2004 Ford Taurus suspect electrical problem

Car doing some weird things, dash read out is electronic, sometimes during the start up cycle, lights are lit on dash and staying on till car cut off and restarted, sometimes even then they will lite up again. Lights are check brakes. Fuel cap light. Are the most frequent. At other times it has displayed low oil pressure or door ajar. Sometimes I hear a chattering such as possibly a relay but it doesnt do it long enough to pinpoint where the noise is coming from. The vechicle has also been somewhat contrary starting since these problems appeared. It helps to crack the trottle a little bit with my foot for some reason. Sometimes after it starts it smells overly rich, like a vehicle that has the choke stuck (diesling smell) Got any ideas other than trading it in? Mike