Chrysler Repair: 1987 lebaron instrument cluster, 1987 chrysler lebaron, chrysler lebaron

Question
the speedometer and fuel gauge stopped working on my 1987 chrysler lebaron.i have checked fuses and looked for loose connections on the electronic instrument cluster and cant locate any problems.any ideas?

Answer
Hi Dan,
You didn't say if you have the J-body coupe/convertible or the GTS sedan. I will assume the former. Fuse 13 provides the power for the electronic cluster on a dark blue trace wire. The pin number is uncertain: a drawing shows it on pin 5, the table shows it on pin 25, different plugs too.
If you have voltage to the cluster, then the other possibility is a loose ground (black/light green wire that attaches to the left lower reinforcement of the panel itself). The signals that operate the gauges come on pin 21 (dark blue wire, fuel gauge) and pin 6 ((white/orange, distance sensor). The wiring too may depend upon whether you have the voice alert or not.
If you have the voltage and the ground, and if these went out together, then I suspect the cluster may have failed. I believe that you can install a conventional cluster if you get the pigtail/plugs with it, and simply follow the wire color codings. It may be hard to find a working electronic cluster, but a mechanical cluster should be fairly easy to get.
Roland