HELP !!! My '86 4x4 PU, 2.4 22r has had a couple of idiot lights coming and going for over a year. The "Brake" light and the one above it (???) would come halfway on and fade out then be on permanently. I figured it was just a bad diode in the alternator. Today, when I went to start it on my way home from work, the "CHARGE" lite came on bright and stayed on and my gas gauge was shut off showing less than empty on a full tank. I checked the battery with a volt meter with the engine running and it showed 12.4v. And it didn't ever go up, it started going down. I figured the alt. finally gave up the ghost. I replaced it, and it made no difference. Does anyone know what this is? I've run out of cars!!