I would not expect your cluster problems to be related to the 5 spd.

The needle has a return spring that is not very robust, for obvious reasons, and my guess is that the needle just gets stuck.

That's the approach I would take if I was faced with this. My instinct, wrong as it is sometimes, is that the cluster has been serviced with WD40, and now it is "glued shut". One test for this would be to push the engine above 4K and then observe if the needle falls back slowly or quickly. If slow then the mechanism is gooey and a cleaning is in order. Consider that the lamps burn out and the display goes dark as a result. A previous owner went in to replace some bulbs and decided, "this would be a good place to spray something." Then you bought the result. That's my guess.

lol, look... see the mpg needle? the tach only gets stuck when it binds against the mpg needle.

The Fuel Demand needle is the wrong one. The needle should not go all of the way across the hub. The hub is supposed to be flat, and the needle protrudes from one side. There should not be a tail that comes out of the opposite side.

I missed that part.

I went out and looked at my needles, they are different. The tach needle is the same, but the fuel demand needle is different. Your tach needle is catching on the part that is different, therefore the needle is the wrong one.

But you still have troubles with focus that will dog you forever.

Here is my econometer needle.

http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/v...psx8qjalfs.jpg

That's it. Knew something didn't look right.

Looks like a fuel gauge needle was put on there?!?

This is the right needle.

:iagree:

Looks like my vacuum gauge needle, too...
That, and my Tach needle work fine.
'01 3.0 98k miles.
GL, mD

Atleast 4 in my area for sale.
5 speed manuals.
I have one that ive owned for about 2 years