Dim instrument cluster light - fixed
06-13-2003, 12:29 AM
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Dim instrument cluster light - fixed
I refurbished the light element in the instrument cluster and took some photos but couldn’t figure out how to attach them to this post. The procedure was very inexpensive ($10) and simple once you have removed the instrument pod. I made some improvements over the factory specifications and the result is “brilliant” literally. Some one please guide me on the attachment procedure or give me your e-mail address and you can post them.
Also I finally have my car up and running after fixing the Torque Tube and Converter bearing, engine mounts etc. etc. check it out here <a href="http://www.928registry.org/1987-928S4-0432.htm" target="_blank">http://www.928registry.org/1987-928S4-0432.htm</a>
Azir.
87, S4, Auto
Also I finally have my car up and running after fixing the Torque Tube and Converter bearing, engine mounts etc. etc. check it out here <a href="http://www.928registry.org/1987-928S4-0432.htm" target="_blank">http://www.928registry.org/1987-928S4-0432.htm</a>
Azir.
87, S4, Auto
06-13-2003, 12:34 AM
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Upload your pictures to the web and when you post on the list hit the "Image" button and put the url for the image in the window that pops up. It will show with your post.
06-13-2003, 09:31 AM
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The instrument cluster intensity brings up an issue I had to deal with last year while traveling to SITM's.
The rheostat caught fire while driving down the road - imagine my shock when smoke began to pour out from around the pod! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> Apparently, this has happened to a few other 928 owners as well.
A simple fix was to remove the rheostat and replace with a jumper I fashioned similiar to the fuel pump relay jumper (which I highly recommend to be in everyones tool kit!).
<img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />
The rheostat caught fire while driving down the road - imagine my shock when smoke began to pour out from around the pod! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> Apparently, this has happened to a few other 928 owners as well.
A simple fix was to remove the rheostat and replace with a jumper I fashioned similiar to the fuel pump relay jumper (which I highly recommend to be in everyones tool kit!).
<img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />
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06-13-2003, 11:23 AM
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A few years ago, I flew into Bordeaux, France after a long evening of flying. Yes, I was tired- we started out in Finland, and had spent 13 hours on duty.
Welcome to life as a "freight-dog"!
Anyway, waiting to pick us up at the airport was a VW Polo taxi. Three guys, two bags each...in a car the size of the late lamented VW Rabbit.
Yuck! It got tight in there, but we made it to the hotel. And the free breakfast-
But what I noticed about that tiny car was its instrument cluster- bright red indiglo from the factory! I loved the way it looked, and vowed to find a way to make my '85's instruments look kewl like that.
Upon returning to Orlando, I procured some red bulbs from the autoparts store. They went in fine...the only catch was that now the gauge illumination was so dim that I could hardly see the gauges- even with my perfect vision. Back to the drawing board.
Well, red gauge faces came available from Speedhut. Red faces with black letters, they looked kewl on the website, but they were N-A-S-T-Y looking when installed! I spent the dollars and got red reverse indiglo faces. Black face with red letters, it looks great. I was hoping to show it off at SITM, but the weather was too nasty, so I kept my doors/windows CLOSED.
The problem with the reverse red indiglos was that the needles were not illuminated, and you couldn't read them at night. Solution? Put the white bulbs back in...now I have hot red illumination, and I can actually see the gauges.
Normy!
'85 S2 5 Speed
Welcome to life as a "freight-dog"!
Anyway, waiting to pick us up at the airport was a VW Polo taxi. Three guys, two bags each...in a car the size of the late lamented VW Rabbit.
Yuck! It got tight in there, but we made it to the hotel. And the free breakfast-
But what I noticed about that tiny car was its instrument cluster- bright red indiglo from the factory! I loved the way it looked, and vowed to find a way to make my '85's instruments look kewl like that.
Upon returning to Orlando, I procured some red bulbs from the autoparts store. They went in fine...the only catch was that now the gauge illumination was so dim that I could hardly see the gauges- even with my perfect vision. Back to the drawing board.
Well, red gauge faces came available from Speedhut. Red faces with black letters, they looked kewl on the website, but they were N-A-S-T-Y looking when installed! I spent the dollars and got red reverse indiglo faces. Black face with red letters, it looks great. I was hoping to show it off at SITM, but the weather was too nasty, so I kept my doors/windows CLOSED.
