howdog928

In too deep now, lol. I have finally embarked on a much needed upgrade to my instrument cluster/pod area of the '88 S4. For a few years now I have been running with an inop odometer (despite it being 'fixed' before) and no pod lights. My alternative, shamed to say, has been a cap light from Walmart velcro'd to the pod in front of the gauges!!

Time for an upgrade!

My plan is to a) Get the odometer fully fixed
b) change out all pod lights for LED.

I have been in touch with Ed Scherer on the LED dimmer and his thread plus a few others to see what LED upgrades they did. As yet I don't see a definitive list for all the LEDs in the pod for an '88. Ed's was on a later model. So I will provide that list as things progress. I count 3 larger bulbs and 20 smaller ones. I'll have to figure out what colors all the smaller ones need to be.

Pics of what was and progress on pulling the pod so far. On first look, the odometer cog seems to be in one piece so not sure what the problem is in there. The black surround inside the pod is really badly dirty/oxidized and will need a damn good clean and I'm hoping to prize off the 'glass' front if I can without breaking it to make that easier.

To be continued...

Ed Scherer

I'll be watching this thread with great interest.

And I'll be happy to update Converting Porsche 928 Interior Lighting to LEDs based on your findings. The absence of good information on the pre-'89 cars has been a major deficiency in that guide for a number of years.

Good luck on your project.

bureau13

At some point I'm going to need to do this on an '86.5. Yours is pre-digital dash, right? I wonder how different it is from mine?

buccicone

Howard, Jake posted yesterday similar odo problem.

https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...-question.html

I have the Jager LED kit to install in '86.5 "Blackie"
If you give up on the speedometer, I have an extra I can sell that was professionally repaired. I believe it had the drive motor repaired/replaced.

Kevin in Atlanta

Replacing the dash bulbs is a nice upgrade. But, the one lighting upgrade that has gone unanswered for us poorly illuminated pre 89 owners is better lighting so you can see the instrument panel during the day. I have been toying with DRLs for instrument panel illumination for a while. I think the lights are turned on with a switched ground.

buccicone

Howard, 2016 calendars are in for the club. pass the word.

howdog928

Thanks Ed, you've been a big help so far. Here is the pic of one of the 20 bulbs I mentioned in the pm.

howdog928

Jeff, yes, it's pre-digital dash, probably very similar if not the same as your.

howdog928

Hi Mike,

I have the Jager kit on it's way too, but wanted to change all the warning lights to LED too.

I took a look at Jake's thread & Dwayne's odo repair and while looking at mine and checking the play I found one of the small cogs had no play. Applied a bit more pressure and it 'popped' back into place! Good news, but now I'm wondering why it got out of place originally so may need to do the washer in there to prevent it happening again. PO had it fixed for me when I bought her, but only lasted a couple of weeks.
I'll ask Joel if he can hold a calendar for me

buccicone

Joel & I will have calendars with us during the season at any shows.

Ed Scherer

I think that is a B8.3D bulb. See Super Bright LED's page B8 LED Bulb - SMD Instrument Panel LED and check the dimensions of the base part of the bulb to make sure.

As to the main three bulbs for the main cluster illumination, I believe that has been covered in some other threads; see if a search can turn up anything.

Wisconsin Joe

If it locked up once, it will do it again. As I noted in Jake's thread, it takes a surprisingly small amount of play for it to be able to lock up.

howdog928

Point taken, I'll get it fixed while it's out of the car!

Chuck Schreiber

You'll dig the Jager upgrade, it's awesome!

On the other hand...
In my opinion, after having the led upgrade on all my gauge, pod control, ac head unit, clock, etc... The warning light led upgrade is overkill. (Std light bulbs are ok here as they are NEVER ON.. Or at least you don't WANT them to be)

My take on having the idiot lights converted to LED's is that I don't want them "shouting" At me any more than the other std bulbs would.

The biggest difference you'll get is the "billboard" illumination on the gauges, the pod control bulbs (#74) and the center console illumination.

Polish the clear Lense over the gauges

Spray the gauge surround w FLAT BLACK

replace odo gear

Replace warning light bulbs w std bulbs

Column bushing and bearing

Clean connectors on circuit board and replace circuit board if you can find one

Recover pod w vinyl or leather

Replace ignition switch

Good to go!

howdog928

Nice list chuck, especially like the input on cleaning the lens and spraying the gauge surround - def needs it. And the pod does need recovering along with the dash, but that may be an adventure for another time.
Cheers mate!