So, I did some searching, but I'm still stuck. I have an 87 Samurai.

I have a ghost in my wiring and I can't chase it down.

First my dash lights went out, and I noticed that at the same time, my driver's side/left rear tail light was out - no voltage going to the socket or through the round connector either. The right side works, and both sides light up with the brakes.

Some investigation later led me to conclude that if I disconnected the entire left rear light assembly, the fuse doesn't blow and the dash lights work again. Great - but then I have no driver's side tail light. So I just plugged it back in just like it was (insane, I know, considering the story so far), and the fuse didn't blow. WTF? So now I have dash lights and still no rear tail marker.

So I had 50% success. Then I figured I'd check on my turn signals, which were working before. Now my turn signals aren't working, but the hazard lights still work.

So - are the dash lights and the left tail marker on the same circuit? I can't tell because someone has majorly destroyed the wiring in this thing, and the fuse box map I have from Chilton looks totally off (the "hazard" fuse is apparently the one that was blowing, so that's obviously not right).

Can a bad signal/wiper controller (on the steering column) be a cause of this?

I'm going insane.

Here's a link to a wiring diagram for a Samurai that I've used.

http://www.acksfaq.com/samwiringdiagram.htm

I've had problems with bad ground wires in the past (some weird things were going on).
Hope this helps
Dave

OK, your very first step shall be to grab some Xylene or other flammable substance, soak that POS Chiltons and have a bonfire! Go to Acks Faqs and get a proper FSM

sounds like you have a bad ground location. You need to go thru and clean every ground location, not just the battery, but EVERY ground and light socket. Corrosion and or a broken wire will be cause of your issues.

OK, your very first step shall be to grab some Xylene or other flammable substance, soak that POS Chiltons and have a bonfire! Go to Acks Faqs and get a proper FSM

sounds like you have a bad ground location. You need to go thru and clean every ground location, not just the battery, but EVERY ground and light socket. Corrosion and or a broken wire will be cause of your issues.

X2!!!   

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