Headlights Dim and Voltage Drops
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,103
Likes: 3
From: Las Vegas, NV
Year: 1995
Engine: 4.0L
Headlights Dim and Voltage Drops
A couple of nights ago I was driving with the heater on. I also had my headlights and radio on. I don't have fog lights.
I noticed that whenever the electric fan went on my headlights and gauge lights would go dimmer an my voltage meter would drop from 14 to about 12. The electric fan stays on for about 15 seconds at a time, and once it goes off again, all the lights get brighter and the voltage meter goes back from 12 to 14.
And like I said, it only does this when the electric fan goes on. The electric fan will go on for about 15 seconds, then go off for about 15 seconds, then come back on for 15 seconds, etc.
Can anybody tell me why this is happening? Could it be the battery or the alternator?
I noticed that whenever the electric fan went on my headlights and gauge lights would go dimmer an my voltage meter would drop from 14 to about 12. The electric fan stays on for about 15 seconds at a time, and once it goes off again, all the lights get brighter and the voltage meter goes back from 12 to 14.
And like I said, it only does this when the electric fan goes on. The electric fan will go on for about 15 seconds, then go off for about 15 seconds, then come back on for 15 seconds, etc.
Can anybody tell me why this is happening? Could it be the battery or the alternator?
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: CT
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Originally Posted by GreenClassic
A couple of nights ago I was driving with the heater on. I also had my headlights and radio on. I don't have fog lights.
I noticed that whenever the electric fan went on my headlights and gauge lights would go dimmer an my voltage meter would drop from 14 to about 12. The electric fan stays on for about 15 seconds at a time, and once it goes off again, all the lights get brighter and the voltage meter goes back from 12 to 14.
And like I said, it only does this when the electric fan goes on. The electric fan will go on for about 15 seconds, then go off for about 15 seconds, then come back on for 15 seconds, etc.
Can anybody tell me why this is happening? Could it be the battery or the alternator?
I noticed that whenever the electric fan went on my headlights and gauge lights would go dimmer an my voltage meter would drop from 14 to about 12. The electric fan stays on for about 15 seconds at a time, and once it goes off again, all the lights get brighter and the voltage meter goes back from 12 to 14.
And like I said, it only does this when the electric fan goes on. The electric fan will go on for about 15 seconds, then go off for about 15 seconds, then come back on for 15 seconds, etc.
Can anybody tell me why this is happening? Could it be the battery or the alternator?
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Tri-Cities, WA
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
A couple of nights ago I was driving with the heater on. I also had my headlights and radio on. I don't have fog lights.
I noticed that whenever the electric fan went on my headlights and gauge lights would go dimmer an my voltage meter would drop from 14 to about 12. The electric fan stays on for about 15 seconds at a time, and once it goes off again, all the lights get brighter and the voltage meter goes back from 12 to 14.
And like I said, it only does this when the electric fan goes on. The electric fan will go on for about 15 seconds, then go off for about 15 seconds, then come back on for 15 seconds, etc.
Can anybody tell me why this is happening? Could it be the battery or the alternator?
I noticed that whenever the electric fan went on my headlights and gauge lights would go dimmer an my voltage meter would drop from 14 to about 12. The electric fan stays on for about 15 seconds at a time, and once it goes off again, all the lights get brighter and the voltage meter goes back from 12 to 14.
And like I said, it only does this when the electric fan goes on. The electric fan will go on for about 15 seconds, then go off for about 15 seconds, then come back on for 15 seconds, etc.
Can anybody tell me why this is happening? Could it be the battery or the alternator?
i have the same thing going on with my 1998. any ideas?
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Model: Cherokee
I had this same problem and after doing some research I ended up removing my battery cables and cleaning the terminals until shiny, removing the battery ground and cleaning the surface to make sure it was a good ground, and last I wired my headlights up to a relay, problem solved!! With this setup the battery is actually powering the relay, not the headlights which is a lot less voltage and current draw. I read somewhere that the factory jeep wiring is not meant to handle high voltage or current draw thats the reason for the headlight relay, anyways if you havent fixed this problem yet good luck!!
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