Well, I used 1/2 of a jumper cable set to connect the Battery post to the exhaust manifold (ground) and everything worked.
I then went to the local stereo installer and had them cut about 3" off the ground cables and put new ends on. $20. min. charge.
Gremlins GONE! Even the idle is normal.
If anyone looked at the service bulletins just posted, one had to do with a poor ground connection under the dash. Amazing the level of faults just that one connection listed.
Anyway, I'm a happy camper again