Ok, if you want a "real" solution you are going to need to remove most of the dash. I would highly suggest a manual for this. A magnet rod would be nice too because you will be dropping screws.
Even with the manual you can expect to spend at least a couple of hours talking everything apart carefully. Find the wiring harness behind the cluster of gauges and take it apart and clean the connections with contact "point" cleaner. Then put everything back the way you found it.
Another thing, this problem only happens to me about once a year so the "hitting" solution is much more time effective for me. I've helped my friend take his dash apart on his Ford Ranger to change one gauge light. About three hours later with very sore necks we got it changed, all for one freaking light.