lights flicker on dash at idle.

v_4erice · Sep 9, 2004

I will pull up to a stoplight or just start my car and at ide the LCD where the mile counter ( Thats the Odometer right? correct me if i'm wrong) But the backlight on the small display will flicker just a little and it also does the same for the Ebrake light. Note that it does not flicker on and off.
It is like when a 13 year old has a 1000watt amp running his subs and the lights flicker all over his car because he is drawing to much power from his Alternator and Battery becasuse he has a geo that can barely make it up a hill. But the sub sounds good.[rolleyes]

That is what it does.
I hope no one is lost after that.....[8]
Should I worry about the flicker
does anyone else have this happen?
I did search for it too.
[thumb]

Focusedat50 · Sep 9, 2004

At what RPM is your idle? Do any of the other lights flicker?

disappointed · Sep 9, 2004

I've noticed the same thing. It's not that much, so I don't really worry about it.

sitlet · Sep 10, 2004

my car does the same thing. its even more annoying for me because i have 4 neons lighting up the interior of my car, and every time i touch the brake pedal they all flicker. it usually just happens at idle with my foot on the brake. i had my car into three different dealerships, twice at each one. they put on a few new alternators, pur new battery cables on. but nothing worked. i finally gave up on getting it fixed and said f--- it, i'll live with it. but just recently ive been talking to a bunch of people, and we've agreed that its either a bad engine ground, or a bad ground somewhere in the brake lights, since it only happens with my foot on the brake. one of these days i'll get around to putting a new engine ground cable on, and tracking down where the brake lights ground to and replacing that cable.

v_4erice · Sep 13, 2004

Great so try getting a new ground cable.

zslaton · Sep 14, 2004

if any one else knows the root cause of this phenomena, I would like to know what it is. I have noticed a similar thing in my odometer display since I installed my UDP, although I wasn't paying close attention before it was installed. I know that the Focus doesn't have an idle kickup strategy for low battery voltage or high electrical draw, so this may just be a low alternator output issue. Funny thing is that lights and stereo work just fine.

v_4erice · Sep 14, 2004

zslaton said:
if any one else knows the root cause of this phenomena, I would like to know what it is. I have noticed a similar thing in my odometer display since I installed my UDP, although I wasn't paying close attention before it was installed. I know that the Focus doesn't have an idle kickup strategy for low battery voltage or high electrical draw, so this may just be a low alternator output issue. Funny thing is that lights and stereo work just fine.

Last night I was playing around with electrical things on my car (lights, breaks, pushing throttle to 1000/2000 RPM, stereo, ect) It seems that of you rev your engine just a bit and the problem goes away. If i turn up the music nothing really happened. if you turn on the lights then it would start.
I wonder if the lcd is hooked up through the computer somehow. The backlight could also run off of the computer power. Becuse it does not take a huge amount of power to run it. So it is possible to run it off of the computer.
I would try to find all of the wireing diagrams and find out where the lcd is routed through but that is a tough one to figure out, and I am just lazy, and I am not a uber electrical man.[thumb]

sitlet · Sep 14, 2004

well, my problem isnt just the odometer lcd, its all interior lights. if i turn the dome or map lights on, they will flicker too. i also have neons under my dash and in my trunk, and they flicker as well, its pretty noticable at night. it doesnt affact my stereo, i have an aftermarket pioneer cd player and i dont notice its lights flickering. but when i had my stock deck, the green backlight would flicker. not only is this annoying, but im worried about long term effects on my electronics. with my stereo and amp, i dont want them to get damaged.

zslaton · Sep 14, 2004

if you are are having the problem with all of your electrical accessories, it shounds like a bad alternator. Are you running a UDP?

sitlet · Sep 15, 2004

nope, no udp. like i said above, i had it into the dealership when my car was still under warranty and they put on 2 or 3 brand new alternators and that didnt help. which leads me to believe its a bad ground somewhere. they said they replaced a few ground wires, but ive still had the problem ever since. now my car has 55k miles on it, so its way out of warranty.

joshandlauri · Oct 2, 2004

it only does it in mine when the 2 stage fan go on high. its draws 40 amps consistanlly not like a stereo that does it for bursts.

Tarsalus · Oct 3, 2004

I have the same problem with mine, but even the headlights flicker. I've been having other problems as well that are being looked at, such as: clicking noise behind the dash, and the battery light coming on. Just recently the engine light finally came on too. Somebody was telling me its a good chance that it is a ground connection. It is being serviced this Tuesday, so I will try and let you know how it goes.

sitlet · Oct 3, 2004

hey, if they fix anything, could you find out exactly what they did? ive narrowed mine down to a ground wire somewhere, but i dont know where. theres so many that could be the problem

thechad · Oct 4, 2004

I have the same problem, it is only the odometer display that does it, the strange thing is that it started doing it less AFTER! i put on my amp, but I have never had any other problems with any of my other lights dimming. Maybe they are defects with the displays themselves. [???

]

BONOMAN5064 · Oct 4, 2004

Well i have a audio system in my car.I have the same issue when i am poundin the volume.In circuit city they recomended a capacitor that stores charge so you do not power directly from the battery.Wonder if you could the same thing for your issue??

sitlet · Oct 4, 2004

no, thats a completely different issue. your problem is because your system is drawing more current than the alternator can produce. and DO NOT get a capacitor. dont listen to circuit city, they are just trying to sell you stuff. if you add a cap to your system, thats just one more thing that the alternator has to charge, and it will not keep up, adding a cap will actually make your problem worse.

back on topic, its wierd how a couple of us just have the odometer flickering, while others have all lights flicker.

dwdgsi03 · Oct 4, 2004

Mine is really bad early in the morning when I first start my car. Even my headlights dim. Ever since I hit about 15000 miles, it's done this.

Tarsalus · Oct 6, 2004

well, I've been to the dealer. They did replace a ground wire (not sure which one) but apparently that didn't solve the problem. So they have now told me that it is the alternator. (Which is what I suggested at the beginning - thankyou). I've got a 05 ZX4 as a loaner. I have to say I'm not in love with this car. The new dashboards look cheap if you ask me. I like the rounded vents. I should have my car back tomorrow, hopefully it is all better.

sitlet · Oct 6, 2004

good luck. like i said before, ive had 3 new alternators on my car and that hasnt solved the problem. theres something else wrong with the electrical system in my car

ouikikazz · Oct 6, 2004

well to add to the topic...when i have my headlights on it'll flicker from when im idle to when i drive, it's brighter when i drive...but i think its cause i have a UDP (same goes for dome lights).

lights flicker on dash at idle.

v_4erice

Focusedat50

disappointed

sitlet

v_4erice

zslaton

v_4erice

sitlet

zslaton

sitlet

joshandlauri

Tarsalus

sitlet

thechad

BONOMAN5064

sitlet

dwdgsi03

Tarsalus

sitlet

ouikikazz

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