I hate making new threads because usually searching gets the job done, but I had no luck. The other day, I was driving on the freeway in 5th and turned the headlights on. As soon as I flipped the switch my car jolted pretty hard and the center display came up with warning light (not the CEL). It was over quickly and I checked for codes and got nothing. Is this something I should be concerned about?

 

^^^ this has happened to me 3 times. I have 15k miles on the car now. It happened when i was more around 7-8k miles. Hasn't happened since.

Took it into the dealer, they couldn't find anything. Everytime i'm driving and flip on the lights though I do hesitate a bit as i'm afraid what might happen. But to confirm, you are not the only one. The car does do a pretty significant jerk.

Anyway, as i said its only happened to me 3 times. Now it's been all winter driving since it last happened. My one remaining theory is that somwhere there is condensation and i haven't noticed it in a while because its been winter and i keep the car parked in a heated underground garage. Anyway, if it happens to me again once it gets warm then i'll know that somewhere there is a problem with the electrical system.

Else it's an ecu issue. The dealer reflashed my ecu with the latest update (I didn't even know there was one as I had all the ones for the hesitation and idle problems). Anyway, might just be that hopefully.

Anyone else?

 

Thanks for the input man, I hope it doesnt happen again,,,

 

have you changed out your tail light bulbs to leds or any of the bulbs on the car?

 

thats a weird problem that its electrical and making your car jerk..never had that problem

 

Had the same problem 3 times and I have 2500 mls.

 

It has happened to me several times also, now i just turn the lights on before I turn the car on.

 

I guess I'm glad? to see a few more people with this...

Maybe someone can figure it out. Would be nice as that really is my only major last concern with this car. I guess it really isn't even "major" just it is a bit scarry when the car jerks and the CEL comes on with the triangle with an exclamation mark in the middle of it being displayed on that information screen.

I looked up in the owners manual what that symbol meant last time it happened and I remember it saying something about a timing chain error. But the dealership checked the car and couldn't find anything wrong...

 

Can you take your battery in to get a load test. We haven't had the same exact problem, but we had some weird electrical issues that came down to replacing the factory battery.

Have you checked all your fuses?

 

All electronics are stock and the fuses are still good...
I was caught off guard when it happened but if it happens again Ill make sure to check things out right away.

 

i had this happen to me yesterday. i think it has to do with the factory battery. i heard its pretty weak.

i was going about 65 in 5th gear. i had the a/c on, a gps plugged in, music on, etc, so there was a lot of things using the battery.

i flicked on the headlights and the car jolted briefly, and in red a message came up that said "check". im thinking that happens when the voltage goes too low. im thinking its the battery

 

Do you guys all have the HID headlights? The HID ballasts and ignitors use a lot of power very briefly to light the bulbs when you flip the switch, then the power draw drops back down to normal.

 

Yes, I do

 

**accidental double post**

 

yup, same have the HIDs.

You know, you're probably right about the voltage. I had my radar detector and i'm thinking probably the ac on (considering i haven't had it happen all winter since i haven't been using ac...).

Guess if it happens again it'll be time to get a nicer battery.