Trouble shooting my sons 1998 ranger, we replaced vss on axle and input sensor on transmission and checked all fuses and all interior and exterior lights work. The speedometer will drop to zero after a short drive with running or headlights on. The speedometer works fine with headlight switch off. Gauge cluster?

 

Now it happens with lights on or off.

 

Could be a bad cluster.
have you ever had the cluster out before?

 

Had it out a few years ago to replace a few bulbs, but has been fine until lately.