Gauge/Dash Light Flicker

[LincMercLover]

I dunno about the whole electricty draw. My radio LEDs flicker with the CD player on at a stop (low rpm), as do the head lights get brighter when a rev is implied. Also, my Oil/Volt gauges flicker. Anybody else notice this? I haven't gotten around to hooking up the battery charger to make sure the battery is fully charged. But that kind of draw on a stock system may present a lot of problems.

[03 Merc]

You might want to check your belt tension if you are experiencing those problems.. Or have the alternator output checked to make sure it's okay. I do not have those issues even with virtually everything electrical running..

[Topher]

LML,

I've noticed my gauge and dashboard lights also flicker at idle. Have you found the cause of it on yours?

Chris

[LincMercLover]

It's gotten better over time. I guess the batter was a little drained before I got her. Front gauges never flickered. The radio stoped flickering. The only thing that flickers is the extra gauges when I fully draw on the system, but stops once the motor idles itself back up. So far, I've only gotten the Volt meter to drop to a little under 12 under full load, but it got herself back to 14 quickly and jumped to 16 after I let off of the load and came back down to 14.

[Topher]

Anybody else noticed their gauge/stereo/dashboard lights flickering at idle? They seem to get brighter & stop flickering if I step on the gas. Haven't checked anything under the hood yet i.e. battery, alternator etc.
It only has a little over 200 miles on it & I've only been driving it once a week or so. Could the battery be not fully charged yet?


Chris

[terryg]

I have seen this as well, I do not know if it is an issue or not.

[LincMercLover]

Go here:

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=536&highlight=radio+lights+flicker

[mtnh]

I found that the flicker was caused by a setting of the dash light dimmer being too low. Boosting that intensity level stops the flickering. My 1996 Grand Marquis also did this, to the point of where the indicators on the radio would completely shut off if the dash was set too low. This car actually had the electronic dash option fitted, and my wife liked the illumination level to be low, which would turn off the radio lighting.

When I noticed the flickering on the MM, a simple dash light dimmer adjustment solved it, without making the light level to be what I would consider to be "excessive."

Mike

[jefferson-mo]

On a car this new, this advanced and with all the onboard electronics ther should be NO fluctuations in voltage....sounds like a problem with battery,connections or charging system...
my car shows 12 volts with key on and jumps up to 14 when started..no flickers no problem

get it checked out

[WolfeBros]

What you are seeing is an effect of the dash light dimming circuit.
Your charging system is ok.
I have noticed it on my MM as well. It usually is at idle with the dimmer on lower settings. Once the rpms get up it goes away.
A ham radio operator on here did an electrical system analysis using test equipment and came to the same conclusion. (couldn't find his post) The charging voltage is not fluxuating. Its the dimmer circuit regulating voltage to the lamps. Not to worry mates. :)

[Topher]

Thanks guys. A friend of mine has a new crown vic with the digital dash and he has the same thing too. Sounds like the dimmer circuit could be the common culprit. I'm not worried about it, it's just the annoyance factor.
Mtnh, I created a new thread with this topic because initial replies on the HID thread were getting sidetracked. Sorry for the confusion.

[mtnh]

I know, the new thread was the way to go, but the pointer to the other one made me side track that discussion! WTF??? :^)

[LincMercLover]

OK, I got the whole HID and flicker thing split up. Should make things less confusing. ;)

[looking97233]

It's a ford thing, the interior dimmer. all my ford's have done it. Try turning up the brightness just a little.

[studio460]

FYI:

I only JUST noticed my speedo/tach lights flickering at idle also (on my bone-stock MM). Dimmer pot is all the way up (point just before detente for dome light switch "on" position). So, this is normal?

I am at 2,774 miles--not sure if it has always been like this or if it's something new (I first saw this thread weeks ago and didn't seem to notice anything!).

[frdwrnch]

New service message this morning states:2003 Crown Vic, G. Marquis, and Marauder flickering IP display- Some 2003 Crown Vic, G. Marquis and Marauder vehicles may display a flickering electronic instrument cluster display, radio display, and/or overhead console display. This may be caused by resetting the dimmable backlighting intensity below approximately 75% along with simultaneous vehicle charging system voltage fluctuations into the lighting control module (LCM).
Engineering is currently investigating, do not replace the LCM for this concern. Please submit EDSR's (electronic dealer service reports) and recommend that the customer keep the dimmable backlighting adjusted to maximum brightness until a service fix becomes available. A service fix is expected to be available during the second quarter of 2003, however may not be availavle until the third quarter of 2003.

You gotta love that Fordspeak! So is it 2nd or 3rd quarter?

[Wags]

Mine have been flickering since I've had the car. They flicker worse when the dimmer is at the brightest position. It's really noticable on the oil and volts gauges. Doesn't matter if at idle or running. If I turn the dimmer down some, it stops the flickering almost entirely. I think that it is a problem with the dimmer switch itself. It doesn't bother me enough to warrant a trip to the dealer though.

Wags

[RF Overlord]

Originally posted by frdwrnch
A service fix is expected to be available during the second quarter of 2003, however may not be availavle until the third quarter of 2003.

You gotta love that Fordspeak! So is it 2nd or 3rd quarter?

When I first got my '94 T-bird, the oil pressure gauge had problems...first the dealer replaced the sender and proclaimed it "fixed", even after the TSB said "do not replace the sender, it will not fix the problem" (it didn't... :rolleyes: ), THEN they said the fix will be available in the 3rd Q of '94 (I got the car in March)...it wasn't until the 1st Q of '95, almost a year after I bought it, that they actually released the TSB that said to install a "redesigned" new sender!...(which DID fix it, although I didn't know at the time it was a fake gauge :mad: )

[chrtra1]

Originally posted by frdwrnch
New service message this morning states:2003 Crown Vic, G. Marquis, and Marauder flickering IP display-

I was just going to post this, but you beat me to the punch. :)

[jgc61sr2002]

Originally posted by chrtra1
I was just going to post this, but you beat me to the punch. :) Thanks again frdwrnch and chrtal for your valuable information. I know you will keep us posted. Thanks Again John:up:

[kingsford]

Mine does that too, when i am stopped at a stoplight the auto meter lights flicker bright and dim. I am not sure why--if u figure it out please advise

[WolfeBros]

Thanks guys. It definitely is a known problem from several members of this board. Glad to know a fix is supposed to be in the works. Thanks for the heads up. :up: