Instrument cluster voltage regulator

No, you don't know what I am talking about. In the center of that board on the back, there is a copper contact piece. It was corroded to the point that it didn't make contact at all or very little. That's the part I cleaned. It probably has had no affect, but since I had the fuel gauge out and it was dirty, I cleaned it. And there's nothing wrong with my memory at all. As ancient as it is, I know nothing about how electrical is put together. I do appreciate your knowledge, though,
I understand now and I apologize. I thought you had opened the gauge and went to cleaning in there. Most of the time a poor ground contact there causes gauges to go on and off with vibration or temperature change. Good luck with it.