So I've been helping a friend for several weeks now with his 93 940 NA sedan.

It's developed charging issues, especially on cold days. I think all of the troubles are related to the connections on the back of the instrument cluster.

Key on: No lights on, car will start but won't be charging. Lights on, car starts normally and will charge normally. Sound familiar?

I've pulled the cluster. I've resoldered every joint on the flex circuit. I've cleaned up the edge connectors. These are the same crappy connections that cause taillight headaches for every 240 sedan owner, and the failure mode seems the same: intermittent.

On the latest rendition of the problem, I've again pulled the cluster and built up the 4 pins of the power/ speedo plug with solder. The edge connectors bite deep grooves into the copper pads and wear them away.

The result has been that still, sometimes, especially when it's cold, the connection isn't made, there are no dash lights on, there is no voltage to the small red wire on the alternator, and the car does not charge after starting.

So I think I need a base-model 93 940 instrument panel in good shape. Anyone got one? schwinn_sting_rays@snet.net

--Rob