Nissan Repair: 1998 Nissan Frontier clusterf$$#ed, nissan service manual, river nissan

Question
My '98 Frontier is crazy!  None of my gauges are working.  The fuel is pegged, the temp is pegged, al 9's across the odometer and the tach doesn't move.  I've taken it to Stones River Nissan, they're worthless.  All they did was tell me that the unified control meter was bad.  I bought a "rebuilt" cluster from Steve, the thief, at DASHUSA, he claims that he reprogrammed my new odometer at 130000 mile even. The other day I was clearing a misfire code over and over then suddenly the temp and fuel gauge were working, the odometer read 129856, how can this be?  I have checked every single sensor, power and ground wire that is related to the cluster.  The tachometer is the only thing that tested bad which gets its voltage off the ecm.  What could this be?  I have even tested the gauges step by step according to the factory Nissan service manual, the gauges act like they function when the test is performed, however once it is out of diagnostic mode they just go right back to their original position.  What should I do?  Like I said I have already checked all the wire which is a hell of a lot more than Stones River Nissan was willing to do even though they said that they did what Nissan prescribes.  In order to perform the test that Nissan reccomends, the cluster has to be removed, they didn't even take the damn thing off.

Answer
Eric,

If the new cluster checkes out then you need to look at the harness.  There are two things that screw up on Frontier clusters.  The cluster themselves, as in the unified contol meter, or specifically the power distribution on the circuit board or the harness itself.  If you remove the cluster and clean the terminals on both the harness and the cluster with a number 2 pencil eraser, by lightly scrubbing the contacts.  Also, you can use tuner cleaner and a rag by lightly spraying both the connector and the harness end and wipe the excess off.  Radio Shack sells the tuner cleaner.  Just so you know the Fronter and Xterra are both known for the cluster problem you describe and that is why I ask to make sure the DASHUSA cluster is not acting up.  I have gone to the trouble of taking both a part and swapping parts to get on egood cluster.  Now, if you have over 130K miles I would not worry about chaing the mileage since no one cares after 100K miles.  If you sell the vehicle just let them know.  I have about the same luck with dealers you have had...