tschmale]

In car voltmeter is rock steady at 14. Is there a load reduction relay that is part of those systems anywhere. I do not have a Bently for the car so no wiring schematics.

As far as aftermarket electrical things. Boost guage. No extra lights, nothing.

[JackalS4]

I did some snow brake testing last night, mine flicker slightly when the actual ABS is doing it's thing.

My battery has a good charge, is less than a year old, and shows all the right readings on the voltmeter.

In other words, I kind of doubt there really is an issue. I'm guessing the temporary drain is normal.

Now, if you start noticing other symptoms lining up with a battery drain, or if your headlights flicker over bumps, that might be different.

[MacDaddy]

instead of spending countless hours testing all kinds of crap, hook a multimeter up to your battery, if its voltage is closer to 11.9 then to 12.7 then its time to replace. batteries only last 2-3 years in these cars because there is so much underhood heat (heat kills batteries). if you want to eliminate any voltage drop, add a capacitor to the electrical system.

[s2the4]

it sounds like a complex wiring issue.. do you have any aftermarket electrical things?? boost gauge, other gauges, ghey lights?? lol.

It sounds like something is crossed or power is being drawn out of it..

Some people I SWEAR dont even think before they post some of the dumb responses.

why don't you take your BATTERY OUT! and bring it to autozone to get tested then see weather or not I was wrong. Why would you randomly have some obscure wiring issue out of the blue? I had the same exact issue changed my battery and it was that. Think about it when your ESP is activated abs turns on which uses more draw on the battery thus if your battery was on it's way out it will show when your lights dim when ESP kicks on.