Issue appeared recently when I'm driving the dashboard lights flash up and go away I have attached a video.

https://youtu.be/Wv7XkTLVGHY

Would that be a alternator because I've changed the battery last year.  

Possible alternator or cluster issue, see if theres any codes try and use FORscan rather than a generic reader. If they come on and stay on thump the top of the dash, if they disappear its a cluster fault. Easily repairable.

That looks like you have a faulty ABS wheel sensor.

You need to use FORScan and check for any DTC's but there may not be any stored just yet.

18 hours ago, Jimpster said:

Possible alternator or cluster issue, see if theres any codes try and use FORscan rather than a generic reader. If they come on and stay on thump the top of the dash, if they disappear its a cluster fault. Easily repairable.

They have never stayed on before just flickering like that video I attached. 

14 hours ago, unofix said:

That looks like you have a faulty ABS wheel sensor.

You need to use FORScan and check for any DTC's but there may not be any stored just yet.

A faulty ABS can trip my radio on and off? 

Check the battery terminals and the main chassis earth.  If they're good, check the GEM plugs (interior fusebox).  If that doesn't help, cluster is the next most likely issue.

Out of interest, I don't suppose you could see whether the fog lights were actually flashing or whether it was just the cluster tell-tale?

16 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

Check the battery terminals and the main chassis earth.  If they're good, check the GEM plugs (interior fusebox).  If that doesn't help, cluster is the next most likely issue.

Out of interest, I don't suppose you could see whether the fog lights were actually flashing or whether it was just the cluster tell-tale?

Thanks for the detailed reply 😃

Also what fuses am I checking? 

I will go check then now man thank you! I don't know if the fogs were flashing to be honest just it trips the radio on and off when driving 

If you fix it, please let us know because I got something similar on my MK2, and it's driving me crazy. Radio restarts and dash lights turn on and off (Handbrake, Airbag, Oil etc.).

I have checked and replaced the fuses. Also unplugged/wiggled the connectors, but nothing seems to manually trigger it. It only happens randomly and periodically.

1 hour ago, ntelas said:

If you fix it, please let us know because I got something similar on my MK2, and it's driving me crazy...

 

Your car is a prime suspect for the instrument cluster solder issue. Your generation of car Ford used a lead fee solder to save the dolphin. This worked great for a while, but over time, the solder dries out, and causes multiple electronic glitches, as it all flows through the instrument cluster. Not an expensive repair, £70/£90. Just search Ebay for someone local to you to carry out a re-solder on it.

couple of guys on FB, Richard Aaron Beetwell or Ollie Jones highly recommended have dealt with both.

22 minutes ago, Jimpster said:

couple of guys on FB, Richard Aaron Beetwell or Ollie Jones highly recommended have dealt with both.

I noted that the poster was 'non UK', hence the suggestion for him to Ebay someone local...

1 hour ago, StephenFord said:

Your car is a prime suspect for the instrument cluster solder issue. Your generation of car Ford used a lead fee solder to save the dolphin. This worked great for a while, but over time, the solder dries out, and causes multiple electronic glitches, as it all flows through the instrument cluster. Not an expensive repair, £70/£90. Just search Ebay for someone local to you to carry out a re-solder on it.

I took the car to an electrician and he did re soldier the cluster. So it's not that one. They also replaced the ignition switch to no avail. 

My ground cable on the chassis is a bit corroded looking so I may need to clean it up and see what the story is then. 

4 hours ago, ntelas said:

If you fix it, please let us know because I got something similar on my MK2, and it's driving me crazy. Radio restarts and dash lights turn on and off (Handbrake, Airbag, Oil etc.).

I have checked and replaced the fuses. Also unplugged/wiggled the connectors, but nothing seems to manually trigger it. It only happens randomly and periodically.

I will let you know if I fix it and what I done 👍

Since I have the same problem I think I can get away with asking a question and providing some more information. Sorry if it's not appropriate. 

I just got off the car driving for an hour. It was mostly fine while going at the destination (only did flash the airbag light once). Now at the return, it went crazy. Lights flashed intermittently 4-6 times in the last 10 minutes of the drive. Radio did restart each time also. Keep in mind it started raining hard. 

When I parked , the passenger door opened and suddenly the radio started doing crackling sounds until it eventually turned itself off(while the ignition was on position 1). That last part with thr radio is new to me. Also the only speakers that are working are the right front. Last week suddenly they all worked for a brief 10 minutes and then went off again. 

I don't know if the issues are interconnected of its just a coincidence that the radio goes off, but I wanted to provide that info. (I also tried another radio unit but speakers were off as well). 

2 minutes ago, ntelas said:

Since I have the same problem I think I can get away with asking a question and providing some more information. Sorry if it's not appropriate. 

