Instrument Lights - Late model Lux

vincematthews · May 6, 2015

While I've got the late model instrument panel out (odometer repair) I was wondering whether to replace the various warning lights as well as most of them seem original fit (1987).
The sensible me says leave alone, that printed circuit looks fragile, if it ain't broke don't fix it.
On the other hand . . . the engineering me says it's false economy while you've got the whole thing apart.

Any thoughts out there??

Also is it standard for not all the lights to be fitted?

tykes · May 6, 2015

I have a 944 Turbo of the same year and have the same odometer problem (where did you buy your replacement gear from?). Seeing a number of bulbs either empty or missing I replaced them and now have all sorts of lights illuminating representing things that my car doesn't have such as ABS!! Another one that says servo plus the large "I" which doesn't seem to want to go off! So have to take it out again having realised that they were blank for a reason!!. The dash lights are very dim and I tried cleaning the plastic reflectors and re-coating with chrome paint but that hasn't made any difference. Any ideas as I can barely see anything in the dark?

golfprorich · May 6, 2015

ORIGINAL: tykes I have a 944 Turbo of the same year and have the same odometer problem (where did you buy your replacement gear from?). Seeing a number of bulbs either empty or missing I replaced them and now have all sorts of lights illuminating representing things that my car doesn't have such as ABS!! Another one that says servo plus the large "I" which doesn't seem to want to go off! So have to take it out again having realised that they were blank for a reason!!. The dash lights are very dim and I tried cleaning the plastic reflectors and re-coating with chrome paint but that hasn't made any difference. Any ideas as I can barely see anything in the dark?

Just chang the main big bulbs with ones from Halfords, the wattage is more and I can see my dash just fine at night now.

ALZ 1933 · May 6, 2015

ORIGINAL: tykes The dash lights are very dim and I tried cleaning the plastic reflectors and re-coating with chrome paint but that hasn't made any difference. Any ideas as I can barely see anything in the dark?

Replace the 3 illumination bulbs along the bottom with Leds, they will provide a much brighter whiter light, the prism reflectors can also be covered with a mirror type film available from hobby shops if you'd prefer to stick with standard bulbs.

Eldavo · May 6, 2015

ORIGINAL: golfprorich

ORIGINAL: tykes I have a 944 Turbo of the same year and have the same odometer problem (where did you buy your replacement gear from?). Seeing a number of bulbs either empty or missing I replaced them and now have all sorts of lights illuminating representing things that my car doesn't have such as ABS!! Another one that says servo plus the large "I" which doesn't seem to want to go off! So have to take it out again having realised that they were blank for a reason!!. The dash lights are very dim and I tried cleaning the plastic reflectors and re-coating with chrome paint but that hasn't made any difference. Any ideas as I can barely see anything in the dark?

Click to expand...

Just chang the main big bulbs with ones from Halfords, the wattage is more and I can see my dash just fine at night now.

Please don't do this!!! The bulbs sit very close to the light tunnels and you WILL melt them. Follow the guide on Clark's Garage to clean the light prisms with acetone free nail catch remover and then re-silver them (I used tin foil and duct tape), then use baton type LEDs - the difference is phenomenal.

Waylander · May 6, 2015

just what he said don't use bigger bulbs, clean it up, re-silver and proper canbus LED's so the dimmer still works

Mikebarry202 · May 6, 2015

ORIGINAL: tykes the large "I" which doesn't seem to want to go off! So have to take it out again having realised that they were blank for a reason!!

I've just finished off fitting keyless entry where I also removed the instrument panel to generally have a look round, clean the voltmeter connections (no effect though!) and fix the trip reset...... On refitting I found the large "I" warning light stayed on so guessed correctly that I'd not refitted one of the ribbon cable connectors fully..... Removed it all, refitted correctly and all good now. May be the extra bulbs you fitted don't have an effect on the large "I" and it's just the connections?

vincematthews · May 7, 2015

ORIGINAL: tykes I have a 944 Turbo of the same year and have the same odometer problem (where did you buy your replacement gear from?). Seeing a number of bulbs either empty or missing I replaced them and now have all sorts of lights illuminating representing things that my car doesn't have such as ABS!! Another one that says servo plus the large "I" which doesn't seem to want to go off! So have to take it out again having realised that they were blank for a reason!!.

I am getting the odometer gear from Germany, Â£20 total and no customs hassles:- http://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/wpo-shop_com hasn't arrived yet but they say it is a thermoplastic and doesn't need lubrication. Thanks guys for the replies - some interesting tips in there. Question still outstanding is should I replace the light or not or should you do as little as possible to that fragile printed circuit?

vincematthews · May 18, 2015

I am getting the odometer gear from Germany, Â£20 total and no customs hassles:- http://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/wpo-shop_com hasn't arrived yet but they say it is a thermoplastic and doesn't need lubrication.

Just a quick update:- Road tested the car today after fitting a new gear from the above supplier and the mileometer/odometer both work fine. He seems to have a good selection of different gear ratios, mine was 20/22. Also noticed when the binnacle was out that some bulb positions are not used and the parking lights indicator has two bulbs and the brake fluid warning indicator has three bulbs. Also repaired the clock with parts from http://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/ydsparts and that works too - first time since I've had the car. Can't believe the large number of screws, most of which are unnecessarily different to each other, that have to be removed to do these two jobs. The mechanism to zero the odometer is a good example of Porsche overdesign too - in your dreams you couldn't make it more complicated or contain so many parts!!