Adding my own electrical issue to the mix

[franken]

You always remove the negative battery cable first. That's so if your wrench touches metal it won't make sparks. Also, it makes no difference to the current if the test light is on the negative side.
Never make any checks of voltage as described above with the cable disconnected. Voltage is always measured across something.
For the fuse issue, maybe look for something shorting as the clutch pedal goes in or out?

[rgunlock]

Originally Posted by franken

For the fuse issue, maybe look for something shorting as the clutch pedal goes in or out?

Seems obvious when you point it out. Not sure why I didn't think of it myself - thanks! I was kind of stuck on it being the printed circuit sheet for the gauge cluster which I always thought I should have replaced, so I guess and didn't think of that. The clutch pedal has a lot of travel and it right in front of the fuse panel so a lot of harnesses come into that space.

Pain in the butt, actually the back, for a heavy-set 57 YO bent over backwards between the bench and pedals in a lifted 4wd, but I made more of an effort this time to tie everything back from the pedal travel. Never found the actual problem in that batch of wires, but getting them further from the clutch pedal appears to have done the trick so far.

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction franken!