Why Does Turning On My Headlights Kill The Engine?

Wondering why turning on your headlights kills the engine of your vehicle? Worry no more as this article will answer all your questions and provide a better understanding of your headlight and engine function.

Turning on headlights is a must-do as long as your vehicle hits the roads, especially at night, in the snowy season or at sunrise. California Driver’s Handbook advises you to turn on headlights even on sunny days. 

Why turning on your headlights can cause your engine to shut down 

It’s imperative to turn on headlights although there are downsides to it. We all have been on that bad day where all that comes to mind is open your car door and head straight to your bed. Sounds funny right? With this most people forget to turn off the headlight which in turn kills the battery making starting up the engine difficult and close to impossible the next day.

Once your battery is drained your engine shuts down since the battery enables the engine of a vehicle to start.

Why you shouldn’t ignore your engine warning lights  

It’s important not to ignore your engine warning light as this may help to prevent further damage. Old model cars usually indicate problems when you try starting the car on the first attempt and display a red light when there’s a fault with the car’s engine.

Nowadays cars have been upgraded in the sense that they display a written warning showing the specific problem of the car.

Once this warning light comes please do it is to your favour so that you don’t snooze on it, because negligence could result in more serious engine damage that will go beyond repair to a change of engine.

vehicle Lights Turn Off engine

Diagnosing the cause of engine failure when turning on headlights

Knowing the actual cause of a problem will help to solve it easier. If you don’t know the cause of engine failure when turning on your headlights then you will be handicapped and unable to prevent reoccurrence.

These and more could be possible reasons why the engine fails when turning on headlights therefore, you need to diagnose the fault by doing the following; 

– Checking the wiring constantly is paramount 

– Reviewing the electrical systems such as lights and dashboard.

– Check fuses and relays often not when there’s an issue

– Inspect the lighting and electrical systems, checking for faults will do

– Examine the alternator and battery, drained batteries are the pioneers of engine shutdown 

– Consider consulting a certified technician for the repair or replacement of necessary components. Trial and error by self will do no good.

How to troubleshoot your headlight-induced engine shutdown

Troubleshooting your headlight-induced engine shutdown and damage takes a few steps:

  • Inspect wiring for any faults
  • Test the alternator and charging system
  • Check the battery for any issues
  • Inspect the engine sensors for any malfunctioning
  • Contacting a professional for assistance if the issue persists 

Conclusion 

In conclusion, you want to be sure to put on your headlights when necessary and turn them off if not in use to avoid battery drainage that poses difficulty for the engine to start up.

This is a relationship that exists between headlights and engine shutdown. Consciously ask questions related to your car maintenance and function, the vehicle user guide comes in handy here. Make checking for warning signs a priority.

Disclaimer

Hi, just letting you know that all products recommended here have been used by me, or are properly researched to ensure they are the best you are getting without bias.

I am also an affiliate for certain Amazon products and this means that some links here are affiliate links. If you purchase an item through any of them, I MAY earn a commission at no extra cost on you.

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