Hi everyone!

I have had my very first Dodge Charger (3.5 V6) for a few weeks now, but I have just discovered something strange happening with the lights.
Basically, everything works as it should (headlights, turn signals, etc.) but at night when I step on the brakes I notice a very slight change of electrical tension in the headlights. For example, if I brake I can see the light coming out the headlights getting more intense, but when I release the brakes it goes back to normal. I cannot explain myself why.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

hmmmmmmmmm, not sure on that. Shouldn't have any effect at all.

Maybe it is all you. Let me explain, you'll like this.

When you are driving normally, you attention to detail is at one point. However, when breaking, you attention to detail increases exponentially due to the fact that you want to stop at a certain point, keeping the car under control becomes harder, thus you are paying attention to every little detail. In turn, you "think" the lights are getting brighter.

LOL!!!!

How's that for a scientific explanation?

 

Well I must have the same mental problem (LoL!) he has cause mine does the same thing. But mine now has 80k on the ODO.

Been meaning to take and have a load test but just haven't had time. Local parts places will do it FOC. But if its not the alt. then it maybe a relay is the only other thing I can think of that would cause this.

When you have the load test done make sure the lights are on and step on the breaks and see it there is a change. There shouldnt be because the regulator in the alt. should compensate for the extra load.

 

I appreciate the mental evaluation regarding this problem LOL
Unfortunately, even after Tylenol and a good night of sleep, the problem still persists.
In order to verify the line between my imagination and reality, I have put the car in Park and right in front of a dark foreground, then I stepped on the brakes: the electric tension within the headlights DOES change.
Usually, I would think this could be due to the alternator, but I thought that typically the electricity would cause the lights to slightly dim. Instead, the lights become brighter for roughly half second. Still have no clue.
At this point, it could be a relay. Also, i have noticed that if i put the emergency lights on, there is also a slight loss of power within the instrument cluster illumination.

 

When you hit the brakes the front end nosedives slightly. That changes the angle of your headlamps. Is this an optical illusion you're creating? Outside of that maybe get your battery load tested. On your 2010 the TIPM module powers all of your outside illumination.

 

It'll do it on mine with in park. So no nose dive involved. My stepson (a buding mechanic) just informed me about the TIPM. Everything from the headlights to the door locks goes trough this thing so it could be the source of our concerns. But I'm still doing the bat load test just to say I did it, cant hurt to check. If it checks out the it'll just be a wait and see what happens I guess.