I just got off the car driving for an hour. It was mostly fine while going at the destination (only did flash the airbag light once). Now at the return, it went crazy. Lights flashed intermittently 4-6 times in the last 10 minutes of the drive. Radio did restart each time also. Keep in mind it started raining hard. 

When I parked , the passenger door opened and suddenly the radio started doing crackling sounds until it eventually turned itself off(while the ignition was on position 1). That last part with thr radio is new to me. Also the only speakers that are working are the right front. Last week suddenly they all worked for a brief 10 minutes and then went off again. 

I don't know if the issues are interconnected of its just a coincidence that the radio goes off, but I wanted to provide that info. (I also tried another radio unit but speakers were off as well). 

I just watched this video today and it's explained alot give it a watch it may help you 

 

https://youtu.be/rl1pLG0sETM

3 minutes ago, Jcwutang92 said:

I just watched this video today and it's explained alot give it a watch it may help you 

 

https://youtu.be/rl1pLG0sETM

It would, except he's already insistent that an electrician already re soldered his instrument cluster...

That's a very true point lol 

 

Well as I said before if I find out what's wrong with mine I will let yous know

I have also sanded the battery ground wire as well. One of the first things I did, and of course it wasn't going to be that easy.. 

I think I've narrowed down the issue to one cable (that I don't know where it is). Just went to the car and turned key to position 1. Radio started as normal. Then I open the passenger door and radio turned off like I had turned the key off! Then I manually turned on the radio again and there was no time. When I turned the key to off then pos1 again, it got its time instantly. 

So the same thing that causes this to happen Is the one that "tells" all the modules to re-initiate while driving! It's like a cable that informs the GEM that the ignition is on, as I understand. By the way, I have DTC D900 in the dash when entering the hidden menu. I am also losing the cruise control function randomly while driving.

That's all assumptions as I don't have a clue about cars.

10 minutes ago, ntelas said:

I think I've narrowed down the issue to one cable (that I don't know where it is). Just went to the car and turned key to position 1. Radio started as normal. Then I open the passenger door and radio turned off like I had turned the key off! Then I manually turned on the radio again and there was no time. When I turned the key to off then pos1 again, it got its time instantly. 

So the same thing that causes this to happen Is the one that "tells" all the modules to re-initiate while driving! It's like a cable that informs the GEM that the ignition is on, as I understand. By the way, I have DTC D900 in the dash when entering the hidden menu. I am also losing the cruise control function randomly while driving.

That's all assumptions as I don't have a clue about cars.

Has your GEM been opened up and checked internally for cracked solder or corrosion?

37 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

Has your GEM been opened up and checked internally for cracked solder or corrosion?

Nope. I have however sprayed contact spray on some of the connectors and swapped every little fuse there. 

I want to take off the GEM and clean every little contact, but I am afraid to break something. Do you think it's easy to open it up and check for corrosion inside? I can follow this video and then unscrew the bolts to access it if it's considered easy.  

2 hours ago, ntelas said:

Nope. I have however sprayed contact spray on some of the connectors and swapped every little fuse there. 

I want to take off the GEM and clean every little contact, but I am afraid to break something. Do you think it's easy to open it up and check for corrosion inside? I can follow this video and then unscrew the bolts to access it if it's considered easy.  

It's not difficult, but it is risky.  If something is already cracked or loose, trying to open it can finish it off!

9 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

It's not difficult, but it is risky.  If something is already cracked or loose, trying to open it can finish it off!

Well, I took it off, sprayed contact spray on both male and female connectors. Let it dry for half an hour and then put it back in. Now I have some problems. No outside air temperature-climate. Dome lights constantly on, no central locking, handbrake light stays on. 

Currently I took it back out to let it dry completely. Let's see how this goes! 

The temperature thing is what worries me. I never had a temperature reading with the engine off anyway. It only showed when I was either pressing clutch, opening a door etc. Now that I don't have it even when the engine is running looks like it totally broke! 

This car is a mystery and I hate it! 

Update! The small long connectors were not plugged in fully! Today I learned that I have to constantly apply force when locking the mechanism. They were locked, but not in the right depth. 🙄

For now all I can confirm is that the car is in the state it was before I tried any of this. To see if cleaning the contacts fix anything, I will have to drive it for a few hours/days. (Update: It already did it, so it didn't get fixed) 

@Jcwutang92did you get your ground cable cleaned? Any news? I also have a question about your car. Is the outside temperature reading constantly showing when you don't have the ignition on? Mine displays dashes when the key is either off the ignition or in position one. Sometimes it displays even when it's off, but rarely. Like there is a weak connection somewhere, and without 14 volts it doesn't get through. 

Here is a better look at it.