This is a rather strange problem that I've had to deal with for almost 2 years. I has not gotten any better or worse. I have a 1989 Civic hatchback. When I turn the headlights on, I turn the switch, the parking lights and tail lights come on, but the low beams take about a minute to come on. It's like they need to "warm up". I can switch to the high beams or even turn the lights on if they are set to the high beams and there is no issue. It is only with the low beams. I've tried turning on the turn signals, but that doesn't make them come on any faster. I just have to sit and wait, which is an issue when I get called out in the middle of the night for a fire call (I'm a volunteer fire fighter). There have been many nights that after getting woke up out of a dead sleep, I hop in the car (not awake enough yet to remember the headlight issue) and get almost all the way to the fire station and realize the lights aren't on yet.

 

That's really wierd.
First thing I'd check is the ground wires in the engine bay.
If the lights work they work. It sounds like it's not the lights.

 

maybe you dont know you have hid's?

 

No, they aren't HID lights.

 

mine do this as well and i have no idea why. i did buy the car from some dirty ricers so i assumed they had something screwed up


posting so i can find this later when some smart people tell you why

 

check the voltage at the headlight plug (unplug it first) you should be getting 8-12 volts, measure the voltage as it "warms up" if the voltage slowly increaces then i would guess thats a wiring issue, if not maybe its just the bulbs.
One last thing to try would be to run a larger positive wire to a bigger relay for the lights this should yeild 12 volts unlike the stock wiring.