Headlights flicker while using auto stop/start (vids)

[wj4]

Hi folks,

I rarely drove my Integra prior because I had a company car so I am noticing these things now as the Integra shifted to be a daily driver.

The headlights flicker when the car starts when auto stop/start function is activated.

I recorded a couple of videos last night:

Please look at around the 4th second mark in this video:

Please look at around the 5th second mark in this video:

You can see in both videos the light dims down a bit as the car starts up.

I've never had this occur before on cars with auto stop/start. Is this normal?

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[wj4]

Update: I talked to the shop manager from the local dealership. He said it is normal. This is weird because the 3-4 cars I prior (Chevy and Ford vehicles) did not do this.

Per him:

The starter naturally draws voltage, and when multiple electrical components are in use, it's normal for the lights to dim briefly before returning to full brightness.

 

[Frenzal]

The lights on my Honda Fit dimmed every time the A/C compressor kicked in.

 

[kprofitt32]

Mine does it too and isn’t something to be concerned about. Your shop guy is correct with his explanation.

Think of a pipe that comes to a split with one valve open. The moment you open that second valve there is a moment where the already open pipe reduces the volume of water leaving it as the other pipe increases flow. Your starter is temporarily pulling some of that current. Other manufacturers prioritize different electronics for current. Honda deprioritizes headlights for this action to occur.

 

[wj4]

Mine does it too and isn’t something to be concerned about. Your shop guy is correct with his explanation.

Think of a pipe that comes to a split with one valve open. The moment you open that second valve there is a moment where the already open pipe reduces the volume of water leaving it as the other pipe increases flow. Your starter is temporarily pulling some of that current. Other manufacturers prioritize different electronics for current. Honda deprioritizes headlights for this action to occur.

Thanks! My former cars (Malibu's and Equinox's) never did so I just wanted to ask the group.

I put on 4k miles in 2.5 years of ownership, but that will be drastically increasing since it's my daily driver now. I hope it lasts as long as the car I replaced it with (TSX).

 

[nawfoo]

turn off auto start/stop and see if the issue clears up

 

[wj4]

turn off auto start/stop and see if the issue clears up

It does! That's how I narrowed it down to the auto start/stop. When the car is in sport mode or if I haven't driven it for a while and battery is still charging, it does not do it.

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