Car headlights randomly turn on when driving

MentalMario

Hey all,

So, my car headlights turn on randomly when driving over the past few days.

I thought it was when I turned a sharp corner or went around a roundabout but they're coming on intermittently even on a straight road.

Any thoughts on what it might be?

Wires being fried or touching us my complete guess but interested to hear if somebody might think it's something different.

Was going to trade it in in January but may need to do it earlier than I want if it's a big job to fix.

Esel

Make, model, year?

coylemj

Is it set to 'auto'? The headlights may be coming on in the middle of the day when it gets cloudy, now that the natural light is dropping. Your eyes adjust by dilating the pupils in the same way that TV cameras automatically adjust when they're showing tennis or cricket so you often don't notice when the natural level of light is dropping.

CiniO

MentalMario wrote: »

Hey all,

So, my car headlights turn on randomly when driving over the past few days.

I thought it was when I turned a sharp corner or went around a roundabout but they're coming on intermittently even on a straight road.

Any thoughts on what it might be?

Wires being fried or touching us my complete guess but interested to hear if somebody might think it's something different.

Was going to trade it in in January but may need to do it earlier than I want if it's a big job to fix.

Is it dipped headlights or full beam headlights turning in?

MentalMario

CiniO wrote: »

Is it dipped headlights or full beam headlights turning in?

Full beams. I usually have the dipped ones on while driving too if that makes a difference.

Fieldsman

I've a 08 Peugeot 308 and the same thing happens, though they turn on to dips only. On those dark and wet days you need headlights on anyhow.

elperello

That sounds annoying.
Maybe I'm old fashioned but I prefer cars to do what I want rather than tell me what to do or do what they want.

biko

Esel wrote: »

Make, model, year?

MentalMario, answer this question.

ION08

biko wrote: »

MentalMario, answer this question.

....On a serious note, it might just need a new light switch / stalk.

I would try that first.

the_pen_turner

Are you sure uts the head lights and not just the littler on the dash.

LariToper

ION08 wrote: »

....On a serious note, it might just need a new light switch / stalk.

I would try that first.

+1 for this, had an indicator stalk get "loose" on an Astra before, bumpy roads would make the stalk wobble and the full heads would flick on.

paid about €10 for a second hand stalk and took less than 10 mins to fit

MentalMario

Esel wrote: »

Make, model, year?

Missed this.

03 Opel Astra

Thanks for the input guys.

Google was telling me an alternator could be the issue. I'm hoping a stalk fixes it. I'm going to bring it to an auto-technician over the weekend.

Also, somebody asked if I was sure it wasn't just the light coming on. Definitely the full beams are coming on.

JohnBoy26

the_pen_turner wrote: »

Are you sure uts the head lights and not just the littler on the dash.

?

Slippin Jimmy

elperello wrote: »

That sounds annoying.
Maybe I'm old fashioned but I prefer cars to do what I want rather than tell me what to do or do what they want.

You have the option of doing it manually on most cars :P

colm_mcm

MentalMario wrote: »

Missed this.

03 Opel Astra

Thanks for the input guys.

Google was telling me an alternator could be the issue. I'm hoping a stalk fixes it. I'm going to bring it to an auto-technician over the weekend.

Also, somebody asked if I was sure it wasn't just the light coming on. Definitely the full beams are coming on.

Are rear lights coming on too?

the_pen_turner

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

the_pen_turner wrote: »

Are you sure uts the head lights and not just the littler on the dash.

?

Spell check on phone again
Meant light.
My no her had a car that the light on the dash for the head light would come on
The lights themselves wouldn't . Something was loose in the dash
She never noticed it in the dark only when bright or duskish.

LariToper

The astra I had the issue with was the same generation as yours, definitely check the stalk, put your dips on and wiggle the stalk around in all directions to see if that's the issue. If it is its a really easy job to replace. I think its 2 screws to release the top cover behind the steering wheel, pull the box at the end of the stalk upwards to remove it and push your new one into place. There's plenty of videos on youtube for your exact car.

MentalMario

colm_mcm wrote: »

Are rear lights coming on too?

Not that I know of. I'll try check it out next time it happens.

LariToper wrote: »

The astra I had the issue with was the same generation as yours, definitely check the stalk, put your dips on and wiggle the stalk around in all directions to see if that's the issue. If it is its a really easy job to replace. I think its 2 screws to release the top cover behind the steering wheel, pull the box at the end of the stalk upwards to remove it and push your new one into place. There's plenty of videos on youtube for your exact car.

Thanks - Appreciate the replies. I'm hoping this is it. Cheers.

Del2005

MentalMario wrote: »

Not that I know of. I'll try check it out next time it happens.

I'd hope that they are on if you drive with dipped beams on.

MentalMario

Del2005 wrote: »

I'd hope that they are on if you drive with dipped beams on.

Ha. Yeah, they're on when the dips are on. Just not sure if they're on when the dips are off and the full lights comes on.

ION08

Do they flash on and back off or do they come on and stay on?

MentalMario

ION08 wrote: »

Do they flash on and back off or do they come on and stay on?

Flash on and off. They make a noise too. Sounds like the wires to me.