OKAY I've given it some time just to be sure, because last time when I declared victory, it was a little too soon. This time I can now say we are victorious! The backup lights are working, the batt is staying strong ..all the problems have vanished. Thanks to all those awesome tips, I got nearly everything solved.

I say nearly because I have one question remaining. How do you change the bulb in those small side marker lights? The marker light on my front pass side is out and since it was always working before( ..and now isn't), I'm figuring that the bulb has gone bad. I have opened it up, but looking at it I can't see how you remove the bulb. What say you? Thanks