general problems of the 2005 Ford Freestar

All gauges lost power on & off each day,until today shut off for good (4-10-15). Also, at first (Dec. 2014) lost lights on inside of vehicle & did not effect outside lights until recently when outside also out. Has happened multiple times since first noticed. At first signal lights worked, but not now. Also a/c & radio do not work, plus the doors, windows do not open or close as well. The only door which opens is the drivers door with the key. Sometimes everything comes on & off by itself, (even cd player & radio, but now does not work), when I get in the car to start it. I checked my battery which was still good, and put in a new alternator this month (April), but the problem has been going on since last December. At first in Dec. The mechanic said he had to reset something, and then it was ok for a couple of months until February, 2015. Then it began to start up again, and I replaced the alternator last month (March). The noise & problems were happening at random, crackling noise uner the dashborad and under the drivers side under the sterring wheel, but then it has occurred more often. As of today 4-10-15 they are all happening, so I can not drive the van now due to the lose of the signals, lights, and not being able to open the doors or wndows. I checked under the sterring wheel and saw a tiny light going on & off and then it went off and so did everything else which was working before. The noise was around that light area near a black box. What is causing this? I feel it is dangerous to drive the van.