rickjaffe

I need to source a taillight socket. It's the top middle one, green color socket. The metal inside at the bottom rusted out (I assume which is a common problem). Below is a picture of the one I need. That and the ouboard top socket are for the tail lights when the headlights are on. 928 international didn't have it. Any other possible sources?

Also, I replaced the outboard one but I can't get it to work. No power to the socket per a test light. It has two brown wires and one some other color. I might have hooked up the brown wires incorrectly. What is the third wire for (power and ground for two I suppose). I'm not knowledgeable about this kind of stuff.
any advice would be appreciated

huskeric

Yes, these are common problems and the wire harnesses are becoming ever-increasingly difficult to locate. There are also a number of threads using different sockets from NAPA, et al.

I have several spare harnesses and believe I may have one that has already been cut apart for another repair - let me check...

Shark2626

If you love that car and plan to keep it buy a new harness from your dealership, $399 the last time I checked two years ago; you may be able to get 20% off if you ask nicely. A used harness or used sockets will just buy you the same problem you are facing now with the one you have.

huskeric

Unfortunately, I can't seem to find the harness that was already severed... perhaps I have discarded.
But, would agree with the above post that more splicing usually provides a temporary solution.
I may be willing to sell one of my spares, as I have both a few used and a new one. PM if interested.
rick

rickjaffe

thanks. I'd like to try to avoid replacing the entire harness, mostly because it's alot of splicing and I don't think I have the skills. I've just got two of the aix bulbs not working and both are the rear running lights when the fronts are on. Other lights work (actually side light is also out but that may be the bulb). I've had the car for 14 years and this is the first time this has happened. I've read about the nissan socket fix but that requires alot of cutting and fabricating, so for now, I'm still looking for the specific socket. Not seeing the point of replacing the entire harness with a used one since I've already got a used one which mostly works. So if I can't find a socket, I guess end up getting a harness and having some local shop install it. But I"m not quite there yet. Next, I'll try to figure out why the outboard socket doesn't work.

can anyone tell me if what's the difference between the two brown wires? Next step is to reverse them, and see if it changes anything.

karl ruiter

https://www.superbrightleds.com/more...red/1147/2730/
and
https://www.superbrightleds.com/more...red/1147/2731/
They require just a bit of trimming, as I recall, but the quality is good, there is no exposed metal to rust, and the price is certainly right. Worked great for me.

rickjaffe

thx. I've ordered two. If that doesn't work then I'll order a new harness. I didn't realize it ended in the plug and I didn't have to rewire all the plugs.

Alan

The brown wires are directly connected together - like a daisy chain connection through the socket. Just connect all the brown wires on both sockets together externally - no magic here.

Alan

Alan

The Porsche bulb holders are not particularly high quality nor is the connector for the rear cluster particularly good or water tight. I see no issues with replacing any or all of the bulb holders for good equivalents as long as they have dimensional equivalence for the bulb's filament placement and the physical bayonet connection to the cluster housings is secure and properly gasketed. A Delphi Weather Pack Connector would also be a better solution than the stock connector for the cluster to loom connection IMO.

Alan