Flickering warning lights

[Cool09]

My issue is that after driving for about 1/2 an hour, 3 warning lights start to flicker on and off.

The A/T temp light, the battery light, and a light that looks like ( ! )

I just got the car recently (98 Talon TSi AWD), and am in the process of doing all maintenance, I'll be changing the trans fluid this weekend probably. It makes sense that if the trans fuild has been neglected it might get hot after a while. That doesn't explain why all 3 lights show up at once though, they flicker perfectly in unison. Do I likely have a short in the cluster?

 

[undefined0000]

Sounds like a short, unless you're overheating your trans and at the same time, fouling out your ALT and having brake issues . Would be a hell of a time.

 

[Diamond Star Werks]

Check your alternator its probably dying. Should be 14- 14.2 @ idle. If you turn the heater on high and voltage drops below 13.5 its bad. Check at the battery and the + stud in the back of the ALT.

 

[spadepro22]

Yep, had the same thing happen to me once and it was my alternator. At night my interior and gage lights would get dim as my rpms dropped lower. Make sure your battery cables haven't come loose also.

 

[AngelOfPassion]

+1 on the alternator. It will put up a specific dash light pattern intermittently when one of the diodes inside the alt is going out.

 

[undefined0000]

Now I know what to look for when my ALT starts dying, never had what's described happen to me before.

 

[Cool09]

Thanks guys, I'll test the alternator this weekend. I'd rather it be the alternator than the trans anyway (will still change trans fluid of course).

That makes sense actually, as my ventilation fans seem to fluctuate with rpm.

If it is the alternator... what brand would you go with?

 

[spadepro22]

If it is the alternator... what brand would you go with?

My AutoZone(limited lifetime warranty I think) has worked pretty good so far. I have tried a rebuilt one and that didn't work out at all. For future references, if you don't know already, don't use autozone parts for everything.

 

[Diamond Star Werks]

If it were me knowing the issue the alt have if i didn't get it from a dealer I'd get it from carquest. Their parts are 9/10 better than other part stores. Oriellys after them, then advance auto, then autozone. Advance auto and autozone are about the same. I've been told autozone ppl have better/more training than advance but parts are the same really.