WTF is happening here

[etopsirhc]

driving home i noticed the airbag light come on , then the battery light , they flashed for a little while on and off all while my headlights and general interior lights started dimming, not long after the brake lights started flashing and as i turned a corner their was a big clunk and jar in the back end. this is a 98 ford ranger , the check engine light has been on and off consistently for over 2 years now ( encase that has something to do with it ). i have no clue whats going on or what could even be wrong , though i attribute it mostly to the car finally being paid off. if you know whats happening or is wrong please let me know.

[note: plz forgive me if this is the wrong place to put it , but idk where else it could go]

 

[v-8power]

I would say your alternator quit and you were running off your battery.

 

[doorgunner]

Is the battery strong enough to start the truck today?

Can you get any Trouble Codes to post in this thread?

 

[straycat]

I think that alternator has an issue. Check it out and check the battery as well. It could be on it's last legs. That's is the only thing I can think that would cause those issues as you were driving.

 

[robertc1024]

Like DG said, you really need to pull the codes. It will give you a place to start. Yank your alternator off and take it to an auto parts store. Almost all of them have testers to check it out.

 

[etopsirhc]

i dont have a way to get the codes but i'll check the alternator as soon as i can, hopefully today

 

[Rose2300]

literally all you have to do is go to oreilley's or autozone and ask to borrow a code reader. its free and takes 2 min