Headlights Flicker

[rmittal1]

Hello:

I have a 2000 RX300. A few months back I had trouble starting the car (after a month of so of not having driven the car). The engine service light had been on for a few weeks before that but no noticeable problems.

Decided to put in a new battery since the battery was due for replacement. Car started fine and drove OK a couple of times. Did not drive the car again for a few weeks. Tried to start the car after that but it did not start. Jump started the car and it did jump start but the headlights (and dashlights) kept flickering. Kept engine on for over 1/2 hour to make sure battery was fully charged. Took off the charger and tried to restart the car with no luck.

Based on advice from people, decided that the alternator/regulator was the problem so replaced the alternator with a new one. Engine service light is now off. The car works fine now (starts with no problem) and does not discharge but the headlight still flicker (even after driving regularly for a few weeks). Is there a short somewhere in the electrical system that is causing this?

Any help/advice will be much appreciated.

Rmittal1

[blk_on_blk]

I don't have a good answer for you, but it sounds like your voltage regulator had problems, and if it wasn't keeping the voltage regulated, it could have damaged some of the other electronics, such as the headlight circuitry. To find out, you'll probably have to go to a talented automotive mechanic... preferrably someone who really knows automotive circuitry.

[smooth1]

You may be having a ballast issue. It's mounted in the headlight underneath. I would take the headlights out and switch the ballasts from left to right and see if the flickering switches also. If it does, then that's the problem, and you'll just need to order a new ballast. You can get them on Ebay for about 50-75 bucks. New from the dealer is alot more.

[blk_on_blk]

The ballast only applies to the HID Xenon headlights, right? Standard headlights should just run a 12vdc power source. Rmittal1, do you have HID headlights? I didn't think they were available on the 2000 model year.

[smooth1]

According to my parts listing, 2000 model year uses Part Number:

W0133-1610239 HID Bulb - 12V - 35w For HID headlights; 12v, 35w; req. 2. Hi-Intensity Discharge. The 1999 uses Part Number: W0133-1637084Bulb #2 - 12V - 65w 12V 65W. which is not HID.

[blk_on_blk]

Well there you go... it sounds like Smooth1 has the reference material. So, since it looks like you do have the HID, then I'm in agreement with Smooth1 that it's probably a ballast... I'm also in agreement picking one up from eBay is a good way to go.

[Grumpa72]

After you replaced the battery did you put it on a charger? I re-read your post and you didn't say anything about charging the battery. If you put a battery in, don't charge it but just drive it around town, I suspect that you never fully topped it off. Then, you set the car down for a lengthy time and your car won't start.

Did you ever put a multimeter on your battery and alternator to see what your output voltages are? Changing components without testing is really a gamble. Resting voltage on an alternator at idle should be in the 14.3 +/- volts. Resting battery voltage should be in the 12+ voltage range.