Joel, Mark and Ken, you were right on, it was the voltage stabilizer.
Changed it out and...Wal-la, everything works again!! Of course it took
longer to track one down than it did to fix. VW wanted $11 something for
it, but didn't have one, Radio Shack had one they "thought" would work
($1.99), but I would have to bend the prongs to make it fit. Found one at
my mechanic's shop, just walked in and there on the counter was a
instrument cluster from an Audi with a brand new voltage stabilizer. Told
Kip that was what I needed, so he popped it out and sold it for $7.

Again, many thanks.

Steve and Jo Ann Wacker
San Marcos, Ca
90 Carat
86 Syncro x 2
86 Audi 5000 Quattro