Tested the strip at no resistance, and it visually looks good.

Have the CCU apart and nothing looks odd inside, tested many connections ( went blind doing so) and the only iffy one is on the connector block on the fan side, where the 1st and 2nd pins seem to connect to a blob of solder right near them, except the 2nd one is "iffy". I am loathe to drop any solder on the board, but that the only weak connection I can find.

Thanks for the tip on the underdash /wall part of the wiring chain. More testing ensures..... its gettin' cold out!