Driving with gauge cluster removed for repair

[2003PATHFINDER2022]

Here's another lesson learned about my Nissan. I remove my cluster, send it to Miami to shop and have the Odometer LCD screen replaced to repair and pass inspection. I ask the tech if a car will start and run with cluster removed. he kindly says " don't hold me to it but we see people drive away from shop often after we remove a cluster. Take a chance and see how it goes" So a few days later my chick and I drive it to the beach since it"s the car with the surfboard rack. Drives fine, lights work, stereo plays all is fine, get in to return and no power to the starter but horn and courtesy lights are getting power, get it pushed off to start (5 speed manual) jumps off and away we go for about I mile. engine loses spark and dies. Tow it home put the trickle charger on it for 2 days. Just went out to check on it, head lights came on so said well here goes, twist the key and instant start run for 30 seconds and turn off. that's all it took to confirm my theory that with out continuous power running thru the cluster, Nissan in all their infinite wisdom figured a way to somehow disengage the alternator from functioning and simply recharge the battery! Why? What for? Anybody got any info on why an electrical system will halt the alternator from charging the battery? Basically I figure if your whole cluster were to go bad or the fuse blows out you drive until batter drains and then your dead in the water, why even design a system to do that, this would never happen in any of the old American built cars that I ever owned.

[VStar650CL]

Don't hold me to it, but maybe the internal regulator leaches logic power off the alternator lamp circuit. Jumping a 100 ohm resistor from power to the lamp circuit would probably keep it alive.

[2003PATHFINDER2022]

could be, who knows, best I wait for my friend to fly down with my repaired cluster and reinstall, thax for that idea