Flashing Headlights After Car is Off and Locked!

**Dodge2Dub** · 02-02-2009 06:58 AM

Has this happened to anybody else? After the car has been turned off and locked for about 3 minutes, the headlights flash briefly. This happens very occasionally, but I've noticed it a few times over the last year. Any ideas of what could be going on? Maybe an electrical surge?

**RAudi Driver** · 02-02-2009 08:09 AM

I think that it's your bulbs starting to go. Heard it somewhere on these forums.

**FourRingRider** · 02-02-2009 09:41 AM

mine have done that once... i parked the car in the garage, locked it, and i was getting ready to close the garage door then BOTH of the xenon headlamps turned on for about 4 seconds. i was like WTF the car is haunted... it was if it didnt want me to leave it by itself in the garage... my car only has 10k miles... I couldnt imagine the bulbs are starting to go since BOTH lamps turned on simultaneously... i think it was just an electrical surge of some sort...

**JOS4AUDI** · 02-02-2009 09:43 AM

Its happened to every b7 ive owned the s4 the a4 cab and the the first o6 a4 sline i had.First it freaked me out i thought it was a ghost but then after i manned up i realized its just the headlights. I still dont know why but its happened to all my cars.

**caitovS4** · 02-02-2009 09:59 AM

^ same here.

I've had it happen a few times over the past couple years.
Headlights work great otherwise.

**zachf88** · 02-02-2009 10:22 AM

Dealer said it was the car going into hibernation. Dont worry, your bulbs aren't going bad! Perfectly normal for B7's!

**Dodge2Dub** · 02-02-2009 10:47 AM

Hibernation?? Okay, that's a new one for me!

**zachf88** · 02-02-2009 11:07 AM

Well, after about 3 mins of the car being off, it goes into a "hibernation" mode. When this happens, certain electrical components turn off. I guess this causes a surge that causes the xenons to flash.

Also, on the RS4, the lights may flicker after locking the car. This is caused by the secondary battery/terminal (located where the normal B7 battery is).

**Stea1th** · 04-18-2013 06:03 AM

just happen to mine, lol. scared me for a second

**FastEddie** · 04-18-2013 07:11 AM

Ive never noticed this.

**Spiral** · 04-18-2013 07:31 AM

I had weird issues where lights would turn on and off and the stereo would randomly start while sitting in the garage. Previous to this I had the though that my battery was going out due to long cranks, etc. A couple days later my car wouldn't start and the battery wouldn't hold a charge. New battery solved all the previous symptoms.

**2380S4** · 04-18-2013 10:55 AM

This happened last night on my B7. Thought I was loosing it!!

**377Z** · 04-21-2013 09:58 AM

Found this thread via search; I notice it every now and then on my B7 A4. Its weird.

**80sGuy** · 09-02-2016 05:22 AM

Okaaaaaay....first time I saw my headlights 'flashed' just once during the evening while I was waiting in line to order some food....a couple of minutes after when it was sitting pretty parked on the sidewalk. The car in front of me was wondering why am I flashing at her, but she realized no one was in the car and saw me waiting in line. Weirdest shyte!