[Kenwood] TS-940SAT intermittent issue

[Plastic Machinery Sales]

It's been for quite some time that the S-meter display lamp is unstable. It's never quite completely dead but I have noticed the intesity seems to fluctuate. The dim switch is still functioning, but the lamp can brighten or dim on its own. It's been only a mild irritation until... 

This week a new wrinkle that seems tied in. The S-meter lamp is completely out when the rig is first powered up. During this phase, the MC-60A is always on VOX despite the fact that I operate PTT. The control is set to PTT on the TS-940, never-the-less, movement of the microphone and backround noise initiates transmit and the VOX is active. At this time and intermittently, the meter which is set to ALC maybe either at 0 or full scale: it doesn't matter if there is background chatter or not. Simply moving around the MC-60A can initiate transmit as it activates the VOX circuit.  

After a sufficiant warm-up, the S-meter display lamp returns to normal and the VOX / PTT circuit returns to normal. Unless I am mistaken, the S-meter lamp and VOX / PTT circuit are tracking each other and giving me the problems. I am not sure whether it is possible I have a microphone issue here or not? Of course, I wish I did since it would be easier to troubleshoot. 

Any ideas that members have would be appreciated

73's   
N2GEW