misbehaving dash

[Sir Chad]

My 84 1.9 W/C is possessed!
oil warning light never lights up but sender is OK and LED is fine
flashing light on water gauge sometimes flashes constantly but level is fine and so is temperature BUT it goes out if I put the lights on
Dashboard has no illumination but bulbs are not blown

Is it likely that these are related?
if they are it can't be poor earth as the oil light switch goes to earth.

I'm tempted to re-wire the whole dashboard, having seen VWs efforts it will only improve things

Despite the gremlins it's still fun to drive
Chad

[missusjen]

Have you pulled out the contact plug and given it a very light sanding? Behind/below the steering wheel.....

[Mocki]

sounds like a earth fault.......

[Hacksawbob]

earth fault

not sure plate tectonics have much to do with it!
possibly leaky windscreen rubber water gettin into that dash pod. I guess if you've checked the LED you would have seen the crusty corrodedness