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Is this a sign the battery is about to crater or some other electrical problem?


Possibly. No experience with the F-150, but over on the Cougar boards the needle sweep on start up is one of the leading indicators of an alternator or battery on the way out, because at least on the Cougar the needle sweep also happens after the battery is disconnected or the ECU reset.

((On the Cougar, the needle sweep also indicates when the instrument cluster is reset to the "diagnostic mode", where some useful info is displayed on the LCD screens in place of the usual trip information.))

Mark 2001 Laser Red Cougar V6 ATX CougarFest 2006 1st (tie) Best Paint / 2nd Cleanest Car CougarFest 2005 Best Stock 1998 Contour V6 ATX 1993 Tempo I4 ATX