Bright light icon on dashboard?

Tiny
SKSILVER
  • MEMBER
  • 2018 KIA SPORTAGE
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 134,000 MILES
When driving with my normal headlights on, once in a while the bright light icon on my dashboard starts to appear automatically and causes my headlights to dim. Then I have to mess with the inside light switch to get it to go back to normal. What causes that?
Friday, June 14th, 2024 AT 10:32 AM

9 Replies

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 14,107 POSTS
Could you verify which light and what position the light switch is in. That vehicle may have the automatic high beams and if it sees oncoming vehicles or excess light from street or reflected light it will dim them. There could be an issue in that system. When it happens do you know of any pattern, like it only happens when passing this building or it only happens if I lay a hat on the dash or anything like that?
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Friday, June 14th, 2024 AT 3:18 PM
Tiny
SKSILVER
  • MEMBER
  • 68 POSTS
The light switch will be in the normal position and it won't happen for a week or two and then all of a sudden it will happen. No noticeable pattern. The alternator has been checked. It has a new battery. The multifunction light switch was replaced but then it happened again, so they replaced the switch again a week ago, and so far it hasn't happened yet. But after the first time it was replaced, it took a couple of weeks. Almost like a loose connection or something, but they say everything has been checked. And it's a 2008 Kia, not a 2018.
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Sunday, June 16th, 2024 AT 7:55 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 14,107 POSTS
Does this car have the automatic light option or DRLs? I don't see much that would cause this, unless one of the front lights were to have a bad or corroded ground circuit. That would try to turn on all the bulbs at the same time and light the high beam lamp in the dash as the current tried to find a path to ground. I would look at the black ground wires and where they are attached to the car body.
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Sunday, June 16th, 2024 AT 12:05 PM
Tiny
SKSILVER
  • MEMBER
  • 68 POSTS
I do not know if it does or not, but I will try to find out. Thank you so much for your replies.
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Sunday, June 16th, 2024 AT 12:15 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 14,107 POSTS
I would suspect the grounds more but both of those add extra pieces. The DRL especially could cause a similar issue.
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Sunday, June 16th, 2024 AT 12:21 PM
Tiny
SKSILVER
  • MEMBER
  • 68 POSTS
Thank you very much. No one has mentioned that to me before. I will check into it. Thanks again.
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Sunday, June 16th, 2024 AT 12:35 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 50,363 POSTS
STEVE W. Is one of our best! Please let us know what happens.
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Tuesday, June 18th, 2024 AT 12:57 PM
Tiny
SKSILVER
  • MEMBER
  • 68 POSTS
Will do. So far it hasn't happened again since the new multifunction switch was replaced and one of the headlights were replaced. We shall see. Thank you.
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Thursday, June 20th, 2024 AT 7:46 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 50,363 POSTS
Thanks for letting us know, we are here to help, please use 2CarPros anytime.
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Thursday, June 20th, 2024 AT 9:26 AM

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