clock keeps resetting when turning on headlights with ignition on - ne

[Jinster]

I have been experiencing a stranger phenomenon.

If the ignition is on, and I go to turn on the headlights, the entire dash would switch off (indicator needles fall, clock resets, current mileage resets) for a brief second, and switch itself back on.

This only happens if the ignition is already on. It can't be re-produced if:

1. this has already happened once during this particular "ignition on" period - i.e switching the headlight off and on won't reset things again if it's already happened once during this one ignition on period

2. turning the headlight to on first, and then starting the car, avoids this problem

The battery is a good brand and only 6 months old. and the ignition switch was replaced last year.

Any thoughts?

[Jinster]

For future reference, this problem turned out to be a loose headlight connector.

[coleta]

you mean the headlight SWITCH connector, right?

[Jinster]

No. I think there is a wobble in my headlight socket - so the entire headlight assembly gets pushed on to it, normally the plug/socket would mate tightly, mine is wobbly. I think that's why my car "short circuits" when I turn on the headlight, occasionally.

[coleta]

Thanks. How did you trace this? Your headlight started flickering or something?