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This is the center dash vent on my US '84. As you can see there is a little airflow symbol in the lower right corner, the backside of which looks like it was designed to accept a small bulb so that it is lighted. However there is no evidence of any wires for a bulb in my dash.
So is this a lighted feature Porsche intended but never incorporated? Or is my car missing the bulb and wiring?
Never noticed that before. The functionality intended is probably that in Defogger mode (DEF) you get the best defogging* performance if you ALSO close the center vent manually. So it would make sense if it illuminated in DEF mode - but I suspect it never did that.
*also for defrosting - but defrosting works even better if done manually - max heat, max fan, defrost mode (^) AND center vent closed (e.g. no AC)
The manual AC heads had a fiber optic element with a bulb on the end of it that fit that hole. That ended in 1982 so you have nothing to worry about.
Interesting. Thanks for the information. Wonder why they stopped that feature after '82? Did the heads change that year?
Originally Posted by Alan
Never noticed that before. The functionality intended is probably that in Defogger mode (DEF) you get the best defogging* performance if you ALSO close the center vent manually. So it would make sense if it illuminated in DEF mode - but I suspect it never did that.
*also for defrosting - but defrosting works even better if done manually - max heat, max fan, defrost mode (^) AND center vent closed (e.g. no AC)
Alan
Ahh I think your are right now that I look at it closer it does look like a windshield being defrosted and is positioned where the slider to close the center vent rests.
^^ They simply stopped offering manual AC after 82.
Automatic climate control went from being an option to standard from 1983 onwards and I'm guessing Porsche didn't feel like having a fiber optic cable exiting a closed case.
My 81 doesn't have the fiber optic but manual AC 81s do. Go figure. Probably because when you set the head to defrost in an auto climate 81 it closes the center vent for you so it was redundant
The 2 heads are way different if you ever get to see them in person. They're pretty neat to look at and figure out.
The manual heads use wires attached to the slider **** to control the temp instead of the motor used in auto climate cars and have a completely exposed board with no case on it.
... Probably because when you set the head to defrost in an auto climate 81 it closes the center vent for you so it was redundant....
Note that the central vent auto close was deleted on the later cars - center vent control is totally manual - it was a bit of a backwards step if you ask me.
Note that the central vent auto close was deleted on the later cars - center vent control is totally manual - it was a bit of a backwards step if you ask me.
Alan
Yep, stopped after mid 83. It was a cool feature that only lasted 3 years but it is so much more modern compared to the manual close in the previous and later cars.
05-28-2021, 09:14 PM
Is the Center Dash Vent Supposed to Have a Light?
