I have a 95 Taurus GL, 3.8 liter that has an instrument panel gauge, electrical short problem affecting BOTH Fuel and Coolant Temperature gauges (at the same time) for the last 5 years.
This happens only a tiny percentage of the time and a sharp-hard rap to top of instrument panel usually fixes disconnect for a while (usually after seat belt buzzer (and idiot lamp lights) for a few seconds as it does in normal car start mode, but while engine/car is running and being driven). Now the short is getting more frequent. Usually after each gauges-electrical-short the Coolant Temp. goes to maximum scale and gas gauge drops by ~1/3 of true gauge reading.
I tried to check wire connection by removing gauge panel (from screws in front, including shift lever indicator) but couldn't get panel back more than 2 inches, without first disconnecting (analog) speedometer cable. I also searched owners manual for instrument gauge fuse, but found none listed for this model, only instrument-panel-lamp fuses were listed, but NOT the instrument-gauge fuses themselves.
Does anyone know if this is a known panel-gauges electrical-short problem and what the fix is?