misc repairs

So after an evening of driving the "new" van last night ('99 Montana), I noticed a few things that I should probably try to get fixed before I take it on an 800 mile round trip journey this weekend. Sorry if this contains multiple issues, but I need to try and get them resolved as soon as possible or my wife will have my head!

1. rear air shocks are not connected. The little arm that goes from the sway bar to the switch actuator is just hanging down and not connected. The actuator swing arm is ok, but also just hanging down. I put it all the way up and started the van but didn't hear the compressor kick in. The compressor looked kinda rusty, wonder if it may be seized?? So question is, i'll be traveling light (myself, wife, and 10 month old daughter), am i in any great danger if I don't get this fixed? I plan on just replacing the air shocks with gas charged at a later financial point.

2. right after starting the car (like when I release the key) i hear a grinding type noise from in front of the steering wheel. I thought it might be the wiper motor or something, but it appears to be inside the dash. Anyone have this noise?

3. Love the van, love the leather!! I Feel like a pimp drivin it around and have to fight the wife to drive it!

Thanks for the help (I think I can fix that 3rd problem on my own... :o)

Oh yah, sorry but got a #4
at idle in park, with the door open (slider or other) the interior lights flicker unless I give it a bit of gas. Theres no volt light on on the dash, does this sound like battery or alternator? I drove it 150 miles yesterday hopin to charge up the battery if that were the problem, but it still does it. My lumina gave me a volt light on the dash when its alternator died, can I expect the same of the Montana? If its the battery, I hear its under the driver side wheel well right?

Anyone??

the arm doesnt matter if the air lines to the shocks are not connect. That arm is the leveling switch which turns on the compressor that pumps up the shocks. Alot of people are using the normall gas shocks but... If you haul alot of people or tow alot youll find the air shocks witht he leveling system alot easier to drive. They probably unhooked it cause the air shocks are dead or the compressor is. Get into that panel and turn the compressor on see if it runs. Of course thats if you want the air shocks.

That grinding noise might acually be the alternator hitting the flywheel. When the mounts get older the motor will rock back and hit. get a flashlight and peek in there with the key off! and look for a rub point.

The compressor in the back of the van does not work. I checked the fuse and it is OK. I tried teh compressor with the van running and with it off but key in ACC position. Guess I'm leanin towards the compressor being shot/burned up. The air shocks are very bounch, almost like they are non-functional and the bounce is coming from the springs only.

The grinding noise is coming from the driver side, directly in front of the steering wheel, but I see no rub marks. I found out the other day that the alternator has been replaced/rebuilt with incorrect volage regulator, cause it causes the lights to flicker, but no SES or battery light comes on. I put my meter on the battery with motor off and read over 12 volts, so its holding charge. Does the motor have to be roated to remove the alternator??

OMG I didnt mean to type flywheel I meant the FIREWALL I feel stupid now... When I took my alternator off I also had the intake off and the coil pack off. It sounds like the shocks are done for. If its all bounce they have leaked out everything they had left in them.