V8 I.C. Problems

[markallen at hannaford.com]

I think I know the answer on this problem, but I'll post it to you folks to
see if I've reached the right conclusion.

Subject car - 1990 V8 Quattro, 87k. I've owned it for just over a year and
have put about 12k on it.
Problem - This late summer I got a low oil warning on the check system. I
stopped the car, checked my oil level (which was fine) and checked my oil
pressure gauge while the engine was running (pressure was in the normal
operating range). I thought it might be a faulty sensor. When I restarted
the car I received no warning and didn't have a repeat for two months.

Two weeks ago the check system oil alarm started going off again. I checked
my oil (again, fine), and noted the pressure gauge read normal. Later,
while driving down the highway I noted that my temp. gauge had stopped
working and my trip computer was giving me a weird number for  the m.p.g.
estimate. That lasted a minute or two before it snapped back to operation
and didn't give me any further trouble.

Just this week while driving in the evening I saw that my temp. gauge was
dead, the trip meter was no longer giving me a reading, and my fuel gauge
was dead as well. This problem has popped up again this weekend, and tends
to correct itself after the car has been shut off for a few minutes.
Another new little strange behavior is seeing the seat belt light come on
briefly (I'm belted in, no warning chimes).

I'm guessing that this is due to faulty contacts on the instrument cluster.
I figure I need to pull the IC and use some contact cleaner. Can this be
done without removing the steering wheel? I'd like to avoid the whole air
bag issue if it is at all possible or feasible.

I welcome all comments.

Thanks

Mark Allen
90 V8
90 100 (still awaiting revival)