So finally got an update on this thing...Found out today that, the 02 sensor connector and some wiring, along with another bunch of 4 wires itself wrapped in a little bundle through a bracket thing, were toast...Literally. They had melted themselves to a crisp against the exhaust somewhere near the header collector.
So I...went to a junkyard, cut off the connector section off a wiring harness for the o2 sensor only...used one of old previous o2 sensors off my s10 (same setup) installed it, cut and spliced the new connector I bought from the junkyard onto the existing wiring after the burnt section was cut out...and re-installed that o2 sensor with its new connector and wiring. I also, couldn't for the life of me get enough room to splice in new wiring for the other 4 wires that were burnt....So I separated those 4 wires and put tape all the way around them, put part of a spark plug heat sleeve around it...then put header wrap on the wiring anywhere remotely close to the header.
I also did take some readings today with the multimeter. At 1pm today, the voltage on the battery was 12.20. After a quick drive around the block it was 12.65. Today at 5pm it was already back down to 12.22. Then instantly after I took that last reading, I went to the gas station to put gas in it, came back...and it was at 12.65 again.
Did I fix the short in those 4 wires by putting tape around them, or are they still bad? I know it was one ghetto fix but I honestly had a really hard time fitting my hands in there, making any kinda clearance whatsoever, then let alone put a wire crimper in there to crimp new wires together after cutting out the burnt section. What do ya guys think?!?!
Thanks again for the help!