It's past time for an update. Having no garage, nor shade trees for that matter, I have been unable to do anything during the summer. For the past year I have been scouring the internet and posting in automotive and other forums, saving the responses, tips, and every tidbit of info I can find. Then, using these bits of information, I try different things in the hopes of solving it, so far without success.
The few things I have found and tried since my last post: I have disconnected and sprayed with contact cleaner every connection I thought may be related, including under the hood, under the truck, on the transmission, etc. I have pulled the radio, cig. lighter, and dashboard fascia looking for damaged or shorted wires. The only thing found was one separated wire from the factory radio harness to the aftermarket radio harness but that has been removed with no change. There was no sign of damage, just separation.
Recently, I have checked and verified a good and proper fuse at every fuse location. I disconnected the negative battery cable and connected a test light. It lit very bright. While watching the light I pulled every fuse, one by one, from the inside panel while noting no changes to the light. I did the same in the power distribution box in the engine compartment with the same result except for the following; when I pulled the 50A I/P fuse (Inside/Panel) for readers who, like me, might not know, the light intensity changed from very bright to very dim, but I don't know specifically what it means. Is that a good indication of a short or issue somewhere in the wiring in the cab? Could a bad GEM exhibit similar symptoms? Should I attempt to pull the whole dash out looking for a bad wire? Are there other tests I could do using a meter? Still looking for the answer.
