<!-- from fixya rte -->WHAT IS UNDER A PINE TREE - Cars & Trucks

Plug in the lights to make sure all the bulbs are working. Starting at the top of the tree, intertwine the lights on top of and under branches. Work your way down and around the tree, hanging lights in the back as well. When you reach the bottom, hide any extra lights behind the tree

You have powdery mildew. Powdery mildew arises during dry weather and is most likely to attack when temperatures are between 60 to 80 degrees Spraying the affected area with water helps wash spores off the tree. Fungicides can be used to protect the tree or as a preventive to keep powdery mildew from forming. Pruning to remove infected areas.

A big one with lots of sap.

They have adapters on google;
Shop for adapter for female plug on Google

Pine trees seal themselves with sap fairly quick so you don't have to worry. If the needles are turning yellow and dropping it could be experiencing some shock or it may just be dropping needles for the fall.
If the needles are actually turning brown, check the trunk and branches for signs of boring insect damage such as hole with sap coming out.

probably not--- trees grow from the bottom up and any branches missing at the start are unlikely to grow later on

The plug wires on this model year and prone to burn through, replace them all, do one at a time and always put them back in the factory wire looms they run through, that is very important, replace any you may break. Use high qyuailty oplug wuires foractory parts are preferred..

vacuum them out with a shop vac its the quickest and easiest way

Sounds electrical in some way. Check to see if you have any standing water in the cowl just below the windshield under the hood. If so, there is a hole about in the middle, that gets plugged with debrie if you park under a pine tree or something. Most likely near the side is where you ECM is mounted in a sealed box. With standing water, it can leak in from under the box. Make sure this is not your issue. Take a look at the condition of the terminals on your starter. The water can be causing a temorary short to some exposed wires or condensation.