jbrob007

Thanks guys! Thats what I'll do... No sense in spending that kind of change for a delay function. Frankly, I dont need it and prefer the interior lights go out when I shut the door. Dont know how many times I walked away from my Jeep or the wife's minivan wondering if the damn lights are gonna extinguish... or not. Guess I'm just old and dont trust all "this new-fangled electronic gizmos..." even if they are 25 years old... LOL!!!

One more thing OFF of the "To Do" list

Alan

Well... I think the main reason Porsche added the relay was because the loading of the interior lights is now quite high (more as time went on) on an S4 you have 3 in the roof, 2 in the doors and one above the CE panel. 6 lights at 10W each - so 60W - about 5A which is a lot for the door pin switches to switch reliably. It will work but probably not well in the long run.. I'd plan to find a relay.

Alan

Bilal928S4

Alan,
My 91 has the light in the passenger footwell over the CE panel. But my 90 does not have it.
Bilal

Alan

Yes - thats right.. a '90-'91 change - still even 50W is still a lot to switch...

Alan

rgs944

I love the relay. The car looks great with the interior lights on as you walk away. If you are worried about it staying on, I figure that's just a good excuse to stare at the car a little longer before you go inside for your drink. LOL

jbrob007

Yes I agree... definitely something I want to fix, but the jumper will do for the short term. I'd love to see my rear hatch release work as designed From what I understand this particular relay is hard to find and costs around $160... 1st option = attempt to repair it. 2nd option = jumper. 3rd option = replace it.

I'd also like to replace my map light (over the rearview) and hatch light with a three way switch similar to the ones in the doors. Much more reliable design I think. But, again thats not a NEED right now cause they are still operational (for now).

Thanks for all the help!

Joel

Alan

I'd replace all the roof lights with the new VW units - BTW for the purists - the original lights are really just old VW units (Hella made).

See other threads on this - they are really far superior lights - in every way.

Alan

Alan

One interesting note on this - when they added this light they did an interesting thing.. some of you may have noticed.

If you blow your interior light fuse somehow - you will note that the light over the CE panel continues to work... presumably so you can still see to change the fuse... This light is on a different fuse, it shares the ground switching with the others. Now since on these models losing the interior lights means losing instruments too - this seems a quite logical thought.

Alan

Bilal928S4

Thanks Alan,
Have not encountered it yet but good to know. It is amazing that Porsche continued to refine these cars even when sales were down to on only a few thousands worldwide.
Bilal

993turbo

The lights switch of instantly when the car is locked, so unless you leave your car unlocked when you leave it, there should be no interior lights on.

rgs944

I did not realize that because I have only had the car locked a few times. Really no need to lock a car around here. In the summer rarely does the sunroof ever get shut. Sure we have occasional car item thefts but most likely it is the kind of car a small time thief will be wary of. I do not keep anything in the car to grab and I think most crooks would look for a car that would likely not bring as much attention to themselves.

Alan

Wow - sounds like you live in the Garden of Eden... nice.

Alan

rgs944

I would not call it the garden of eden but it is a small midwestern city. I might be a little more careless than most people too. Around here I am more worried about someone keying the car because its a Porsche rather than them stealing it. I figure if the windows are down it will make them think that the car is being watched very closely. Reverse Psych. LOL