Sluggish accelleration and dash gauges going out

FORGIVE ME I AM NOT MECHANICALY INCLINED WHEN DEALING WITH TERMS AND CARS!!!!) This is a 2000 Jimmy SE 4WD Automatic. Today all of my dash gauges went dead but truck was still running. At the exact same time, the Jimmy would not kick out of gear running at 2-high when accellerating (the jerk you feel when getting up to speed usually 35 to 45MPH). The accelleration was very, very slow... kind of like starting in 2nd or 3rd gear from a dead stop on a manual. I was driving down the freeway at 70MPH and RPM was 3200 and is usually 23-2400. When I slowed to 60MPH the engine revved up as it does when driving normaly in the Arizona hot weather (110-115 degrees) But it was only 97 degrees today (nice and cool in AZ. hahaha). I checked fluids and all ar OK except rear differential. I am changing that in the AM. My guess is transmission but not sure. I made sure 2-high was changed to 4-high as well as 4-low and back. I can downshift to 3, 2 and low. Gauge problem I am sure are in steering column as when I move the column up and down, they come on again. I was stopped and slammed the steering column down and the gauges came back on. When they went off again, I repeated and the same thing, they came on again. Check engine light has stayed on ever since this happened. My Jimmy has 175K miles and gets an oil change every 5 to 6k miles regularly. Any help is a plus!

Thanks!
Rick - Queen Creek AZ

The transmission shift issues are more likely a result of the light being on than any real problems. Because of the loss of gauges at the same time, I'd suspect that the Check engine light and shift problems are due to a loss of power to the tranny. Possibly a wiring problem, or a faulty ignition switch. We need the codes to help know for sure. You'll need to go to a local autozone, and they will read the stored trouble codes for free. Write them down and then come back and post them. DO NOT LISTEN TO THE ADVICE GIVEN BY THE EMPLOYEES AT AUTOZONE! They are cashiers, not technicians, and provide bad advice on a daily basis.