Dash "D" light went out - how hard is it to fix this?
#1
Advanced
Thread Starter
Dash "D" light went out - how hard is it to fix this?
The drive "D" light in my dash went out. What is the smallest unit this can be replaced in, and is it worth my time if I'm not otherwise refurbing the pod?
Oddly the same thing happened in the purple people eater, but that was at about 165K. Maybe my driving style is just hard on dash lights
Oddly the same thing happened in the purple people eater, but that was at about 165K. Maybe my driving style is just hard on dash lights
#3
Rennlist Member
not that easy - very tedious and you better be goog with a soldering iron
#4
Rennlist Member
I remember soldering one in when I had my S2, I guess Porsche never expected the bulb to fail :-)
Seeing that "D" is on most of the time, could a LED be used/fit in? Just a thought.
Seeing that "D" is on most of the time, could a LED be used/fit in? Just a thought.
#5
Under the Lift
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It's a bit of a pain desoldering and soldering on these tiny bulbs for a soldering amateur like me. I only replace P and D if either one of them is burned out. The others are very rarely used. I've used a Radio Shack bulb shown below.
Here are a few pics of the lights after the pod removed and the instrument cluster is disassembled as I replaced "D" in someone else's cluster from an 88. In the first pic, "D" is shown already desoldered. Right now "P" is burned out in my cluster. All bulbs are original and the others are still working. Someday, I'll pull out the cluster and fix it, but for now, missing "P" doesn't bother me.
Here are a few pics of the lights after the pod removed and the instrument cluster is disassembled as I replaced "D" in someone else's cluster from an 88. In the first pic, "D" is shown already desoldered. Right now "P" is burned out in my cluster. All bulbs are original and the others are still working. Someday, I'll pull out the cluster and fix it, but for now, missing "P" doesn't bother me.
#7
Drifting
Make sure its not the connector in the rear hatch first.
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#8
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Thread Starter
Thanks for all the replies and esp the pix, Bill. Gonna file this one in the "maybe later" bin. I can live with the process of elimination until another one goes offline.
#9
My problem is that when in PARK 'P' the light on the my S4 shows as 'D' but no 'P' light on. All other lights work corrrectly when the appropriate gear/position selected. It has had (PO) a Heaney push down gear shift installed versus the T-bar. Sounds like a sensor problem but may just for the lights as the car starts ok, etc. Any clues as to where to start looking??
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Cheers
#10
Three Wheelin'
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On my 86 there are connectors in the spare tire well, under a plastic cover. One of the connectors is a multi-conductor flat connector. I think this one I had a broken wire inside, so one of the shift lights did not light up.
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monkez (01-14-2022)
#13
Hi,
Is the brightness about the same as the original bulbs?
Do you know the brand and part number of the LEDs you used?
Do the LEDs have a polarization or can any lead be mounted into either attaching hole?
Thanks
Is the brightness about the same as the original bulbs?
Do you know the brand and part number of the LEDs you used?
Do the LEDs have a polarization or can any lead be mounted into either attaching hole?
Thanks
#14
Rennlist Member
Aaand…to add to the question…where is the contact point or module that sends the “signal” if you will, to the dash? Is it on the side of the tranny? At the shifter? I noticed that my lights light up if I quickly move through the ranges, but not if I stop where it needs to be…thinking something just needs a good cleaning…
it was asked above, but I didn’t see it answered…
it was asked above, but I didn’t see it answered…
#15
Rennlist Member
Perhaps I missed it but I didn't see what year this was asked about. I mean, in my 90 S4 it was a simple job after you got the pod out. Just replace the bulb. No soldering. Never mind, I saw the picture, it's gonna be a PITA like the others said.