Yep, that'* what I was thinking. I do the same sometimes.

Update! The mystery has been solved looks like. It'* been now over a week and everything works like it is supposed to. I couldn't get a part from the junk yard, they didn't have any, so I ordered a brand new cluster on ebay and wouldn't you know it fixed everything. I assume the old cluster had an intermittent problem with the circuit board or some of the connectors or cold solder or who knows what, but problem is solved. Thanks y'all!

Thanks for letting us know how it turned out!