lights/all electrics flicker when moving steering??

**paul4400** · 9th February 2011, 21:55

Gone through 2 sets of hid bulbs (aftermarket kit) thinking that i was getting faulty parts, have now taken hids off and have noticed that when you rock the steering all the electrics on the car get dragged down, lights hi/low flicker, heater fan drops anything electrical gets a brief power drop.
If you move the steering really slowly it doesnt happen but if you rock it like you would on a bumpy road it causes the power drop, would imagine thats why it keeps taking out the hid bulbs as it causes them to flash.
Anyone have any ideas what might cause this????, car starts and runs fine and this has been going on for about 2 months now.

Many thanks

Paul

**wallace78** · 9th February 2011, 21:59

think its normal happens 2 mine 2 paul!!there was sumfin on here bout it few days ago!!!

**rushy** · 9th February 2011, 22:06

Originally Posted by wallace78

think its normal happens 2 mine 2 paul!!there was sumfin on here bout it few days ago!!!

Not too that degree, they do dim when you sat in traffic and the like but on the move they shouldn't. Checking the alternator could be a good place to start.

**wallace78** · 9th February 2011, 22:08

sorry didnt read the full thread !!

**omega63** · 9th February 2011, 22:38

Originally Posted by paul4400

Gone through 2 sets of hid bulbs (aftermarket kit) thinking that i was getting faulty parts, have now taken hids off and have noticed that when you rock the steering all the electrics on the car get dragged down, lights hi/low flicker, heater fan drops anything electrical gets a brief power drop.
If you move the steering really slowly it doesnt happen but if you rock it like you would on a bumpy road it causes the power drop, would imagine thats why it keeps taking out the hid bulbs as it causes them to flash.
Anyone have any ideas what might cause this????, car starts and runs fine and this has been going on for about 2 months now.

Many thanks

Paul

The Vectra c as "Electro Hydrualic power steering" which when operating does tend to draw a heavy electrical current from the battery and alternator. This will cause in some cases the electrical systems in the car to beccome slightly "dimmer" than normally, failure of the battery or the alternator would cause the E. H. P. S. to stop working all together

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**paul4400** · 9th February 2011, 23:34

If you rock the steering in about 1" movements it drags the heater fan almost to a stop so its quite a power drop, a sharp movement and then stop and it flickers and then recovers straight away but you can imagine what its like while you are driving as you are constantly moving the steering.
The halogen bulbs are ok to drive with and handel the problem much better but when you have the hids on it actually causes them to flash and seems worse on the driver side with that one going completely out then on again until eventually after about 3 weeks the bulb blows then shortly after the passenger sid one goes to.
It puzzles me as the car started and run fine all through the bad weather so wouldnt think it could be the battery or alternator, maybe its a bad earth?? will have to check all the leads and earths and battery levels the weekend, would the steering be pulling that much power out of the electrics and if so how would you overcome this problem to use hids without ruining the bulbs every few weeks??

Its a 06 exclusiv 150 cdti

Thanks for replies
Paul

**Das** · 9th February 2011, 23:37

Its normal for the headlights to flicker when stationary and turning the steering wheel, I have never noticed any change in the heater speed though. Have you put a multimeter over the battery terminals just to eliminate the alternator?

**omega63** · 9th February 2011, 23:55

My car as factory fitted HID,s and even with a 95Ah battery there is still a dimming of lights and even the GID screen goes darker when the steering is rocked left to right. Dont have the same problems as you are having, and really cant help you with ideas as to rectifying your car. Like you say you need to check your electrical systems def. the earths id,e say

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**paul4400** · 10th February 2011, 00:30

Thanks for ideas

Will check the earths and put a voltage meter across the battery this weekend to see if i can find anything.
As for the hids i was using a 50w kit without canbus but was getting no errors and bulbs both went after a month, ordered 2 more bulbs from different supplier and also fitted canbus error cancellors this time as i already had them and thought it might make a difference, these bulbs lasted about 2-3 weeks so have removed the whole kit and sent it back to supplier (China) for a replacement as i thought it must be the ballasts causing the problem, now im thinking it may be the car at fault.

Thanks

Paul