That is the part that is tough to say. I wish we had a method of testing a known good one in your car. That would be the definitive answer here.

I have an SSE (NA) cluster at home in unknown condition.. and there'* the problem. It'* unknown. I wouldn't want to send one to you as a test w/o knowing it is good.

Overall..I guess I would put a 75% chance on something being bad internally to your cluster.

yeah you got that right, the weird thing is it will work fine for about 2 -3 sometimes 5 miles then it goes crazy again - (Sorry I have a simular thread on this under 1992-1995 (instrumental gauge cluster relay - true or false Sorry for the similar threads). If I purchase a new one, would the mileage be at 0 miles. Oh also it really didn't take long to do this procedure as long as you take your time and work things with a clear head.

I have done a bit of electronics dabbling (larger scale parts than the cluster) and have seen a single bad solder joint open up after years and become an intermittent issue. That is what I am eluding to in the prior post.

ToastedOats works in this size electronics and I think the failure rate is lower than the larger parts I am used to...but there is still a failure rate.

On the mileage, if you got another cluster. You could take it apart as you did this one and change over the piece that has the mileage on it'* display. By changing that one piece you retain your existing mileage.

Edit: On another thought... if I sent you the main PCB'* (circuit boards) from this one..you could possibly swap them into your cluster and test if that was the issue. But again..are these good boards I'd be sending is the problem.

Thank you Bill, what I will do instead is go to a junk yard near by, (Crazy Rays) and see if they have any (they go for around $25) and test it that way. My question is what if it works just like mine does for around 3- 5 miles and starts going nuts again. - what should I look for then - (possibly the positive wire on the battery? - maybe) all connections are in new condition and Optima battery - but alternator is still Original.

I wouldn't be looking toward the alternator unless you know it'* putting out substandard voltage.

Okay - latest news: I went and forked out for a new gauge cluster - (dont ask how much- expensive) I put it on and behold worked for about 5 miles and wa lah - same thing gauges going haywire like the old one. - dont know what to do now - any suggestions.

Did you happen to check the voltage?

Voltage is around 14.5 at idle and 12 without engine on. seems to be at normal operating condition