Help With Tail Light Harness
#1
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Help With Tail Light Harness
Bought these on eBay because my '90S4's tail lamp sockets are corroded, 1 bulb is inoperable while the others won't be for long. I realized after ordering them that they are not for US model cars. Everything is the same except one socket has 2 contact points on my car while all the sockets in the new piece have only single contact points. Additionally, there is an extra prong on my car at the plug where the new piece is missing a prong.
My question is, does anyone have any experience adapting these to work on the US cars? If not, any ideas on how to potentially approach the project?
I'm aware that there is a thread here that explains how someone adapted Nissan Quest sockets, etc and hand-made a new harness for these tail lights. I even purchased them and started the project before deciding to try these Euro sockets out 1st instead.
Thanks for any help you kind folks can be.
My question is, does anyone have any experience adapting these to work on the US cars? If not, any ideas on how to potentially approach the project?
I'm aware that there is a thread here that explains how someone adapted Nissan Quest sockets, etc and hand-made a new harness for these tail lights. I even purchased them and started the project before deciding to try these Euro sockets out 1st instead.
Thanks for any help you kind folks can be.
#2
The Parts Whisperer
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I believe you can use them as is but in a pair. The difference is that one rear light will not work both tail and stop. I think the USA uses 2 for stop and euro just one.
#3
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I bought a lot of them and we are going to add the correct socket - either the modified Quest or another type.
With used being $200 and new $400 - these are a perfect alternative.
With used being $200 and new $400 - these are a perfect alternative.
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Does it have the "Do It Yourself" manual transmission, or the superior "Fully Equipped by Porsche" Automatic Transmission? George Layton March 2014
928 Owners are ".....a secret sect of quietly assured Porsche pragmatists who in near anonymity appreciate the prodigious, easy going prowess of the 928."
Does it have the "Do It Yourself" manual transmission, or the superior "Fully Equipped by Porsche" Automatic Transmission? George Layton March 2014
928 Owners are ".....a secret sect of quietly assured Porsche pragmatists who in near anonymity appreciate the prodigious, easy going prowess of the 928."
#4
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Thanks guys!
#5
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Depends what the extra "prong" does. We can add another wire if needed.
Sean is going to look at what is needed to bring the harnesses in line with the USA standard.
Sean is going to look at what is needed to bring the harnesses in line with the USA standard.
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#8
Chronic Tool Dropper
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Euro harnesses have the extra bulb filament for the intrgated rear foglamp function. IMO this is a desirable feature. If you choose not to use it that's OK, but you still want to use a dual-filament bulb (same as stop/tail bulb) in that socket.
US cars (mine anyway) have the wiring in place to support that rear foglight function. You can buy the switch (our usual suspects), and put it in the factory location where the intensive washer button lives now. It's virtually plug-and-play.
US cars (mine anyway) have the wiring in place to support that rear foglight function. You can buy the switch (our usual suspects), and put it in the factory location where the intensive washer button lives now. It's virtually plug-and-play.
#9
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Not quite plug n play unfortunately from what I can see here. My existing harness has an additional metal prong in the plug assembly than the new Euro harness will accept. The female location for the prong in the Euro assembly is filled in. If you look close at the picture you can just barely see where it's filled in.
Don't know if it makes a difference, but my car originated in Canada. There are a few differences in my car and US cars and this may be one of them.
Don't know if it makes a difference, but my car originated in Canada. There are a few differences in my car and US cars and this may be one of them.
#10
Electron Wrangler
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Can't you just pull out the dummy plug for that position?
While there were DOT regulations at the time that caused USA light to be different - the ROW config is not really so different. Instead of 3 markers per side at the back where the inboard one is a combination brake light, the ROW models have 2 markers in the outboard positions and a brake light only in the inboard one - it is always dark with the brakes inactive. The outboard most marker is a combination with the fog light on an ROW model - but this is not normally enabled on USA cars - as noted you do need a dual filament bulb there to work correctly even just in marker mode (you can use the brake light bulb). You'd just need a pair of new single filament 21W bulbs for the brakes.
