Hi Joe,

Welcome to the cluster club.

If this were mine, I would remove the cluster, and then remove the speedometer from the board. The 3 pins that connect the speedo to board slide into 3 rectangular tubes. There are spring arms on these tubes that can be pushed inwards using a small pick or needle, and this will provide better contact at those critical points.

I haven't read other posts on these connections being problematic, but on 2 separate cases where I had intermittent loss of power to the cluster with tapping providing temporary relief, re-tensioning those spring arms solved the problem.

While the cluster's out, I would reach into the dash and re-tension the L connector for good measure. Ask if you're not sure how to do that.

It's optional, but an investment in a small tube of DE-OXIT may be worthwhile. I've recently come to learn that it's very effective. I've had static problems for years on my land line that was cured with a single drop on the connector.

good luck,
Peter

I have an 87, which basically has the same set up as the 88.

This winter there were times when none of the 'idiot lights' would come on, when I first started the car after a few days sitting The wagon is kept in an unheated garage, but I live in a stream valley, so dampness is unavoidable.

The clustler lights so far they have all come on after a brief warm-up.
But reaching behind and jiggling the conectionss to the board never got them to come on before it ran for a bit.

It has about 215,000 on it. Tho the OD stopped at 194K, about the same time I took it out of commuter service around 2013. So not driven that much.

So depending on your car's exposure to the elements over time and a general history...knowing that would help to make more educated guesses about where to look.....

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Have you checked -- pulled apart cleaned off the contacts in that Grey MultiConnector on the Firewall under the hood-drivers side. Also check the engineside wires leading from it for frayed/failed insulation, before they snakedown under the intake manifold and get wrapped in sheathing.

Hi,

The symptoms you have described appears to me to be the whole cluster is being affected.

You have failed to mention that you have cleaned all the fuse terminals and fuses themselves of any corrosion in the driver’s door hinge.
Since you so many problems with cluster, at the same time or separately it’s always good maintenance and a mechanics procedure to start with power sources going to the equipment.
I.E. “ Did you check the plug, Miss or Sir?”
If you clear that area of corrosion and weak clips by restringing them closer, then, you may want to give the circuits a look that are located on the back of the cluster.

There is a fuse link that goes over the top of the speedometer head that is held in place by two screws that you may want to inspect for cleanliness and the screw are definitely holding that piece of plastic trace down.

Of course, all of the other connections or plugs that you have looked into could be suspects but it appears that you have chased that rabbit far enough.

Keep putting forth what you do as we here on our armchairs need all the clues we can get!
(:-)

Phil