Help With New Instrument Cluster, please

[pjmoreland]

I just tested a factory gauge, and it goes directly to the empty mark when the tan wire post is connected to ground and the other posts are connected to power and ground.

These gauges generally stay where they were last positioned when power is removed. Under normal circumstances, I don't see how the gauge would end up pointing off to the left like yours. It should be somewhere between empty and full, and possibly as far clockwise as 3:00 if the tan wire is disconnected. Makes me think your gauge isn't getting either power or ground.