1993 Toyota Celica Lights Dim and Flicker

Suggested Repair

Check the instrument voltage regulator, headlight relay, combination switch, and wiring for a loose connection or overload. Perform a battery drain test; draw above 0.30 mA is excessive and should be traced for a short.

Conversation Summary

The owner of a 1993 Toyota Celica GT with 150,000 miles says the dash lights and headlights dim nearly out when the brake pedal is pressed, then come back, and also flicker while driving. Headlight assemblies were replaced and the wires spliced after an accident, and the car ran fine for more than a year. The expert lists a faulty instrument voltage regulator, failing headlight relay, defective combination switch, loose connection, or overload as possible causes, and recommends a battery drain test with anything over 0.30 mA treated as excessive and traced for a short.