Alan
While there were DOT regulations at the time that caused USA light to be different - the ROW config is not really so different. Instead of 3 markers per side at the back where the inboard one is a combination brake light, the ROW models have 2 markers in the outboard positions and a brake light only in the inboard one - it is always dark with the brakes inactive. The outboard most marker is a combination with the fog light on an ROW model - but this is not normally enabled on USA cars - as noted you do need a dual filament bulb there to work correctly even just in marker mode (you can use the brake light bulb). You'd just need a pair of new single filament 21W bulbs for the brakes.
Alan
#11
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Possibly...I'll look at it more closely, but it seems to have been hot-filled with a glue or silicon as opposed to an insert. This is why I posted the thread...didn't wanna start carving the parts up without seeing if someone had gone the path before me. I'm not sure if I were to dig out the filler that....a) there would be metal contact points inside, or...b) if there were contacts undernesth the filler would I be able to remove of the filler enough to make adequate contact of the metals for conductivity.
Thanks Alan for your information....thank you all.
Thanks Alan for your information....thank you all.
#12
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Sorry about the delay - lots of other irons in the fire 8>)
Had time to look at these.
Some background.
USA Harness 87 to 95 - 928 631 465 02
ROW Harness 87 to 89 - 928 631 465 01 - No rear fog-light
ROW Harness 87 to 95 - 928 631 465 00 - With rear fog-light
With a lot of help from Earl Gillstrom - thanks Earl.
All will work in the standard rear tail light. The only difference is the double filament "black" socket - USA cars - below the reverse light on the cluster and the double filament "green" socket - ROW cars - on the bottom row at the farthest position from the "black" socket.
Double Filament "black" socket = USA harness - 465 02
Double Filament "green" socket = ROW harness with rear fog-light. - 465 00
ALL single filament sockets = ROW harness with no rear fog light. - 465 01
For those playing along I need to confirm the following ----
USA Harness added one extra rear red marker light at the double filament "black" socket with the brake light.
ROW Harness added a rear fog-light at the double filament "green" socket.
I believe the ALL single filament ROW harness with no rear fog-light was for use in Countries other than the USA that did not require a rear fog-light.
Had time to look at these.
Some background.
USA Harness 87 to 95 - 928 631 465 02
ROW Harness 87 to 89 - 928 631 465 01 - No rear fog-light
ROW Harness 87 to 95 - 928 631 465 00 - With rear fog-light
With a lot of help from Earl Gillstrom - thanks Earl.
All will work in the standard rear tail light. The only difference is the double filament "black" socket - USA cars - below the reverse light on the cluster and the double filament "green" socket - ROW cars - on the bottom row at the farthest position from the "black" socket.
Double Filament "black" socket = USA harness - 465 02
Double Filament "green" socket = ROW harness with rear fog-light. - 465 00
ALL single filament sockets = ROW harness with no rear fog light. - 465 01
For those playing along I need to confirm the following ----
USA Harness added one extra rear red marker light at the double filament "black" socket with the brake light.
ROW Harness added a rear fog-light at the double filament "green" socket.
I believe the ALL single filament ROW harness with no rear fog-light was for use in Countries other than the USA that did not require a rear fog-light.
#14
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ROW Harness 87 to 89 - 928 631 465 01 - No rear fog-light
ALL single filament sockets = ROW harness with no rear fog light. - 465 01
I believe the ALL single filament ROW harness with no rear fog-light was for use in Countries other than the USA that did not require a rear fog-light.
ALL single filament sockets = ROW harness with no rear fog light. - 465 01
I believe the ALL single filament ROW harness with no rear fog-light was for use in Countries other than the USA that did not require a rear fog-light.
I am pretty sure at least one of the sockets needs to be double filament to accomplish this.
#15
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Pardon the confusion here Roger, but how can "ALL single filament" sockets/bulbs function as a brake light (versus running lights)?
I hope that makes sense.