The problem with the reverse red indiglos was that the needles were not illuminated, and you couldn't read them at night. Solution? Put the white bulbs back in...now I have hot red illumination, and I can actually see the gauges.
Normy!
'85 S2 5 Speed
06-13-2003, 06:48 PM
#9
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OK Randy, I read through the "new visitor" section and followed your instructions. The pictures are located here: <a href="http://www.momentoffame.com/snapshot.html?id=40979" target="_blank">http://www.momentoffame.com/snapshot.html?id=40979</a>
Basically the cluster becomes dim because the reflective coating (paint) on the light element becomes dull as it ages. To restore them you must remove the old silver paint and re-apply new paint. I removed the old paint with "nail polish remover", it worked well and did not attack the plastic of the light element. I chose not to paint the element but rather cover them with a reflective tape. For this I purchased chrome tape with adhesive on the non-polished side. Specifically, I got "Chrome Brite" from the local auto store and it only cost a few dollars (you can see this in one of the photos)
I also made some improvements over the factory specifications. First I replaced the light bulbs as a precaution as I was already in the light cluster. I then lined the area around the light bulb with reflective tape (make sure you do not block the vent holes). I also applied tape on the under side of the light element to further incase the light and thus get more light through the element. The end result is fantastic and very rewarding, I will be glad to answer any questions. Also check out my ride at: <a href="http://www.928registry.org/1987-928S4-0432.htm" target="_blank">http://www.928registry.org/1987-928S4-0432.htm</a>
Azir.
87, S4, Auto
Basically the cluster becomes dim because the reflective coating (paint) on the light element becomes dull as it ages. To restore them you must remove the old silver paint and re-apply new paint. I removed the old paint with "nail polish remover", it worked well and did not attack the plastic of the light element. I chose not to paint the element but rather cover them with a reflective tape. For this I purchased chrome tape with adhesive on the non-polished side. Specifically, I got "Chrome Brite" from the local auto store and it only cost a few dollars (you can see this in one of the photos)
I also made some improvements over the factory specifications. First I replaced the light bulbs as a precaution as I was already in the light cluster. I then lined the area around the light bulb with reflective tape (make sure you do not block the vent holes). I also applied tape on the under side of the light element to further incase the light and thus get more light through the element. The end result is fantastic and very rewarding, I will be glad to answer any questions. Also check out my ride at: <a href="http://www.928registry.org/1987-928S4-0432.htm" target="_blank">http://www.928registry.org/1987-928S4-0432.htm</a>
Azir.
87, S4, Auto
06-13-2003, 07:10 PM
#11
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Sorry no after picture ! its just that the "aperture" setting on my camera is automatic and compensates for low light. So it is very difficult to give you a before and after picture.
87, S4,Auto, 17" Cup 1
87, S4,Auto, 17" Cup 1
06-14-2003, 09:54 AM
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Donald,
I looked at the LED option and even bought a few from Radio shack to try out. First off they only had red and green 12 Volt LEDs. I tried the green LED and found that it had a very narrow beam, this made it difficult to get an even light distribution onto the instruments. The LED light is "sharp" creating sharp shadows behind the needles. In fact the only reason VDO (makers of the Porsche instruments) used the so called "light element" is because it disburses light very evenly and makes soft shadows much like a "milky" light bulb vs a "clear" light bulb.
Azir 87, S4, Auto <a href="http://www.928registry.org/1987-928S4-0432.htm" target="_blank">http://www.928registry.org/1987-928S4-0432.htm</a>
I looked at the LED option and even bought a few from Radio shack to try out. First off they only had red and green 12 Volt LEDs. I tried the green LED and found that it had a very narrow beam, this made it difficult to get an even light distribution onto the instruments. The LED light is "sharp" creating sharp shadows behind the needles. In fact the only reason VDO (makers of the Porsche instruments) used the so called "light element" is because it disburses light very evenly and makes soft shadows much like a "milky" light bulb vs a "clear" light bulb.
Azir 87, S4, Auto <a href="http://www.928registry.org/1987-928S4-0432.htm" target="_blank">http://www.928registry.org/1987-928S4-0432.htm</a>
06-14-2003, 11:03 AM
#14
Three Wheelin'
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">By N!
I spent the dollars and got red reverse indiglo faces. Black face with red letters, it looks great.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">That sounds really cool lookin'! Any pics?
I spent the dollars and got red reverse indiglo faces. Black face with red letters, it looks great.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">That sounds really cool lookin'! Any pics?