OK there have been a few changes since this afternoon.

I popped in a new headlamp switch and there was some improvement. Now, when I turn on the headlights, the radio shuts off, then after about three seconds, turns back on again for three seconds, goes off for three, then on for three, and so on. It's now an intermittent thing. Apparently I have a short somewhere.

Also, the dash lights now stay on when I switch to the dome light position, so apparently that switch was bad, but I still can't figure out the connection with the lighter. I am going to change the lighter pigtail either tomorrow or the next day and see what happens. If the lighter is shorted out then that should fix the problem. If not, it's off to the races chasing wires.

Thanks for the info on the manuals JWA. Going to order one in the next day or so, soon as I figure out where to mail it to. I am working about 2000 miles from home, so sending it there is useless. It's just another complication.