All of a sudden at times my heater and all the lights for my AC, heater fan, and rear defogger as well as I think my DRL's will go out. The car is not effected and my stereo continues to play. It stays out for a minute or so then I see the DRL light come on and everything then comes on. It happened once while driving and now twice when starting the car.

Anyone else have anything like this happen?

 

wow.. that is some crazy problem

so the DRL's (high beams on low power) will go out? but not the HIDs?

would help if you could hook up a monitor for the battery voltage and see if it dips...

funny that it doesn't affect the stereo though, which might eliminate a few things.

 

It could be something as simple as a grounding issue, though for all of them to go out at once, they'd have to share a common ground. I'm not very adept at the ancient martial art of google-fu, so I can't drag up a wiring diagram to check. Might a redneck wiggle test of the under-dash wiring be in order?

 

Could the problem be related to your stereo that was installed fairly recently (ie. bad install?)?

 

Check all of your fuses to make sure they are seated properly. Check your ground connections as ElDumbasso mentioned (both in engine bay and underneath dash/steering column). It seems to me it's either a loose connection or a poor ground. Everything you mentioned will likely be on one circuit, aside from your DRL's...

It could also be a Molex Plug that's loose as a result of your stereo install.

If this happens again try to pay close attention to EVERYTHING in your car. Make note of what you did exactly before it happens too (IE. sequence of events). Electrical gremlins are the worst, but this is probably something simple.

 

I noticed tonight when it happened my DRL does not work either. The highbeams do work but no DRL. I didn't check to see what happens if I just turn on the parking lights.

Before I replaced my stereo with this one, the stereo did this. Every once in a while it would like reboot. Turn off but turn right back on right away. The new stereo is doing this as well. Although the two things sound related, for some reason I don't think they are. I think I have two issues.

The DRL issue, if I turn the car off and back on this time it worked. But I see the DRL light, if I don't see the DRL light during startup, then that is when the dash things don't work.

I will check the fuses tomorrow. I guess it could be that but I tried jerking the car (gas pedal pump) and nothing...,

 

Is your car a US Import or Canadian vehicle?

 

I don't think that makes a whole lot of difference in MY06+ cars, seeing as though the American cars got DRL's straight from the factory too if I'm not mistaken.

 

US import and funny enough on my import bill it has a charge for DRL installation. I think I got taken on that one but weird that is where this seems to lead me. Perhaps someone did do something..., I will take a look at that as well in the morning.

 

Maybe it might be an idea to take a peek at the lighting relays then. I've seen almost the exact same thing happen when a shop decided the easiest way to get a vehicle past inspection was to jam a jumper wire around an existing relay. THIS VEHICLE HAD FACTORY DRLS TOO! Either it's a half-assed way to make a quick buck, or sheer stupidity in not checking to see if there's a system in place already.