Weird issue when turning on headlights

[PNWDan]

I start my car and everything is good. Pull the knob for parking lights and still all fine. Pull the knob the rest and the engine and electronics briefly die then come back. Car runs great otherwise. It also stops the mpg gage. The gage pegs past the 40mpg. Restarting the car fixes it. It started at random but now it is every time I use the headlights.

[kalib0y]

sounds like something is grounding out when you turn on the headlights. Did you do electrical work recently? how is the health of your battery when you use the headlights?

[PNWDan]

No electrical recently. Im going to throw a meter on the battle and see. Im thinking alternator and its making borderline voltage.

[PNWDan]

Battery is 12 volts at a stand still and 13.9 volts during running. The headlights are HID in euro smileys. I wonder if the ballasts are drawing too much initially .. any thoughts?

[FLG]

Disconnect the lights before the ballasts, if problem is still present than the issue isnt the ballasts.

The fact that the mpg gauge goes 40+ and back is a indication the DME is loosing power

[PNWDan]

Disconnect the lights before the ballasts, if problem is still present than the issue isnt the ballasts.

The fact that the mpg gauge goes 40+ and back is a indication the DME is loosing power

I will try that. I was thinking the same about the DME.

It also doesn't happen if I raise the rpm a bit first.