Occasional flicker of headlights?? (Ford Focus)

[RJP001]

My daily driver, a Mk1 52 plate Ford Focus seems to flicker its headlights every now and then while driving. We're talking over a period of for example ten to fifteen minutes, it will just flicker once and then do it again after a similar period again etc.

Is this normal or is it a sign that there is a fault that is developing to which I should be made aware of?

Cheers!

[Camaro]

Is it only apparent after the car gets hot?

Could be the cooling fan kicking in and drawing a bit too much current.

Remedy, check battery health, check fan for freedom of movement, make sure it spins ok and isn't seized or hard to spin.

[RJP001]

Hi,

Thank you for the reply.

I will have a look at what you suggested. I had not thought about it being the fan kicking in, although I wouldn't expect that to happen at 60mph with the TDDI?

[littleredrooster]

Only a long shot, but could this be the intelligent charging system that Focii have; it will only try to put the alternator under load when either on the over-run or steady throttle conditions. Could just be the start of its battery charge cycle?

[Doctor Volt]

When you use the word flicker do you mean on and off or dimming and brightening
If you mean dimming and brightening - The first thing you must have checked is the terminal voltage at the Battery when the fault is on the vehicle, should the voltage at the battery be up and down when the fault occurs you will be much wiser and able to post more information here about voltage readings
When the fault occurs - If there is no fluctuation in Battery voltage you will need to delve deeper as there will be a wiring or component fault

[Fullmel]

Ac compressor cutting in.

[littlepaul]

my focus does this ( 2002) , especially if turn heated front screen on , I have just become use to it now.

[lescombes]

A Pal of mine has a TCDi estate...used to flicker the headlights then blow the bulbs... we did a check on it and I got him to nip to a pal of mine (auto leccy sparky)... straight away he said... New Battery...
So in went a new battery and no more issues since....that was 3 years ago...