Norton928

During a drive in my '87 S4 auto last night, I noticed the 'D' light was not lit on the dash. I stopped, moved the shifter through all positions, and all of the PRND32 lights are out. Very odd, as these lights had worked earlier yesterday evening.

Everything else on the dash works, and I haven't made any changes to the car recently.

Any ideas on what this could be?



Norton

dcrasta

I have a similar problem. It comes and goes (And seems tied to the Reverse light.) I was under the car checking connectors, but I think its likely a ground maybe a rear ground. Share whatever you discover

Mrmerlin

the 2 connection points for the gear selector lights are
1 under the pod in a flat, black ,connector with about 7 wires,
2 is in the spare tire well with a flat, black, connector.
check the tire well first

Norton928

Mrmerlin, thanks for some starting points for me to check. I will have a look this weekend.

WallyP

Second mrmerlin's suggestion to check the connector in the spare tire well.

Mrmerlin

IIRC the ground for the lights is under the right rear quarter panel liner on the floor,

To get to the rear ground first remove the cargo floor hold down ( 2 phillips screws, spray some PB blaster to the underside of the hatch floor ) to loosen the screws.
Then remove the 3 screws attaching the rear of the panel to the floor and rear attach point under the tool tray, this will let you bend the panel out just enough without snapping it,
a 10 mm wrench can be fit onto the bolt clean the wire and floor connections with an eraser use some dielex grease when you fit it back together ,
put some antiseize on the cargo hold down screws if you can get them loose.
( Note an impact driver may be handy to loosen these screws.) They will be rusted.

Norton928

The first pic of the connectors in the spare tire area, which have all been cleaned with electrical contract cleaner. No dice, still no tranny lights on dash.

The second picture is from the right read under the hatch, with rear panel moved out a bit, from Mrmerlin's suggestion. Couldn't find the ground connector. Please let me know what I'm missing.


Thanks again.

Norton

Mrmerlin

well it looks like i have given you the wrong info.
the ground for an 1987 for the selector pod lights is actually MP IV or MP4 this is actually on the or near the steering column ,
the rear ground under the right side quarter panel has been moved.
if you want just to be sure,
follow the harness under the foam and make sure there isnt a breakout of brown wires that are screwed to the floor of the hatch.

OK so what was the last thing you fixed??

Do you have a wire diagram for your car I cant load a picture of the diagram.
Try turning the lights off and put the key in the run position move the shifter through its selectors see if the indicator lights come on then turn on the parking lights see if they come on

Pcplod

Although I am still very much a 928 noob, I had some problems with the shifter lights and the back up lights when I bought my 86.5. The PO had pulled the interior light relay (can't remember the number), and I ordered one from Roger. While I was waiting for the relay to arrive, I went all over looking for the problem with the back up lights, but couldn't find a solution. When I got the relay, I put it in to fix the interior lights and found that I had interior lights, back up lights and gear shifter lights.

Don't know if you are having any problems with the interior lights, but I haven't had any problems with any of these lights since I replaced that relay. I imagine your problem is elsewhere, but it was just a thought. Good luck!

James Bailey

The neutral safety switch backup and dash indicator is all one unit mounted to the transmission where the shift cable attaches ....it has parts which move....things that move are things which wear out ! They work great until one day they break.

Norton928

Is there a link available to a wiring diagram that may help?

Mrmerlin

you probably need to invest in a WSM it will have the diagrams in it