Flashing Warning Lights and Bouncing Gauges

[skinned-knuckle]

https://drive.google.com/drive/folde...L3?usp=sharing




See linked video. 2007 Saturn Ion. My buddy's daughter is hours away from home at college (closer to me than her family) and this just started. The warning lights are flashing on and off and the temp, rpm and speedo gauges drop to zero and bounce back. The car is starting and running fine so far. I want to make 1 hour trip to help sort it out if I can.

Any suggestions are appreciated. Could it just be bad/dirty battery terminals?

[skinned-knuckle]

two screenshots of video in case

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yAQ...ew?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1z0L...ew?usp=sharing

[skinned-knuckle]

By the way, I am not a Saturn owner but I am comfortable with car DIYs

[fdryer]

In general, all Saturn instrument panel gauges and indicators are driven electronically by the body control module. The bcm essentially runs everything the engine computer (ecm/pcm) doesn't. The airbag and abs have their own computers. The bcm acting erratically may be a possibility but before concluding bcm failure, check main power; battery, battery cables and their connections including main grounds for corrosion/powdery buildup. Battery terminal corrosion is dried battery acid, neutralized with a solution of water and baking soda, toothbrushed on to dissolve this powder. Water rinse. Ions use a rear mounted battery so a long red positive cable runs from rear to front, terminating at the Remote Start post. This remote start post serves two purposes; provides a jumper cable connection for jump starting (negative connection to engine block) by the engine instead of from the trunk and distributes power to the main fuse panel and starter. Check this terminal for looseness. Battery grounds to chassis and another cable (insulated wire or insulated plain braid) from chassis to engine block. If these are ok then check alternator output.

Standby battery voltage should be around 12.5v while engine idling should show around 14.5v. Below 13v, suspect alternator, loose drive belt. A battery over 4 yrs old should be tested at any auto store selling car batteries.

[skinned-knuckle]

@ fdryer: thanks so much for taking the time to post a reply. I'll check the potential problem areas you suggested and hope it resolves the issue. I'll follow up and post results.

Again, appreciate the help!

[skinned-knuckle]

It worked. Made the trip and cleaned positive and negative terminals on battery, ground to chassis contact points and the positive post under the hood. Flashing warning lights and bouncing gauges stopped

Thanks again