Thanks for the replies
Bob
Calling it a "butcher job" is too generous. I was amazed after rebuilding the main engine harness that it ran at all. I did check all the grounds in the dash area and saw no unusual items or wires hanging.
Since the engine harness itself was in poor shape, I am worried that the portion of the lighting harness in the engine compartment leading to the two front light units is in as bad condition as the rest of the wiring was.
I plan on tracing that this weekend if I get some time. I have schematics on the car so I am good there.
TheEngineer
Point well made. The "engine" portion of the harness so often talked about is replaced. As noted, I suspect the problem is in the engine compartment exposed potion of the lighting harness. In the same area, the PO installed 14/2 nomex to try and repair the auxilliary fans for the radiator. That wiring is getting repaired this weekend.
All this wiring is in the same area as the ABS unit and I am willing to bet that the wiring to the ABS unit has the same problem (trouble light is lit on dash). I rebuilt the ETA harness using the following DIY article as a guide. My surging idle is now gone and when I fix the CC lever on my steering wheel, I will see if CC is back as well.
http://v12uberalles.com/throttle_actuator_rewire.htm
grrrr.... the more I think about list of little things (and big) I am fixing, the more I dope slap myself for not doing any research on the web prior to the purchase. Either way - I do love the car.
I report back anything I find this weekend.