Reversing lamp socket replacement?

raoulgough · Nov 19, 2011

I have a '95 model 993 Carrera with one reversing light not working. Turns out the ground pin in the lamp socket was corroded through - I've attempted to attach a photo to this post, but if that hasn't worked, I'm talking about the plastic socket with the rubber seal that locates the lamp in place and contains the electrical contacts for the lamp as well. These push-and-turn into place in the central lighting strip with the reversing and rear fog lamps.

So my question is, is it possible to replace the lamp holder(s) individually or do you have to replace this entire chain of wiring and all four lamp holders? I don't see an obvious way that the holder would detach from the wiring to allow single replacements. Also, I can't find any of these parts in the 993 original parts catalog (E_993_KATALOG.PDF), so where would I get the parts for this job?

Hoping someone has dealt with this before...
Thanks,
Raoul.

clyde · Nov 20, 2011

As far as I'm aware you're right that single lamp holders are not obtainable from Porsche Raoul. I think you probably have three options:

1/ Buy a complete new rear light wiring from Porsche at a cost of several hundred pounds
2/ Buy a complete used rear wiring loom from one of the many Porsche specialist breakers at a cost of whatever they charge - a hundred or so?
3/ See if any of the breakers will sell you just the lamp holder you need and splice it into your existing loom

I don't think they are a particularly high fail rate item, so I wouldn't have thought that a breaker would take their usual "half the Porsche price" for them. They probably wouldn't be very keen to cut one off a loom as that renders the rest of the loom useless to sell on but you don't get if you don't ask.

I suppose a fourth option may be to try to see if you can get a single lamp holder from the original equipment supplier. Not sure who that is - Bosch?

JB 3.2 · Nov 20, 2011

I think, there is a small loom for just the lights, which should not be as expensive.

RSIMON · Nov 20, 2011

If you're into experimenting you could try removing the rust, perhaps with an acid solution and then reattaching the ground pin with an electrically conductive epoxy. You can try Maplins, http://www.maplin.co.uk/electrically-conductive-silver-paint-36275 or RS for the epoxy http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/pcb-compounds-adhesives/0496265/

RSIMON · Nov 20, 2011

...or check out Audi or VW lamp holders as there are other shared electrical connectors with those companies.

clyde · Nov 20, 2011

ORIGINAL: JB 3.2

I think, there is a small loom for just the lights, which should not be as expensive.

That's the one I was meaning John - it's around £250 new

T911UK · Nov 23, 2011

That is on the reflector not the loom, you would need something like this;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Porsche-911-993-Rear-Light-Reflector-/330646558188?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item4cfc1215ec

JB 3.2 · Nov 23, 2011

Did the reflectors come complete with bulb holders?

raoulgough · Nov 23, 2011

I spoke to someone at porsche-apart and he quoted something like £190ish + VAT for a new loom (list price was around £230 + VAT, apparently). If I don't get any luck on the ebay front I'll pull the loom out and look at a temporary repair - that would get me through to the next annual service, anyway.

raoulgough · Nov 23, 2011

Thanks for pointing out this auction on ebay. I've sent the seller a question about whether it includes the loom and bulb holders or not.

vitesse · Nov 24, 2011

When I changed the centre lamp on our 964,I kept the existing small loom including the bulb holders-whether this would be any good to you,I don't know but I will try & find it tonight-you are welcome to it for the postage.

clyde · Nov 28, 2011

Raoul, don't know if you're still looking but I came across this when I was scouring ebay tonight

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PORSCHE-911-993-CENTRE-REAR-LIGHT-UNIT-RACE-CAR-SPARE-NO-RESERVE-/140650832184?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item20bf716138

The ad says that the bulb holders are included. The reflector itself has a big crack in it so I wouldn't have thought that it would go for much.

raoulgough · Dec 11, 2011

Hi Clyde, unfortunately I didn't see your posting until today, and the auction on Ebay had already finished (ending at only £21).

In the end I went for a solution a little more like what RSIMON suggested. A mate of mine also told me he'd had a similar problem on his 928 and fixed it using the spring from a retractable ballpoint pen! I went a little more high-tech and bought a box of assorted springs from Maplin (£2.99), then did a bit of careful soldering and used some epoxy glue to reinforce it all.

Curiously none of the other sockets' terminals show any corrosion, so I wonder if someone might previously have done a bad job trying to clean the one in question. Anyway, my fix is working well so far and I'll keep my eyes open for a second-hand replacement loom.

Thanks for everyone's help with this,
Raoul.