I need some help looking for a possible loose connection or bad ground.  My '97 Sport currently has fast blinkers, with no lights out and no change to LED bulbs.  The rectangular side marker lights do not blink when the turn signal is on.  The daytime running lights are also not working.  I have disconnected everything I could think of to look for an issue.  I have not tried replacing the flasher relay, behind the glovebox.  All fuses are good.  All lamps are good.  Disconnected alarm and trailer light hookup to remove those as possibilities.

With light switch in the off position:
No DRL
Front blinkers work
Rear blinkers work
Side / corner markers do not light with blinkers
Brake indicator on dash works with hand brake

With light switch on in any position
Headlights work
front blinkers blink so dim that the parking lights hide the faint flashing
Rear blinkers work
Side / corner marker lights on, but not flashing
Brake indicator on dash work with hand brake

Side indicator lights do not operate with turn signals.  There should be a ground on both sides at front inside of motor well (right where fender bolts  to fender lining).  I have had similar problem when ds wire broke.

Thank you BRD HNTR. I checked both of the w ground bolts in the fenders, cleaned with electrical contact cleaner, replaced a partially stripped bolt on the ds and checked again.  The issue is the same.

I checked both from side marker sockets for continuity to ground, with the engine off. Both connectors have continuity and were tested to the positive battery terminal with a test light.  I don't think the hot wire of the socket should have continuity with the lights off.  I started disconnecting connectors to see if I lost continuity to ground from the red(ish) wire of the light socket at any point.

Fuses removed - continuity
DRL device removed - continuity
Large grey connector at ds firewall - no continuity on ds, kept continuity on ps

Replaced blinker relay with EP34 blinker relay from my old Sidekick that had Led's. The blinkers will not flash at all.  The dash indicators come on, but don't blank. I received a work call at the time and didn't check the side blinkers themselves.

The ps blinks a little faster than the ds.

I did several things in the time frame that the blinkers went bad; drive through hood deep sea water (nothing in the cockpit), replaced front turn signal assemblies, installed alarm (removed), put dielectric grease in most connectors. I am concerned the sea water or a short is the issue.

When I had the issue we repaired a ground wire to ds side light and (I think) ds headlight ground.  As I am finishing up with complete new 06'wiring in 93' body I know that getting all grounds reattached was very important, and that is what fixed that problem.   Perhaps when you were greasing your connections you do not have one tight.  I was getting voltage feedback (from lack of ground) in strange circuits.  So double check the headlight grounds.

You may add up another ground for them!

Thanks  again BRD HNTR and thank you Rasmeidirtrider.

I will check all the connections again and then run new / additional grounds for the lights.  I stripped the old Sidekick down to the frame and engine today.  I kept the wiring harness, so that I can trace the wires back, if needed.  I hope that I don't.

Added a ground from from the front blinker wiring to the body ground inside the front ds fender, connected jumper cables from negative battery terminal to bolt in fender, and another cable from negative terminal to the engine.  No improvement or change.

I am going to be gone for a week, but will start again when I return. I am going to check the circuit from the connectors under the steering wheel where the switches tie into the harness.

Well, I was gone for several weeks, instead of one.  I haven't solve the turn signal issue, but I may have found the ac and battery drain issue.

My ac clutch trigger wire will engage the clutch when I give it direct power. The problem, is that it also has continuity to ground. It isn't enough to blow the fuse, but it's enough to prevent it from always working. It is most likely how my ac amp smoked a resistor.  I also smoked a few ac relays.

I didn't try the turn signals, after I disconnected the clutch trigger.  I may have time to check it next week.

I doubt that the a/c problem is related to the light problem, although if the loom is physically damaged, the damage could affect both sets of circuits - what I would be focusing on is grounding, and since you have already added fresh grounds, where I would be looking is at the sockets and associated wiring - make sure there is continuity between the base of the lamp and the ground.

The change that you're seeing when you switch the side lights on IS pointing to a ground issue.

Thank you Foredom.

I may still have my old side marker lights and their sockets. I will check the ground continuity from the lamp socket again.

I owe Fordem another beer.

I finally had some time to work on the Sport.  I pulled the turn signal sockets out and checked for continuity qbetween the lamp socket base and the ground, all good. I checked for continuity between the the socket pins and their corresponding wires on the connector, all good.  I checked for relay output to the signals, again.  This was also good.

I pulled the turn signal pig tails from the turn signals and replaced them with them with factory the factory pig tails, from the amber lenses.

The turn signals are working fine now. I am not sure what the problem was, other than cheap pigtails (lamp socket, wire, and connector. I am assuming the ground wasn't making a good connection.