Distant Gunfire

I'll do some work on it tomorrow and grab a filter while I'm at it. I'll let you guys know how I go.

Yes the little hand is illuminated. Is that the security light or? Thought it may have been the check engine light? The missus just got home and said it started ok but on the way home she lost all gauges and same thing warning lights going off on dash. She pulled up to a set of lights, put it in Park and back to Drive and the gauges came back and all lights went out?! WTF? Very strange indeed! Thanks so far for the input! Keep it coming.

Hi everyone, New member here and new owner of a 2003 XR6T. I purchased the car 3 weeks ago with 220,000km on the clock. I drove it the 4 hours home no problems. The problem started this week when I get a call from the wife, the car won't start. It wouldn't even engage the starter at all. So I grabbed a spare battery and went down to change the battery. I get there and sure enough the car wouldn't start. When switched to ON all the lights come up but go to run and nothing. I disconnect the battery and put the new battery in. Same thing, no start. Few more goes on the key and it suddenly starts as if there was nothing wrong. I soon realised it was a electrical fault so I put the old battery back in and sure enough all was fine again. I checked the battery with a multimeter standing and also running and both the battery and alternator and working as they should. Then come last night! Driving to go out for dinner and I loose My GAUGES! The tachometer and speedo sit at 0 as I drive. Then the temp gauge falls to 0. Then the check engine, oil light, traction control light and various other come on! The car seemed to be running normal but I quickly pulled into a park and switch it off. I then tried to restart the car and sure enough, nothing. No run. After a dozen odd turns of the key I get life and all is well as if nothing happened?! Sorry for the long winded post. Just trying to give as much info as possible. Also to note the car is all standard as far as I know(says the last owner). One other thing is when giving it some heavy throttle at around 4,000rpm + the car surges or hesitates quite a bit. This was a inconsistant problem but is now always there. The car even back fires after a quick squirt to these rpm. Please help and thanks for taking the time to read the gibberish!!!