[I just discovered that this message never posted. Sorry about the long delay! -Paul (moderator) ]
Y'know, Jay, the more I think about this, the more this doesn't sound like the same issue I was thinking about earlier this year. The reason why I say that is because you're seeing other things dimming (the brake lights) besides just the instrument lighting. The dimmer switch wouldn't have an impact on exterior lighting. The sound of the relay clicking is also very suspicious. It sounds like a very high current draw might be the culprit here. What it could be I am not sure. The instrument dimming/brightening thing is simply the dimmer switch. Your issue sounds like it runs more deeply than that. Remember, if the voltage in the electrical system drops, *everything* will get dimmer. Again: check the condition of the battery cables. The simplest explanation is that the electrical system cannot support the load, and the most likely explanation is corrosion. The battery supplies all the current for the car, so start looking at the path the current must follow to get to the load. Another thing to think about is what's running in the car when the symptoms occur. Does it only happen when the heat/AC is running? A failing blower motor can draw an enormous amount of current. Is there anything in this car that only works intermittently, or occasionallly doesn't work right? Would you happen to be using the rear defroster when the symptoms occur? On Mon, Dec 8, 2008 at 10:09 AM, Geoff <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi again Jay. > > Did you check the condition of the battery cables? > > --Geoff > > > On Sun, Dec 7, 2008 at 10:20 AM, Jay Phillips > <[email protected]>wrote: > >> OK....I rotated the dash light dimmer switch back and forth several >> times, drove the car for a while and the flickering light issue reared >> it's ugly head! >> >> On to the next possible fix, replacing the original battery. Drove >> the car again for quite a while and the problem is still there. >> >> I'll be driving down the road or sitting at an intersection, and hear >> the click, click, clicking of a relay. If I'm behind someone I'll see >> the reflection of the lights flickering. >> >> This is not a full-time issue. It only pops up from time to time. >> And it only seems to occur when the parking lights along with the fog >> lights are on. >> >> Should I completely change out the dimmer switch? >> >> Thanks, >> Jay >> >> >> >> --- In [email protected], Lisa Harper <cameronsmo...@...> >> wrote: >> > >> > Yep this was the culprit behind my flickering dash lights. We >> changed the battery last week, thank goodness my husband did it, >> otherwise we would have surely paid more in labor than what we did for >> the battery. But anyway, all is working great now. I have a 2001 ES >> with around 87K miles. Also we had to replace the brake (electrical >> switch) yesterday. All in all, the car has been a great one. Our son >> hopefully will be driving it in about 5 more years, and I'll have >> another new car. :O) >> > >> > --- On Sat, 8/30/08, Geoff <geoff.gari...@...> wrote: >> > From: Geoff <geoff.gari...@...> >> > Subject: Re: [dodge_intrepid] 2002 Intrepid ~ Lights flickering ~ >> Head lights & Interio >> > To: [email protected] >> > Date: Saturday, August 30, 2008, 11:10 PM >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > Yep. Classic issue. The dimmer switch in the dash is >> usually the culprit. >> > >> > Rotate it through its travel a few times to clean anything on the >> contacts >> > >> > you can, and then set it just a "skosh" below full dash brightness. >> See if >> > >> > that doesn't clear it up. I believe the dimmer is really an input >> to the >> > >> > body controller that gets wonky over time and sensitive to battery >> voltage >> > >> > conditions. I can't prove it. >> > >> > >> > >> > If you live in a snowy climate, and still have the original battery, >> > >> > consider replacing the battery and inspect the cable ends VERY >> carefully for >> > >> > corrosion. Mine were eaten alive just under the cable insulation >> near the >> > >> > end, probably by road salt spray. I replaced the connectors after >> trimming >> > >> > a small amount of cable and it really seemed to help a lot of odd little >> > >> > things. (Unfortunately, the positive cable is tied into the engine >> harness >> > >> > and isn't easy to just replace.) My original battery outlasted its >> > >> > usefulness. It would still crank the car but wasn't taking a full >> charge, >> > >> > and thus was causing some strange electronic issues due to low voltage. >> > >> > Something to consider, anyway. >> > >> > >> > >> > --Geoff >> > >> > >> > >> > On Sat, Aug 30, 2008 at 8:11 PM, Jay Phillips <mopar_superbird@ >> yahoo.com>wrote: >> > >> > >> > >> > > Hi Group, >> > >> > > >> > >> > > Our 2002 Dodge Intrepid (purchased new, and currently has 89,000 >> > >> > > miles) has a problem. Every so often it will flicker the headlights >> > >> > > and/or interior lights for no reason while driving down the road. >> > >> > > >> > >> > > You can hear the relay under the dash clicking, and clicking, and >> > >> > > clicking. Then it stops and may not do it again for a month. >> > >> > > >> > >> > > Any ideas? >> > >> > > >> > >> > > Thanks, >> > >> > > Jay >> > >> > > >> > >> > > >> > >> > > ------------ --------- --------- ------ >> > >> > > >> > >> > > Web: <http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/dodge_ intrepid> >> > >> > > Subscribe: <mailto://dodge_ intrepid- subscribe@ yahoogroups. com> >> > >> > > Unsubscribe: <mailto://dodge_ intrepid- unsubscribe@ yahoogroups. >> com> >> > >> > > Moderator: <mailto://dodge_ intrepid- ow...@yahoogroup >> s.com>Yahoo! Groups >> > >> > > Links >> > >> > > >> > >> > > >> > >> > > >> > >> > > >> > >> > >> > >> > -- >> > >> > --Geoff >> > >> > Cell: (313)506-7295 >> > >> > Sterling Heights CERT >> > >> > '04 Grand Cherokee | '05 Town & Country >> > >> > http://www.moparmai linglist. com >> > >> > >> > >> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >> > >> >> >> >> ------------------------------------ >> >> Web: <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dodge_intrepid> >> Subscribe: <mailto://[email protected]> >> Unsubscribe: <mailto://[email protected]> >> Moderator: <mailto://[email protected]>Yahoo! Groups >> Links >> >> >> >> > > > -- > --Geoff > Cell: (313)506-7295 > Sterling Heights CERT > '04 Grand Cherokee | '05 Town & Country > http://www.moparmailinglist.com > -- --Geoff Cell: (313)506-7295 Sterling Heights CERT '04 Grand Cherokee | '05 Town & Country http://www.moparmailinglist.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Web: <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dodge_intrepid> Subscribe: <mailto://[email protected]> Unsubscribe: <mailto://[email protected]> Moderator: <mailto://[email protected]>Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dodge_intrepid/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dodge_intrepid/join (Yahoo! 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