raffi

Has anyone experienced problems with the lamps that illuminate the instrument cluster burning out. I had 2 bulbs go out on my 99 C4 at 50K miles and had those replaced, another one went out recently at 67k miles, and I would like to replace it myself. It is pretty simple to take the cluster out(as anyone who has upgraded to silver gauges will testify), but I had difficulty removing the black plastic backing so I can change the bulb myself and save some money in anticipation of having to change another coolant reservoir or something else. Thanks for any help

willard

If battery connection isn't "solid" voltage regulator/alternator voltage peaks will be extraordinarily high oftentimes resulting in blown bulbs, amongst other things.

raffi

Thanks for the advice willard,
Can you tell me what you mean by "solid" how would I check/fix this problem. I also had the fuse for heated seats blown. Would this lead you to believe that your initial assumption was correct?

Tool Pants

I have taken a 996 cluster apart. Jeff

<img src="http://www.986host.com/albums/ToolPants/cluster10_001.sized.jpg" alt=" - " />

<img src="http://www.986host.com/albums/ToolPants/cluster39_front_release.sized.jpg" alt=" - " />

<img src="http://www.986host.com/albums/ToolPants/cluster40_front_release2.sized.jpg" alt=" - " />

Tool Pants

This is how you unlock the back to remove the circut board. Jeff

<img src="http://www.986host.com/albums/ToolPants/cluster38_release2.sized.jpg" alt=" - " />

<img src="http://www.986host.com/albums/ToolPants/cluster37_release.sized.jpg" alt=" - " />

<img src="http://www.986host.com/albums/ToolPants/cluster9.sized.jpg" alt=" - " />

raffi

Thank you so much Jeff. This board is awesome. I kinda figured that I needed to do something like that but i didnt want to break that little plastic piece since I wasnt sure. Thanks again

ruey220

since the topic on this thread is about bulbs, caution to used car buyers examining cars. I know of one who recently sold a 996 who had modified the engine, cpu, etc. and frequently got check engine lights...to solve the problem, he removed the bulb from the check engine light so it didn't bother him any longer as well as the passengers in the car. from what i recall he sold the car in that condition.

my advice is check the lights on the dash work before you buy a car.

Strat

How does one remove the collar around the flasher button on a 996?

sentipede

Has anyone attempted to replace the bulb color? Ruf does it with green, was wondering if anyone else attempted to do so, and how it looks?

Tool Pants

Strat - 3 times I tried to return your email and they bounced back.

I do not know why you could not tint the lighting bulbs any color you like. You cannot do this with the idiot lights as they shine through a film. In 2002 the bulbs were replaced by LEDs. Jeff

<img src="http://www.986host.com/albums/ToolPants/cluster27my_icons_on_top.sized.jpg" alt=" - " />

Tezta

the bulbs are LED's right? im sure you can have them replaced with which ever color is made.

Tool Pants

They are bulbs in the old style cluster, LEDs in the new style. On a 996 the new style came out in 2002. Boxster in 2001. And Turbo always had the new style. This is the LEDs on a Boxster cluster. Jeff

<img src="http://www.986host.com/albums/ToolPants/cluster5_001.sized.jpg" alt=" - " />

DRC

Tool Pants,
Do you know if it's possible to replace the glass (plastic) in the cluster? My temp/fuel gauge glass has a small crack in it which looks naff.
Cheers, DRC