I have an '04 Pilot EX, with 135k miles. Just recently the guages have started to pop and jump when I turn the car off. It doesn't do it EVERY time, but about every 3-4 times I turn it off, the guages will jump. Maybe 25% of the time. I have not had any issues with start up, and the battery is only 3 years old, or so. It has resets the radio, as if the battery was disconnected, but it doesn't reset [u]every[\u] time.

Could this be a bad battery or can the alternator be bad?

 

Does anyone have any ideas? Electrically speaking, you have the battery, alternator and the wireing. In that system, what can cause the surging, periodically?

Could I have a short somewhere?

 

go to orielly/autozone and have your battery tested. and alternator. its free.

 

my 04 did it too it was just the battery for me they had told me the battery is good but the very next day it just completely died so i bought a new one and it fixed the issue

 

Sounds like a dodgy relay, ground, switch or sensor somewhere. Have you checked the Honda bulletins yet?

Very few things go wrong with only ONE Honda if you follow my drift (which is why sites like this are so great). But this one may be tricky if it is something that you did yourself to the car.

Unlikely to be the battery or charging circuit IMO. Have you installed any after-market accessories or toys? or... cut into the Honda wiring anywhere?

Is the key switch itself damaged, worn or dirty?

Does it actually happen when you turn off the engine OR turn off the key OR when you pull out the key?

Bob