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dim clocks help?

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I recently (Nov. 03) bought my 944s2. I noticed that the illumination of the clocks was very dim, even after checking adjustment. So, not knowing any better I thought thats the way they were. I have just looked at an American website 9xauto.com, which sell a repair kit which supposedly will 're-face the optical elements with proper material and seal the light inside'. Has anyone rectified similar problem or heard of such a kit etc. as I don't really want to start pulling my dash apart unless I know that it can be sorted?
Cheers. D.
 
Well. mine have all been fine, but I have seen websites talking about the problem so it isn't only you.

It isn't really difficult to take the instruments out - 11 screws and you can (just) get away with the steering wheel staying on.

The problem is supposedly caused by some silver paint cracking and flaking off - the bulbs sit at the end of a clear plastic triangle and the silver paint is on the back of it to reflect the light back in. Obviously the paint is very shiny - not just like silver metallic - but you could just try replacing it somehow?

My only problem has been the bulb holders in my cab which had lost their tension so the lights wouldn't work at all. I replaced them and cleaned up the contacts and it's fine now.
 
I have heard of someone who expeimented with foil, and then silver spray, but the best result was with a stciky backed holographic silver paper from somewhere like WHsmiths or a Hobbycraft shop.

Failing that the is a company called www.944online.com in Florida who advertise a new reflector unit at $99. MIght be worth a call to Porsche in case this is one of those bargain parts [:D]
 
Had a look at the 'optical elements' of my dials. Found the mysterious coating is actually vac metalised plastic, basically making it reflective. One was particually bad.
I spray mounted some foil and applied it shiny side up and overlapped the edges. Light bleed can still be seen through case joins at back but not significantly.
Doing this in the morning I had all day to wait for dark, and then..... it makes absolutely no difference whatsoever!
I couldn't get the pod out through the dash annoyingly, as I was going to try brighter bulbs or at least replace them.
While on the subject of bulbs, my headlights are not very bright either! As I found when I left the bright lights of London behind that time. Any suggestions other than stop wearing sunglasses for night driving!
 
I have never looked into this personally, but there is supposedly a problem with voltage drop in the wiring to the headlights.

Received wisdom here then: There is no relay and the wire isn't a particularly thick gauge and over time it deteriorates / flexes with the pods moving. All that equals poorer performance.

Don't just throw high wattage bulbs at the problem because you'll melt the wiring. You can fit a relay and rewire the lights so they get ful lpower, then by all means fit bigger bulbs if you still aren't satisfied.

Or buy a HID kit for £400-£500.
 
ORIGINAL: flamingeye

While on the subject of bulbs, my headlights are not very bright either! As I found when I left the bright lights of London behind that time. Any suggestions other than stop wearing sunglasses for night driving!
Click to expand...

Than only way to get decent performing lights is get an HID kit. Cost a few sheckles mind!! All the vison + and PIAA bulbs are really just gimmicks, yes they give a tad more light but compared to porper HID then its not even in the same country. Obviously the HID will not be legal, but then not many things are these days!!
 
I have read posts on US forums about people who tried higher wattage in the dashboard and melted it so be careful.

As for the headlights, make sure they are aligned properly at a local MOT station, and make sure they are clean (popups often get forgotten) as well as the reflecty bits inside - these are old cars now. New headlights are about £30. Don't just throw these new brighter bulbs in as you'll just dazzle everyone
 
New headlights are £57+VAT. I got one for £47 this week because I had a hole in one of mine and my MoT has nearly run out. Also buy the adjusters at the same time (3 per side , 41p each). I didn't and now have to pick some up tomorrow because they are made of 'breakolite' and shatter when you take the old lense out.
 
Damn [:mad:] My OPC told me the adjusters weren't available seperately so I had to bodge-fix the electric one on one of mine because the screw thread had rusted away. Basically I just wrapped it in that thin PTFE plumbers tape [8D]

Whats the part number Fen? [:D] 41p sounds very reasonable
 
Is this what you are after?

If so the p/n is: 944.631.912.00 and they indeed cost 41 Earth pence each.

Cz799270612.jpg
 
Hmmm I was after the screw that turns in that bracket, but was told the whole lamp bracket was one part. Now that I've seen you can get those brackets seperate, maybe the screws are obtainable as well. I'll take that pic and the part number into the OPC so I can look at their parts diagrams

Cheers Fen
 
Apologies if this appears twice, don't think it uploaded first time. Finally did it. I removed completely the vac metalising with some t-cut on a cloth ( what I should of done in first place...!) it comes off quite easily. Then spray mounted (not too much or it defeats object and dulls the reflectiveness) chrome tape onto 'optical elements. It's not blindingly bright but is a 100 per cent improvement. V. happy now.
 
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