Dashlight Disco + Slipping Tranny

[MrMook]

Ok. This is totally weird.
First: I get in the 96 Cavalier (automatic), and it wont start. Turn the key a few more times, and nothing but slow, weak attempts at turning over. Eventually, it starts, and continutes to start a few more times, so i figure its all good.
So i drive to the diner.
Leaving the diner, car starts, but with some hesitation. As i'm pulling onto the main street, i notice my dash lights: EVERY warning light comes on at once....then they all dissapear at once. This keeps happening at random intervals. When the warning lights come on, the Tach needle drops to zero, then back up to 3grand or whatever the car is doing. My RPMs diddnt drop, just the needle. ALSO: ETS OFF light is on constantly, as well as the THEFT SYSTEM light...these stayed on the entire time.
Now, 5 minutes into the drive, while all this blinking is going on, my RPM's suddenly shoot up, and the transmission starts to slip. This car is Auto, but it almost feels as if i was deliberately slipping the clutch on a standard car.....the engine was revving, and i was moving....a little.....but not all the power was transfering, so i was going pretty slow.

Whats going on? Is this electrical? Computer based?

[Cold_Silence]

It could be either computer or electrical based as you said. Let the car idle for a good 15 minutes with lights and stereo off so the battery can rejuvinate. Then unplug the positive lead to the battery and let it sit for 45- an hour, this should reset the system. See if that works, if not you might have to get the "brain" checked out, could be a seasoned computer. Good luck.

Also check the fuses, the disco party could be some bad fuses..

[mwolvin]

Sounds like the starter is going bad as well. Although the difficulty starting could also be from low voltage.

[GoHeels222]

My sister had a problem like the one in the first part of your post..her battery terminal wasnt connected tight enough and w/e she hit a bump or anything all her lights would turn on/off and car would die for a couple seconds...I guess you can try that.