So I tore apart the dash today and swapped out the plain backlight bulbs in the cluster and climate controls for green LEDs. .. Almost a complete success, lol. Not sure what's going on with the fuel gauge. LEDs say you can get them "backwards" so maybe? The housing connection could be messed up too. Since I have to tear half the same shit off to swap in a "new" dimmer switch (Sunday), I'll just pull the cluster again and test that bulb/connection, see if I can't get it working. #DIY
I also pulled the blower motor out and checked it over to see why it was making a strange noise. Ran it while I held it and didn't see any wobbles or other reasons for the noise. Looked in the housing, just a bunch of leaves and shit in there, all up on the HEATER CORE, eek. Cleaned out the debris then stuck the motor back in and had partner run it while I held it in place, no more strange noise. So it was just the crap in there. Glad I didn't have to replace it or the heater core. yet. #DIY