I've been the owner of a '88 Sammy since last October. I've had my share of technical issues since I've gotten it, and I'd like to avoid taking it to the shop anymore if I can help it.

My current issue started a few nights back. I was driving in town, when my oil light had been flickering when I would turn. I assumed I was running low on oil, and it turned out I was very much correct. Anyway, the battery light, engine light, and brake light all flicked on for a few minutes, and then went out for a while. Many minutes later, they came on again, and stayed on.  I figured some wires may have gotten crossed and caused a short or something. This used to happen to my 4WD light when I would drive on the Interstate, but that has since stopped occuring. The 3 lights have stayed on since that night, and when I got off work today, my battery was too dead to start my engine. I assume that short is draining my battery, and I was wondering if anyone knew where the wires would be that might cause such an issue. I lurked around the forum, but couldn't find anything pertaining to this problem.

I'd appreciate any insight at this point. The local car shop has swindled me far too many times.

my 87 had those lights on when the alternator was going out       so i changed it to a delco charges great lights arnt on

You most likely have grounding problems. Make sure that you have good grounds (check for corrosion, and "open" wires) from the battery to the body, battery to engine, engine to frame, engine to body. Having good grounds will most likely solve your idgit light problem.

Good luck, Eric

Applying Occam's Razor, it's clear that your battery, engine, and brakes are all shot.

  That's it Beercheck, way to help the nube.

Sounds like a bad ground to me too, I had a bad tail light ground and whenever I hit the brakes all my idiot lights would come on as well as all my marker lights. I sort of had an idea as to where to start because I had just swapped out a tail light assembly that got destroyed when a stump jumped behind me when I was backing up 
Norcal

Ever figure this one out?  Im having the same problem.  New alternator and battery.

My battery light just came on.  My Sammy's battery kept going down on charge.  Went to Walmarts and they gave me a new battery and said my alternator was not charging.  All the parts places want One bill,  went to my buddies starterr/alternator shop.  He replace a couple of small things inside, diodes i think.  Then my battery light came on.  He checked it out and it is putting out. 
so now i gotta a good battery and my alternator is charging.  And a piece of black tape over my battery light

a piece of black tape over my battery light

BRILLIANT!!!   

Well  I got the battery, sensor, and brake light on, but mine happened after a mud water up to my waste inside the truck, experience.  I disconnected everything I could think of and sprayed them with electric cleaner and let them dry out.  Its been over a week, cant still be wet.  I am going to check my battery and see if the voltage comes up when Its running, if not I will have to take my alt off and drive up to autozone on battery power.  Apparently the new system they have cant check your alt, if your battery isnt fully charged.

I had those lights on too one of the wires that are in the plug  that plugs in to the stock alt was broke in side the covering fixed it light went out

Well I decided to say hell with it and just take the alt off in the autozone parking lot and have them test it, its 2 months old, failed every test, apparently being submerged in mud water was too much for it.  Put new one on, and the lights are gone, and all thats left now is this intermittent  carb issue.

BATTERY LIGHT STAYS ON DUE TO A VOLTAGE DIFFERENCE OVER THE BULB, WHAT THIS MEANS IS THE ALTERNATOR IS NOT CHARGING.
CHECK:
BATTERY CABLES AND GROUNDS FOR CORROSSION
BELT TENSION
BELT TENSION
BELT TENSION
ALTERNATOR CONNECTIONS (ARE THEY RUSTY AND CORRADED DUE TO YOUR MUD PUDDLE HABIT?}
TEST ALTERNATOR DURING INCIDENT

IF YOU HAVE A ALTERNATOR WITH A BAD DIODE (SHORTED DIODE) YOUR DC SYSTEM IS TRYING TO CHARGE IN AC VOLTAGE. THIS WILL ALSO BE A DRAW ON THE BATTERY EVEN WITH THE IGNITION OFF.

REMEMBER, THE QAULITY OF THE REPAIR DEPENDS ON THE QUALITY OF THE PART INSTALLED. FIND A REPUTABLE REBUILDER AND WORK WITH HIM.

Well, in defense of my habit, I didnt mean to....