Mystery smoke from gauge cluster

Understood. I did throw a wire ground on the cluster, not the best ground mind you, and did another quick test, with the ground on there was no smoke, no smell, and the gas gauge works, so who knows. I have a feeling I just smoked that wire in the gauge a little bit or like you said burned off some dirt, but so far it seems like it's alright. I just wanted to make sure it wasn't going to burst into flames when I put it back in.