Chevrolet Repair: electrical, chevy s10 blazer, s10 blazer

Question
ok dont laugh at me like everyone else.  i have a 1986 chevy s10 blazer tahoe, with the wierdest wireing problem i have ever seen. whenever i dont have wieght on the front passenger seat, my guages go up and down, my cd player doesn't work, and my lights flash on and off. my engine also surges. it is a 2.8 2 door. i have taken up the carpet numerous time to try to find hidden wires or anything of the sort, but i havn't found anything. something i thought might have something to do with it, is the tranny is almost blown. it slips real bad, and when it shifts into drive or overdrive, it's just like i put it in neutral. but i have no idea why that would make a difference in my wireing. when ever i have to be somewhere and i dont have a passenger, i put a 100 pound sand bag on my seat, and it does just fine, but its a real inconveniece.  so there, hows that for a load, thank god you dont have my address, youd probly come over and slap me. please help the best you can.

Answer
Hello Jordan,
I think that is an unusual problem, but in no way do I think anything stupid of you, or the question.
Actually, I would guess that you live either near the ocean, or where they salt and sand the roads a lot.
I think you have a ground integrity problem.
The battery ground cable connects to the engine block. Make sure both ends of that cable are clean and tight.
Then, at the rear of the engine, on the passengers side, there should be a ground strap from the engine to the firewall.
I suspect that wire is missing, or in bad shape.
I believe what you need to do is get some good grounds.

You can make them yourself, or get some bonding straps at a parts store. They usually look like braided flat wires.
You can use just ground cables with lugs on each end.
Where you connect them, scrape the paint to bare metal, and use star washers if you can find them, or lock washers.
Connect a strap or wire from the engine to the frame. You can use the same connection on the engine where the battery cable connects, and any hole in the frame that you can stick a bolt and nut through.....clean and tight. Don't stretch the wire tight, leave enough slack for engine movement.
Run another wire from the engine, or that frame connection, to the firewall....clean and tight.
You can run another to a fender or radiator support.

You won't hurt anything by adding more grounds, especially where things like the body is mounted to the frame with rubber shock support bushings.

Right now, you may have circuits grounding through "U"joints and motormounts, and that is not good.

Probably the reason the hundred pounds is necessary is to hold the body down against the mounting bolts.

You can also go to the following site, and ask the question.
http://www.chevytalk.org/

Please let me know if this helps you out.

Fixitfox33@sbcglobal.net

Van