horst

I doubt that the local parts store will carry these bulbs. You will probably have to go to the dealer, but thankfully, they are quite inexpensive.

KY-91C2

Thanks for the advice horst. Will probably check into it Thursday!

Bill Wagner

STEP NUMBER 1 IN BUYING A CAR:

If the car doesn't have an owners manual, buy or borrow one from someone for that model and year, and use it to make sure all the lights that are supposed to light up do so as described in the manual.

Just thought I'd throw that in for any potential buyers out there.

Good Luck,

Bill Wagner

Adrian

Dear Ron,
This is a bit of a worry. This sounds to me and I really apologise for saying this but I have to, this sounds like a 964 which was modified by the PO for some purpose and has been re-assembled for sale but not very well.
The airbag I have seen before, this is a dirty trick. The spoiler light missing normally means a fixed spoiler was installed and I suggest the cab light is removed because there is a fault with this as well.
The airbag system will need resetting. I suspect the spoiler may well work but you can easily check this whilst driving the cab system, well replace the bulb and see what happens. The biggest worry is the airbag, followed by the roof and lastly the spoiler.
However until all the bulbs are replaced we will not know how to proceed.
Ciao,
Adrian
911C4

PS: I also agree with Bill. Owners manual is critically important. You must functionally test every system before you purchase. The airbag light will come on at every start for 2.5 to 5 seconds (sometimes longer). No light something is wrong. Blown bulbs are very rare. I do cover this in extreme detail inmy book but that isnot going to help yourself at this time. We have to try and help you fix the problems.

KY-91C2

First I want to thank everyone with helping me through this. This list is a godsend. I'm still trying to remember what life was like prior to the internet.

Prior to purchase I did have a PPI done by a mechanic who is very knowledgable about Porsches, but I cannot say how familiar with the 964. No it was not a dealer mechanic. I had some items repaired, including the rear wing, which was not operational. The mechanic did say that he thought the car (engine and tranny) were mechanically sound, which was my major concern. I know that "mechanically sound" can be a subjective term.

Also, the cab top does work, and luckily it is the time of year where I can get the car "hammered" (if the light does not operate properly) before I put it down again, just in case I'm risking something without knowing it.

Bill brings up a good point, one that I will remember in the future. I didn't purchase the owner's manual until after I purchased the car.

I agree that the airbag system is problem #1 right now. I am going to check the auto parts store today, but they probably won't hve the bulbs, so I'll have to order. In the mean time, I will swap some bulbs tonight and see what happens with the lights.

Thnkas again, and I'll let everyone know what I find tonight.

Ron
91 C2 Cabrio

Adrian

Dear Ron,
This suggests why the rear spoiler light was removed. Replacement will hopefully confirm this. Please remember that the rear spoiler light is "ON" from ignition on until you reach 7kph (4mph). It will go off and should not be seen again until the next start. If it comes on after 7kph it is telling you that the spoiler is not in the correct position for the spped. Ie: Open when it should have closed or vice versa. Spoiler opens at 80kph, 50mph plus or minus, normally plus (mine is around 83kph) depending upon your tyre sizes.
Airbag will need the hammer. Cab roof, well that could be a failed latch which are also motor driven,
Ciao,
Adrian
911C4

KY-91C2

Well, since I don't have enough bulbs yet, I decided to move some bulbs and see what happened.

First, on the clock. The altenator, spoiler, engine fan, parking light indicators all operate properly. The hazard warning indicator does not come on, but I do not see anything in the owner's manual. Plus, the turn signal indicators (both) come on on the tach when I turn on the hazards. Am I correct in assuming this is not used? Also, the indicator lamp emergency program never lights. Is this because I have a manual transmission? It appears so.

The convertible top indicator goes out when I put the roof down, but stays on when fully up. There is a sound like one of the gears is stripped during the last stage of closing (like 3 knocks), but the roof seems firmly in place. I imagine I need to replace something here.

The airbag light comes on for a few seconds, blinks out and comes back on. And the seatbelt light stays on. I will have to have the hammer reset the system and see what happens.

