While driving home this evening my dash went completely black for a couple of seconds while driving then the lights came back on as if I had started the truck. Was slightly alarming while driving on the freeway at speed. Any one have a similar experience. Any idea as to why or what happened. Thanks

09' sc fx4 with nav if it helps

 

There are 2 light sensors in the truck. One for the interior and one for the exterior lights. Even though your dash lights went out, that doesn't necessarily mean your exterior lights went out. My dash lights have been off but I can look at my headlamp switch and see my exterior lights are on because the "fog lamp indicator" light is illuminated. Takes some getting used to but a cool feature with the auto-lamp setting.

 

Sounds like a glitch, not a normal 'feature'. Might never happen again.

 

It's not a glitch. Folks have talked about this issue on here before.

 

So this 'feature' shuts down the dash lights at night for what purpose?

 

No, not at night, but when there is ample light in the cab. For example, if I go under a bridge in traffic and the truck is shaded and I'm stopped my headlamps may come on, but since there is ample light in the cab where the sensor for the interior lights is located...it turns them off or keeps them off. If I am driving at night both interior and exterior lights are always on...it's just when there are two differing combinations of light that one or the other may shut off. "Say When", your lights didn't shut off in the dark did they? Or was it around the dusk time of day where there's still some light out?

 

I have the auto light feature on my 08 Expy and yes, under a bridge or in shade in the day the lights come on.

 

it was completely dark out. I don't recall if the nav screen turned off or not but all dash lights went completely black for what felt like 3-4 seconds and then they came back on like I had started the truck (all the warning lights, the rpm was at zero for a split second when the gauges came back on). Nothing else happened. I was on the phone and thought this is not good and then back on they came. It was very wierd. I have had the truck since may and have put 8k on it. First time. I'm guessing a glitch. Thanks for the input

 

I would check the battery terminals for cleanliness/tightness... If the Tach and all guages actually stopped working too, it sounds like the system actually lost power, not that the auto lighting turned off momentarily... I would check with the dealer too, make sure there are no shorts under the dash or something.

 

I forgot to mention also... If these trucks have an event data recorder (EDR) - kinda like a black box on an airplane - which I believe all newer vehicles are for insurance purposes, the dealer may be able to pull up what happened and diagnose it/fix it...
Anyone know for sure if there is an EDR?

 

I will ask the service dept, I am puzzled it was just really wierd. No other power loss, driveablity, and it fixed itself with out a hiccup??

 

Sounds like a minor software glitch, just drive it, if major will get worse.

 

That is weird. Did you see any bright lights in the sky around you? :P

 

Check for DTC's. Likely if low voltage, ABS pulled a low voltage DTC. Check battery voltage while running, make sure alternator is working properly.

 

No bright lights above me that I recall, I was on a freeway. My truck does have a moonroof. I don't think it was an auto dim though as all the warning lights (seatbelt, abs, etc...) lit up on the lights coming back on.