L4200-GST Bad Instrument Cluster Voltage Regulator

[griesheimer]

Both the fuel gauge and the water temperature gauge on my 1997 L4200-GST have been flaky for a long time. I'm pretty sure the problem is the instrument cluster voltage regulator, which is apparently a built-in component of the instrument panel. A new instrument panel would be extremely expensive, and they are out of production, anyway. I'm thinking of cutting board traces to the existing regulator, then wire splicing a replacement generic solid state regulator that would provide up to 5 amps at an adjustable regulated voltage of about 5 volts.
That sounds like a lot of effort, and I'm not sure it would work, anyway. One alternative I've considered is adding an external mechanical type water temperature gauge, and possibly an external fuel gauge (which would require a matching replacement fuel level sensor). Does anyone have experience or advice in dealing with this problem?

 

[Roadworthy]

Once upon a time I had that issue with a Volvo 144. I solved it with a basic three tab 5 volt regulator. With a little heat sink it was good for 1.5 amps, way more than needed for a couple of gauges. You could do some testing with a power supply and a rheostat but most gauges are full scale in the milliamps.

 

[griesheimer]

Once upon a time I had that issue with a Volvo 144. I solved it with a basic three tab 5 volt regulator. With a little heat sink it was good for 1.5 amps, way more than needed for a couple of gauges. You could do some testing with a power supply and a rheostat but most gauges are full scale in the milliamps.

Thank you.