fuel gauge needle?

[ToJo]

pulled out gauge cluster to replace dash light bulbs, re-installed lights work great! where the hell did my fuel gauge needle go? gauge worked fine before this. i only pulled cluster out enough to get my hand in behind it to remove sockets. could it break off?

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

It may not have a good connection now. This is a common issue with how GM decided to make the contacts in these cars. Try pushing on the cluster with the key on and see what happens. If it moves, it is either not bolted in securely, or it needs to have the contacts cleaned or bent outwards slightly.

 

[ToJo]

pulled cluster out again, found needle tucked up behind speedo plate! once i freed it up it stayed at the 3 o' clock position. completely out of view. I removed the cluster assembly from dash, and kind of spread contacts out a little and re-installed. working great now! thanks for the tip. ofcourse now the R turn signal indicator just went out, figures!

 

[uneek1976]

You don't have any pics of the contact that you spread out, I'm having the same issues with my dash.

pulled cluster out again, found needle tucked up behind speedo plate! once i freed it up it stayed at the 3 o' clock position. completely out of view. I removed the cluster assembly from dash, and kind of spread contacts out a little and re-installed. working great now! thanks for the tip. ofcourse now the R turn signal indicator just went out, figures!