howdog928

I have a 1979 porsche 928, recently bought, that had been standing for at least a year 'being worked on'. There were several electrical issues & items not working, so on advice I got a replacement fuse panel, which is from a 1980/81 car. However there are some differences in relays on the newer one.

Is it possible to switch them out? If so, do I need to change the connections at the bottom to align with the different relays/fuses (plus what would be the correct sequence)?

I have read another post on fuse panels and see that recommendations are to clean up contacts & replace old ceramic fuses with glass ones. I'm not sure what the difference is between the 2 types of fuses. I have old looking ones with a small metal strip at front.

Thanks for any help on this,
Howard
1979, Black Automatic

tailpipe

The deal on the fuses in my opinion is the use of higher quality brass or copper fuses, the cheap aluminium ones cause a corrosion reaction between the two metals. It could melt your fuse pannel or could even catch fire. The proper fuses can be bought at most aftermarket VW dealers check to make sure they are brass or copper before you put you money down, the fuse panel should be the same take pictures as you go it its not hard, anything else you need help with just let me know.


paul with 4 79 928s

DonS

Welcome aboard, Howard!

Congratulations on your purchase.

Jim bailey - 928 International

The fuse panels are NOT the same the 78-79 runs CIS injection no brain box the 1980-84 has a brain and related relays. Many other differences as well like headlight motor relay type AND location. Also the starter relay and on and on..... get the correct relay board you were given bad advice.

SharkSkin

What is wrong with the original that prompted the suggestion to replace it? You may need nothing more than a cleanup and re-seating of connections. There is really no reason to replace the whole board unless it is melted and/or you have a lot of melted wires on the back side. If the only problem is a melted relay socket or two you can cannibalize the '80 board and just replace the damaged sockets as I detail partway down this page.

Jim bailey - 928 International

Good point Dave ! I was just unhappy that someone told him that the boards were the same and would swap right in.... that kind of "helpfull" advice can cause all kinds of other problems. Plug the wrong relay in the wrong socket and you can let the smoke out of the wiring and we all know that when the smoke gets out the electricity stops .

SharkSkin

Ah yes, the ol' "Magic Smoke". Can't let that out... IMHO, someone on a desert island with a lot of spare wire, connectors, time, and a soldering iron could make the '80 panel work on a '79, I think the basic panel is from the same mold... but why bother? As Jim points out a couple of posts back -- too many differences in the wiring itself. Especially with your 1/2 price sale there is really no reason not to just get the right panel(IF it even needs replacing).

Tass 928

While the subject is open........will an 84' auto fuse panel swap into an early
86' auto ? Asking for a non-lister that is trying to get on the road.

thanks in advance

SharkSkin

Dave -- No.

V-Fib

Don't know why, but my Fuse panel on the 79, has "928 International" written on the back of it. So sometime before Feb. 5th, 2001, someone changed it out. At least it was from my favorite vendor.....

Jim bailey - 928 International

Given that Mark A has been doing this for nearly 20 years lots and lots of cars have parts from 928 International ....hundreds have been taken apart ! We sometimes get the parts back as the cars get recycled

Tass 928

that's certainly the short answer....

SharkSkin

Thought I'd get right to the point...

Alan

Indeed they are completely different animals <85 was one type and 85+ is another. between type its a no go - even within types YTY the changes are enough that contemplating inter year swaps is fraught with many many issues. Fixing what you have is almost always easier...

Alan