IcemanG17

Well I haven't driven my 928 at night in a while. So I take it to a friends house about an hour away during the day. Start to drive home at night, twist on the lights....headlights and driving lights work fine.....but no lights to illuminate the instrument panel!! I think its a fuse and drive home, wondering how fast I am going!

This morning I check the #44 fuse.....its fine??? I replace it anyway, but still no instrument lights? Looking for some help, hopefully I don't have to take it in to the shop! Thanks

Barry Johnson

If you're talking about the pod illumination, you should check the rheostadt under the left side of the pod. Thats the dial that you rotate to increase or decrease the brightness of the pod. Mine went out in my 87 from corrosion, and its still kinda flaky. My euro also has a little issue with that. Let us know if thats it. Just take it off and clean it up a bit.

IcemanG17

Barry
You da man!! Thats it exactly....your right about it feeling crusty....turn it a bit...all lights dead...turn it some more....bingo all lights work (even some that didn't before!). When I have a bit more time I'll pull it out and clean it up!
Thanks

Barry Johnson

Hey, I do what I can .
Glad to know the problem was found! Take it easy!

IcemanG17

Barry
I just checked the Manual to take the pod off so I can get at the "potentiometer" as porsche calls it.... that looks like alot of work, have to pull the steering wheel to get the pod off? How long did it take you? So I figure it will take me twice as long.

tresamore

You might want to replace it. I remember someone in here talking about a dash fire that was started by a crusty dimmer.

IcemanG17

Now that is a scary thought....might have to invest the $14 to get a new one!

ColinB

The dimmer is only held into the pod with a couple of screws. Never done it myself but you should be able to get it out with the pod in place. Removing the steering wheel takes about 30 seconds with a 27mm or 1 1/16" socket. Ahh, unless you have an airbag. Either way, disconnect the battery first.

Colin 89GT

heinrich

Stupid little rheostat. Looks like something you'd find in a lucky packet (not all will know this reference). My instrument lights also went out and no matter what I did to the rheostat, they would not come back on. Today I went at it again and voila, roll the stupid thing and there is light. Insane ... we really should relocate and replace with one that cost more than a penny.

9two8

Replaced my rheostat four weeks ago, after I,d had the pod out for an odometer gear wheel replacement, and thinking I,d cured the rheostat, but had,nt.
Did,nt like the idea of pulling that pod again.., however the rheostat can be replaced without removing the pod. On mine (OB) there is only one screw that holds the rheostat in place, If you lie on your back or neal by the door you can crane your neck in there and remove it, It took me around twenty minutes
Also what I did was loosen the screw and pull the old rheostat down to access the two wires , remove the wires and plug them in to your new rheostat, then put it back in place and tighten the screw.

Ken
80 928 S
5 Speed

UK

Erik N

I was able to clean mine pretty well in-car with copious amounts of WD-40 and back and forth rotations of the dial. Had a nice absorbent towel under and around it to avoid the mess.

9two8

.., agree, I did mine a coulple of years back, got it working, but a bit erratic, only one fix for it, and that is a new rheostat . I reckon the same guy that made Mickey Mouse watches made these rheostats !!

Ken
80 928 S
5 Speed

UK

Mrmerlin

these rheostats were state of the the art in 1978, and very well made what they dont like is water this starts the corrosion of the unit