Couldn't make it's first oil change

[Snakeyes_Tx]

Well... I'm driving home last night and two things happened. First of all, my gauge cluster lights (the one's that light up the cluters) were fading in and out... from high, bright light where I leave it to almost a medium to low-light. It happened especially when I was sitting at lights, but eventually started happening the whole time while I was moving. The Altimeter never fluctuated and nothing else seemed to be affected, just the lights I can dim. Any ideas? BTW, the dimmer still worked on the headlight switch.

Also ... when I would accelerate with my foot kinda into it, I'd hear this *really* strange sound. I have no idea what it is, but I think it's coming somewhere from either the rear, or just somewhere in the vicinity of the middle underneath the body. Ever have one of those bird whistles? The thing you put the water in and blow into? It would tweet all weird-like? Well, it'd make that noise until I got up to about 20-25 mph. My first thought was brakes, but I replaced all the pads on al 4 corners recently... I'm kinda stuck there too.

Any ideas what they are?



------------------
Snakeyes_Tx
86 J-20 "The Rusty Dinosaur"
360/727/208/44HD/60 <- 2nd of all of them.
"If you don't know what the numbers mean, you don't need to be here!"

[wagdriver]

The 2 items that come to mind about your system are 1)check your ground to the body, from the negative battery cable to the finder well, remove and clean throughly. 2) check out the u-joints they can make a strange sqeaking sound when the they are dry.

------------------
wagdriver
88 Grand Wagoneer
135k and still going
K&N everything else stock
95 Dodge Ram 2500 360 stone stock

[BobBarry]

I don't know about the first problem, but for your "whistle", I'd suspect a small exhaust leak that turns the pipe into a, well, an engine-powered whistle.

------------------
Bob Barry<UL TYPE=SQUARE>* '78 Cherokee 4-door
* '88 Grand Wagoneer[/list]http://studentweb.providence.edu/~rbarry/wheels/

[David Simon]

Check that double joint (can't think of the real name) on the front driveshaft. If the ball in the center goes dry it will squeal or worse break and take out the transmission case. You'll need a needle to pump grease into it. I took the shaft off to work on it, I hate getting grease in my eye.
David

------------------
98 Cherokee (wife's)
97 TJ with all the goodies
88 GW
TFI Upgrade

[Iron Horse]

I had a similar problem with ALL of my lights (dash, headlights, etc.) pulsating from low to normal, turns out it was the voltage regulator and a bearing going in my (GM type) alternator. You could also check all of the grounds- my 88 GW has three: one at the batt to fender, one at alternator to block, and the last is a cable from the pass side of the block to the frame near the left motor mount. Hope this helps

------------------
Andy

Iron Horse:
1988 Grand Wag
stock 360, TF727, NP229, D44's F/R, 31x10.5 BFG AT's stuffed in stock wheel wells, and no WOOD.
soon to have:
BDS 4" lift, 3" body lift, 33"-35" BFG MT's, complete repaint and body work