Need help! Flashing of headlight when engine off

[ferrero_rocher]

Driving a W212 E250. Sometimes when the engine and ignition is off, the driver's side pole light and rear brake light/fog lamp will flash and flicker for a couple of minutes, sometimes longer. Only when I restart the engine and on and off the headlights will the flickering stop.

 

This morning, spotted the flickering again. Tried to start the car but couldn't. Called Merc Recovery later on and technician diagnosed that batt is flat need to change. Hence, suspected the flickering took place over a few hours and drained the battery.

 

After changing the battery, and after coming home, the flashing occurred again! But this time the whole headlight was flickering a bit.

 

Anyone encountered this before?

[ferrero_rocher]

Forgot to mention that DRL (from a seller here) was installed several months ago, but flickering took place recently. Could it be the reason?

[robin1_sg]

I guess your headlight switch knob does not position properly. Try turning it around and see if you can get it away from parking light position. I do have this switch positioning improperly and when that happens, the parking lights comes on and sometimes it just flicker. You may need to replace the knob. If you do, let me know how much because I need to change too.

[ferrero_rocher]

Hmm what do u mean by turning it ard to get it away from parking light?

But yours is both sides flicker? Mine only driver side, front and back . Hope it's not too big a prob

[robin1_sg]

Turn the light control knob from position 0 to A to park light, back and forth. That will solve it. Nowadays I just leave it to A (Auto).

[eastendboy8]

My suspicion is a loose connection somewhere. Since all the external lights will turn themselves off (regardless of which light setting), it is continuously connecting and disconnecting before the timer to fully switch it off kicks in.

 

If you suspect this flickering is draining the battery, get a volt meter and monitor the voltage after you turn the engine off. You should see a gradual voltage drop if the battery is being drained