lights flickering very slightly only when cold

[rick3000]

The ignition switch can cause all kinds of odd electrical problems since it controls the switched 12V power, you might try to check it and see if it is beginning to fail.

When the radio cuts out is it at the same time as the lights, random, or when going over a bump? Mine occasionally changes inputs after a speed bump, if that is what is happening I do not think it is part of the problem.

If the lights are operating independently of the radio it is likely something in the lighting system (perhaps a bad headlight switch) instead of a broader electrical issue.

When you say interior lights, could you be specific, is it everything, or the instrument cluster, overhead light, button illumination, etc?

Hope that helps you get closer to determining the issue.

[epapp]

The flickering lights are so unnoticeable that...get this...you wouldn't notice it until I pointed it out. I don't see any of the switch lights flickering, and the radio cutout may not have been a real 'cut out' like I mentioned. I was driving and once it stopped playing the radio instantaneously, like 1 millisecond or less. Maybe it was just static on the station.

I see the flickering in the cluster LCDs and the HVAC LCDs, as well as the cabin interior light. It doesn't seem to happen once the car has been driven for 10 mins/is warmed up. After its warm I try to have a staring contest with the LCDs and as much as I've tried, they don't flicker after warm up.

I have an idea that while the car is cold/the oxygen sensor heaters are on/whatever else is on during warmup, its drawing extra power and starving the interior lights and LCDs. Thats the only thing I could think of based on it only happening when the car is cold.

I'll check the current distribution box because a similar problem was the result of some corroded contacts inside the current distribution box.