Lately, when starting the car, I've noticed that the shifter's "D" indicator light on the dashboard has been turning on momentarily, and turning back off when the engine has turned over. I thought I was going crazy, and then I noticed it again today. So I turned the engine back off, and then turned the key to the on position. It turned on solid for one or two seconds, and then turned off with a "click", which is a sound I usually hear if I turn the car on without starting the engine. The car drives just fine, so is this something that TL's always do and I'm just noticing it now, or is this not normal and it's trying to tell me something?

Proof:



After about 2 seconds:

 

My '06 does the same thing. As far as I know its normal.

 

That seems to the consensus on the Accord forums too. I'm just wondering how I never noticed it before.

 

it is totally normal.

 

The gauge cluster is doing a bulb check when you first turn on the car. The "D" light is used to show tranny codes, it will start flashing when driving if there is a problem with the trans.