twice in the last two weeks now its seems like the instrument panel loses power for a split second and then comes right back.

I was on the highway and my gas gauge, speedometer and rpm needles all like dropped (like I turned the car off) and the exclamation point and abs lights all lit up for a second.

It didnt affect my driving at all, the car didnt shut off or anything. It kept driving smoothly.

Any ideas? Is it an electrical problem or an indication of a mechanical issue?

 

sounds to me like you may have a short somewhere. The car stays running?

Id check all your fuses to make sure theyre in tight first off..

 

sounds like the ignition issue, these were recalled on certain years, just do a search

 

check your battery terminals for corrosion. same thing happen to me, outside of terminals may look good but inside the clamp was corroded. Cleaned up the terminal and its been good for a month now.

 

u might have a short. my digital gear panel light and my mileage light dont work. just happened today.

 

Sounds like the ignition switch may be going bad. Even though the car stays running, the switch could still be failing. Try turning the car on and then jiggle the key back and forth a few times (lightly, don't actually turn it off and on) to see if you can get it to repeat your symptoms. If it does, time to buy a new ignition switch! Lucky for you, 6MTUA5 just posted a DIY a couple of months ago to replace the switch.

 

Ive had my car for 7 months now and the 2nd month into it, it did that while driving the on freeway. It was only a split second, then it came back. It hasnt done it ever since. I want to say its the ignition as well, because the same recall was done on my prelude and it would start doing that and eventually would get worst and worst. To the point where the car would shut off and wont turn on for a while. I really want to say its the ignition but I'm going to wait till it happens again before I take it in.

 

Yeah i had the same problem. I kept driving the car and the tranny blew. There are recalls for the 99-01 I think. GO to your acura dealer. Your tranny is cover up to 119k miles.

 

Personally, I would just go ahead and replace the ignition switch. You could lose power at a bad time or you could get stranded somewhere.

It's about a $50 part and you can install it yourself. There's a great DIY post in the DYI thread.

Also check on the recall status. If the recall applied to your car, Acura will replace it for free. (If it's already been replaced you're on your own.)