mambodoc

The center rear red reflector between the rear lights tends to bow outward. It can be pushed in but will not remain. A local shop changed it out for a new one, mentioning a broken clip...noW the same thing is happening again. Looks like a piece of adhesive tape, strip, possibly velcro, is intended to hold it in place but is now giving out. Anyone knoW of this problem, and if so, was the adhesive a result of the repairman pulling a fast one or is it a legit deal from the Porsche factory. Thanks!

Nicole

A quick search turned up this:

https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...=GTS+reflector

Best of luck!

ROG100

GTS owners who want a permanent fix use the World Famous "Toilet Bolt" solution.
A patent was recently issued by Kohler for this product and it is available in red, white or blue from your fav 928 supplier 8>) 8>)

Gary Knox

Roger - one GTS owner I know of has used an excellent epoxy adhesive and two "elevator bolts" from Lowes hardware to fasten it down snuggly!!! Didn't have to pay 928sRus the licensing fee for the Kohler patent. Very similar concept - just a way to reverse engineer the same result!!!!!

Gary Knox
West Chester, PA

Kevin in Atlanta

My solution was to use door panel clips at a couple of strategic locations. No patent worries.

Alan

Gary - whats an elevator bolt....? is it just a toilet bolt with a better name...?

Alan

Randy V

I described the fix here:

https://rennlist.com/forums/928-forum/326595-gts-reflector-strip-loose-fix.html

I love ya, Rog, but give up on the toilet bolts!

Gary Knox

Alan,
I'd never seen them or heard of them before, but I was browsing for something else in the bolt and nut "drawers" at the local Lowes big box store when I came across them. There was a fairly large group of them. The two I got are about 2" long, about 3/8 in diameter with threads, and the "head" is large, about 1 - 1 1/2 " in diamter (round), and very flat on top. I positioned them on either side of the trunk latch mechanism, cleaned the polastic on the inside of the reflector well, positioned them and used excellent epoxy to mount them. Then carefully drilled holes at the correct angle through the plastic bumper part and the metal chassis part, put washers and nuts on the bolts and tightened them down. Been there nearly 2 years, and no problem.
However, I do loosen/remove the nuts when the car goes into winter storage where the temps may get down to 20 degrees at times. The center reflector increases it's "bow" considerably as it gets cooler!!

Cheers,

Gary Knox

ROG100

Gary,
I am real upset that you have copied my Patent "toilet bolt" GTS rear reflector fix.
My lawyer will be talking to yours shortly 8>)

Thats exactly what the toilet bolts do - no difference.

ew928

Gary,
Are your Toilet/Elevator/Rog100 bolts long enough to put a small spring and some washers in front of the nut to "pull" the stubborn reflector strip in. And still yield a bit when the temp changes.

Be so much easier if someone can do plastic injection molding and duplicate the silly reflector panel in single non-laminate piece of plastic and put reflective material on the outside. (I know. Then it wouldn't have that super subtle PORSCHE lettering embedded in the reflector part)

Chuck Z

I used Velcro the length of the reflector with success.

Gary Knox

Chuck,
I too had tried velcro - but here in PA where the winters are nearly like Siberia, compared to Charlotte (lived both places), the stress of the dissimilar plastic forces overwhelmed the velcro and the center popped out again!!.

Roger,
I had told you about the elevator bolts after I discovered them, and no legal "threat" was replied. My legal counsel firm (the largest one in Luckenbauch TX) has assured me there is no problem with reverse engineering, as long as you do not practice EXACTLY what is taught in the issued patent. I checked every dictionary, and could not find a single one that defined "Elevator" with any description that could be interpreted as a "Toilet". Sorry buddy, I hate to see you spend your hard earned $$$$ on wasted legal fees. Guess I'll just have to buy parts from you to avoid the competitive hassle!!! - Ha

See you at SITM (and can I have a ride in your GTS to determine whether elevator bolts or toilet bolts provide the best performance in speed and handling???).

Cheers,

Gary---
PS: Ernest, the longest elevator bolts were just long enough to get the washers and nuts for attachment. No "spring" space

ew928

Drat! Foiled again.

So I guess the Dumb Waiter bolts cannot accomodate a stack of opposing sets of belleville washers in a silicone damped fluid to compensate for the bi-plastic strip bulge-age.


Tried a few strips of the high-strength velcro type fastener. Think it somewhat keeps the bulging down but it feels like it's pulling the bumper cover out a bit.

I'm sure if the Zuffenhausen boys had produced the GTS reflector for more years, they'd have place heater wires like the defroster wires to keep the reflector from bulging.

Randy V

Having conquered the 'bulge', I've been hoping someone would come up with a way to illuminate that strip.

That would be a nice mod.

ROG100

Gary,

There is one benifit to the toilet bolt - they are longer than the elevator bolt and no problem in adding the nut and washer.

The other advantage is its real easy to flush your cooling system - flush - toilet Oh never mind.