How Does Acceleration Affect Vehicle Headlight Brightness?

Headlights are very important when driving, especially at night. When you hit the accelerator, and they get brighter, this will allow you to see the road clearer. But what happens when they don’t? This article will give you the information you need to understand why headlights get brighter when you accelerate and how to fix issues that may be causing your headlights to go dim, brighter than normal or even die completely. 

If your headlight gets brighter when you accelerate, then this post is for you! There are different components of a vehicle’s lighting system and they work together to create a brighter beam when you hit the gas. There are also numerous problems that can lead to dimming headlights the same way there are tips on how to troubleshoot and resolve them. 

So let’s get started and find out why your headlights get brighter when you accelerate. 

Do headlights get brighter when accelerating?

In normal circumstances, the alternator works with the car battery to supply just enough voltage to the headlight and they help the lights to accommodate this supply.

When your lights brighten when you accelerate, there could be complications which may be from the alternator’s voltage regulator. In cases where there is an increase in alternator speed, more power is produced, which is solely the regulator’s role to contain the power outflow to prevent a surge. When the lights are brighter, it means the regulator is not working effectively as supposed to control the discharge and power outflow.

Causes of headlights getting brighter when accelerating & how to fix them

Numerous reasons could lead to headlights getting brighter when accelerating, here are a few ;

1. Condition of battery:

The first thing to check in resolving the problem is the condition of the battery. If it is weak, replace it immediately. Sometimes, it could just be loose battery terminal connections. Ensure these are tight.

2. Earth cable:

This is a possible cause, a brightness on acceleration may be the problem of earth cable, which can deteriorate over time and cause electrical issues. Inspecting the cable will help you detect this so as to replace it if necessary.

3. Condition of alternator:

 An alternator should supply 14 volts to the battery when the engine is running at its normal idle speed and once the speed accelerates, the alternator should be able to maintain the power supply. If this is not the case, then there’s a problem with the alternator.

4. Failing diodes:

one or more of the diodes might be failing, this can cause the increased brightness you are experiencing. replace the alternator, you can take the case to  AutoZone or the like and have it tested. 

If one or more of the diodes fails in the alternator you may begin to see the pulse of the charging in your headlights especially when two legs of the three-legged system are down.

Reasons to get headlight issues addressed promptly 

It is in your great interest to get headlight issues especially the dimming and brightening cases addressed promptly. Prompt troubleshooting will save you from a lot of issues that might go out of control if left unattended.

Ensure to make reflection checks intentionally on your garage wall or store windows at night, because most of the time you would not notice this unless you are stuck in traffic and see the reflection of your headlights from cars in front of you. 

Now you see how dangerous this may be, constant checks will help prevent you from paying fines and attending court cases for vehicle negligence.

The importance of professional assessment of the headlights 

Do not assume you can fix all issues related to your vehicle, what you think may be the problem might just be an indication of a bigger issue.

There are trained professionals who on one look can tell the fault of the vehicle. I know you are considering spending extra by going for professional checks but then, it’s worth it. 

For a case like this subject matter, a wild guess would be that your alternator or battery might be faulty, now knowing the exact issue will do you good. I recommend you have an auto electrician run a few tests if your electronics fail. Failure to do so, you might experience any and/or both of the below situations:

• Unprofessional handling could burn out your wiring loom
• Unavoidable expenses come into play as a result of several damages.

Steps to take to ensure headlights are operating properly at all times 

We have summarized the causes of headlights getting brighter when you accelerate and now we want to look at the steps to take to ensure headlights are operating well at all times:

• Replacing a bad alternator fixes about 70% of the problem. 
• Changing the bulbs regularly 
• Cleaning the headlights to prevent dirt 
• Checking the electrical system and wiring
• Replacement of light assembly

Conclusion 

Some of the best practices for replacing your headlights to ensure that you get a beaming light can go a long way. When you rev the engine, If the lights get brighter it shows that the alternator is producing some current, but not enough current to keep the battery adequately charged when the engine is not in use or idle. When the headlights have normal brightness and don’t change intensity as the engine is revved, your charging system is functioning properly.