rexpontius

My 86.5 has two dome lights in the headliner, one above the rear view mirror and one in the smaller headliner section of the hatch.

The one above the mirror can be switched permanently on/off/with doors open, similar to the lights in the doors.

The rear one also has 3 settings, but only works permanently on, the other two settings don't work.

Should it work similar as the other light, or should it switch on with the hatch open?

Many thanks


Michel

Ducman82

should be on when doors open, off, on all the time.

ROG100

All three lights - front center and hatch are the same and operate the same.

Gary Knox

And all three are better if replaced with ones from the VW Passat. The Porsche lights can very easily have the hot wire touching the chassis where mounted. They are frequently the cause of parasitic drain on the battery as well. The VW Passat light is encased in a plastic compartment, and fully insulated/separated from any metal.

They are available inexpensively on e-bay from wrecking yards. You can readily paint the plastic surround to match your interior. They are essentially plug and play if you get the VW connector with pigtails from the supplier.

Gary-

PS: Adding to Roger's comment below, I've purchased several of these, including connector with pigtails and shipping charges for ~$15 each. I have black headliners, and use black vinyl rattle can spary paint to change color of the VW plastic if needed.

ROG100

Gary,
At $50 each the VW alternative is getting expensive and then you add the connector and pigtail another $15. Used could be a lot cheaper and the way to go.

rexpontius

Thanks for the input guys, I looked at the wiring again and noticed it simply was not connected right, the rear light now works perfectly.

I see how the original light can result in the 12v+ wire to touch the chassis, but it is easily solved with some good quality electric insulation tape, and careful installation.

I dont see a direct need to replace it with a VolksWagen part :-)

Alan

Sorry to say - but the stock 928 lights were also used in VW cars - just older crappier ones... They aren't specifically VW parts - I think they are Hella made - but they are generic use...

IMHO the original design was really flawed - no real way around that... it has poor materials that degrade over time, its too easy to reconnect it wrongly, the overlap over the trim is too small and the rocker motion for the switch is poorly executed (the VW units switch similarly but length-wise a much smarter choice + they look so much better.

All mine are already replaced... I also have a set of grey ones that need a good home - they already have pigtails and the adaptations required for the rear hatch location and all the bulb holders are modified to fit stock 928 bulbs.

Alan

DonT

Alan PM sent....

NoVector

Fixture quality aside, today I put LEDs in the footwell lights, both overhead lights, luggage compartment/hatch, central electric panel area and glove box today. WOW! Should have done this years ago. I used the same size as Ed Scherer recommended in his guide.

tilac999

Mine works as yours did. Just on/off. How do you reconnect the wires differently? Thanks.

Alan

The red or green wire must go to the bulb end, the brown wire must go to the frame, the brown/white or white wire must go to the switch.

Alan

Alan

Wow - flury of interest in these. I will respond to the PM's and offer them in the order received.

Alan

rexpontius

Hmm I am really curious to see what the VW light look like, do you have any pictures?

With regard to the wiring, it is actually pretty simple, but you have to look close, the lights in the doors work different from the ones in the headliner.

Basically you have 3 wires, a red (or green) 12v+ one, and brown one (always ground) and a brown/white one (switched ground). The 12v+ wire always goes to the side of the bulb /fixture that is not switched.

The other two wires go to the remaining connectors, it does not matter which way (well, not entirely true because it would change in which direction the light is always on/switched).

Cheers
Michel

Alan

In the door it doesn't matter - in the roof it does - the frame connection should not be connected to the Brown/White (or White wire).

Note that in the doors & by the mirror the wiring is Red, Brown & Brown/White

In the hatch/roof & rear hatch its Green, Brown & White for the same functions respectively.

If you connect any single one of the Brown/White or White wires to the frame connections - all your lights will be permanently on in the switched position as well as in the permanently on position... and your door end lights will be always on...

Alan

Alan

Rob is taking the lights - here are some pictures for him. And for those interested in what these look like.

Note this was for 3 of the grey switched lights and 2 small unswitched matching door lights - there are more shown here - an extra grey switched light and an ultrasonic alarm switched light (very special one...). These are not included. You can see the style of the custom pigtails - on 2 of the switched units the pigtail plugs in - on the rear hatch back version they are permanently attached internally for better clearance.

I'll see if I have plugs for the 2 small ones also..

Alan