IVR pulse at 4 volts gauges read low

This is off of the RTE website.

The 12V input would most likely still be connected through the internal contact to the regulated terminal (Center pole). If the feed 12V was disconnected at the barrell then the 5V could back feed up to that point right. Would it hurt that the regulated voltage was going back up the orginal 12V trace to no-where? Maybe there is more to this picture that I can not see!

Might be grasping at staws but I really hate to have to pull the cluster back out. I am liable to scratch some of that nice fresh paint up.