Instrument Cluster: Anyone Ever Fixed One?

Hi, and I'm new to the forum.
I did a search for this and came up with several threads where this same question had been asked, but nobody seemed to have a definitive (if any) answer:

1996 Deville, <60K Miles, garaged and babied all its life.

Driving along, sunny day, and the instrument cluster goes blank (completely) and the fan blower won't work. A few miles later, it comes back on all by itself.

A few days later, same thing.

Cadillac Dealership says they'll put in a new cluster for $700 (I'm sure they will), but is that the culprit?

Anyone have ideas where to start with this?

Thanks, and Happy Motoring;

Lawrence
Kittery, Maine

quote:

ORIGINAL: Geerhed

Hi, and I'm new to the forum.
I did a search for this and came up with several threads where this same question had been asked, but nobody seemed to have a definitive (if any) answer:

1996 Deville, <60K Miles, garaged and babied all its life.

Driving along, sunny day, and the instrument cluster goes blank (completely) and the fan blower won't work. A few miles later, it comes back on all by itself.

A few days later, same thing.

Cadillac Dealership says they'll put in a new cluster for $700 (I'm sure they will), but is that the culprit?

Anyone have ideas where to start with this?

Thanks, and Happy Motoring;

Lawrence
Kittery, Maine

although clusters can go bad, i would bet my money on a connector issue long before i lay down $700.

disconnect and spray the connectors with contact cleaner and then lube them with di-electric grease and report back.

Check for codes, Review rickyd's e-ghost thread. Posts codes 

are you getting any other gremlins, (electric issues) running in the car?   though i am inclined to agree with stomper, you have a connection problem...    codes? 
rickyd