3.2 Speedo light

[Guest]

Does anyone know how to change bulbs or fix the light inside a 3.2 Carrera Targa speedo - mines very dim at the top and virtually unreadable at night.

 

[Guest]

Ian

Bulb change is very straightforward - pull out the speedo (you may need to push from the back) and remove the bulbholders (usually quite stiff) to replace the bulbs.

You will probably find, however, that it makes almost no dfference! - I did mine and it didn't seem to do anything. There's been some interesting discussions on using 4w bulbs or LED's on the US websites (Pelican for example) but nothing definitive has come out yet.

Regards

Roy

 

[Guest]

I lay a flat item, like a rule, on the dashboard surface, and then use it as a lever for a screwdriver, with the blade hooked under the rim of the instrument. This way, you get good leverage, to pull the instrument out gradually, but do not mark the dash, or need to get inside the bonnet (to push).

I know that you can get UV LEDs (which, in fact, shine white with a hint of blue), and they are advertised as being for car intruments - I have yet to try them; maybe I will go and do that.

 

[Guest]

Whisch are the bulb holders though? I tried pulling the little round red fittings but they spring back in - is it the spade conectors at the top?

 

[plhorner]

Iain,
It is the round red fittings, from what I remember they are quite tight. They are held in by the earth contact which is basically a metal cup that springs into the holder / instrument body.
Have you bought new bulbs yet? They are quite strange little items that I'd not seen before. However I managed to buy a handfull from our local auto electrical specialists for a couple of quid. But as mentioned in a previous post, the result was less than satisfactory.

Regards,

 

[Guest]

Whisch are the bulb holders though? I tried pulling the little round red fittings but they spring back in - is it the spade conectors at the top?

Glad to see someone made the same mistake as me, and I've done it a few times already. The little round red fittings are attached to a metal tube - it is this tube that pulls out, leaving the connectors in place, and presenting you with a spring loaded bulb (hence the springing back business) at the front of them. This then twists out like normal car bulbs.

(I hope !)

 

[Guest]

Also, I rather thoughtfully produced a connection diagram for all 5 instruments, so I knew what went where after I got my dials changed to silver/white (OK, I was bored one day at work, so spent a few hours doing a Visio diagram !), and I still have it, in case you forget anything.

 

[Guest]

I'll give it a go at the weekend.

Thanks

 

[Evil J Guano]

On earlier cars the light 'knob' is a dimmer also, if you turn it clockwise the dash lights get brighter.

No idea if it works on more modern cars though...

 

[Guest]

Yes, the dimmer does work, but that's not the problem - thanks anyway.

 

[Guest]

Iain,
Don't forget to check if the instrument circuit has a fuse on it (retro fit)
See my previous thread at;
http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/fb.asp?m=2095&key=
Re; wiring warning.
Peter