please help!! '87 300e - no tach, no oil press, no oil temp, no fuel level...

[lady luxe w124]

ok , driving home last night, stopped for food... almost home, suddenly...
- strange buzzing sound coming from the dash
- all guages in the instrument cluster cease to function except for speedo, economy, and clock

additionally, a mysterious, but maddening presence of ants in the engine bay and along the door sills

my dad suspects a dead rodent somewhere, but wouldn't i have smelled that?

i'm sure it's not food that's attracting the ants, as i am obsessive about keeping my baby fresh and clean as a whistle.

mostly, i'm concerned about the instrument cluster.

any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
thx,
camille