Now on the oil temp/pressure gage. Check engine, antilock, brake pad wear, oil pressure, brake fluid, and parking brake all seem to work fine. The long and tranverse interlock never comes on, but I have a C2 and wouldn't expect it to. The Central warning lamp comes on, but can be removed with the switch on the console.

Needless to say with the seatbelt and airbag lights on, I'll have to take it to the dealer and have it hammered. Maybe I'll get lucky and it will reset!

Too bad the closest dealer is 90 miles away!

Ron
91 C2 Cabrio

DaveK

Hi,
For hazard lights, mine is the same - both turn signal lights come on but not the hazard indicator.
I'm not sure that the seatbelt lights require a hammer reset. I had the problem of the seatbelt light staying on with my old clock - new clock and problem solved. But since you need a hammer reset for the airbag anyway it's worth a try. Once the airbag light is reset, hopefully you won't have the "!" light even if you still have the seatbelt light on all the time - on mine, the seatbelt light doesn't cause the master warning light to come on.

Dave
90 C4

Adrian

Guys,
A reminder. If there is a fault in the airbag system under US law the seat belt light is also required to come on, and it does!!!. The list of potential failures in the airbag system is long and painful.Just removing the clock to replace the bulb introduces a fault which much be reset. Always start airbag troubleshooting with a general visual inspection of connectors and then if nothing is found (corrosion on the airbag connector itself is quite common) continue with a system reset. Ensure your mechanic knows how to do this. He has to go through the DME software to access the airbag software. many mechanics do not know this and read the DME fault codes or say, hey it says 1500 No Fault. This is not correct.
Your cab fault Ron is most likely the latch lock motor assembly. I am led to believe that they do not come apart easily and single parts are even harder to come by. Anyway if you can find the fault or isolate it to a specific assembly we can check if individual parts or the whole assembly is required.
Ciao,
Adrian.
911C4

PS: Please also keep in mind that airbag pills only have a life of 15 years.

KY-91C2

As far as the reset needed after removing the clock to replace bulbs. If I did this without disconnecting the cables (which I did), I would expect that this would not cause a fault, and it would not require the reset as a result of this, correct?

Ron 91 C2 Cabrio

Adrian

Dear Ron,
From your posts you say the airbag light comes on, goes out then comes on again. Seat belt light on all the time. This indicates a logged airbag fault and a reset is required,
Ciao,
Adrian
911C4

Randall G.

Having recently cleared a (self-induced) air-bag warning light, second Adrian here. Know the pattern well ... airbag light comes on, goes out then comes on again

Unfortunately, an error such as this is stored in nonvolatile memory, and can only be reset with the hammer.

KY-91C2

OK. I have to get a reset, and understand that. I probably misinterpreted some of the words. A fault is caused by the clock being removed. A removed clock can be defined as the clock pulled out of the dash and cables to the clock disconnected.

My 964 has a fault. I need to take it to someone with a Bosch hammer, and have the faults reset. Only then will I know if I have a malfunctioning airbag system or not. I think that I will not be able to clear the top, but tha airbag, who knows. Maybe the previous owner's mechanic unplugged the clock to remove the bulb from the cabrio top light and caused the faults. I know that this is the best case scenerio, so I'll prepare myself for the alternative instead.

Anyway, this said, I have to find out when I can get the car in for service.

Ron
91 C2 Cabrio

Randall G.

Hi Ron,

I know from experience that just disconnecting the clock will not create an error. If this was the case, people who send their clock out for a new (colored) face would also need to have the errors cleared after reinstalling the clock. Perhaps if you turn on the ignition with the clock removed (starting the self-check routine), you'll get the errors stored in nonvolatile memory?

There is an error for a burned-out bulb, and this may require the hammer to reset. You would think that Porsche would be smart enough to design the system so this particular error would clear once the bulb is replaced, but I'm not sure.

FWIW, I'm guessing (and as you already suspect) there is something that needs fixing in your airbag system, and an unscrupulous P.O. simply pulled the light instead of taking the problem head-on. Air-bag/seatbelt warning lights are fairly common.

As you've probably figured out already (and as Adrian suggests), the light for the spoiler was removed by a P.O. because the spoiler wasn't operating properly. Again, not taking the problem head-on. Perhaps a P.O. was really hurting for $$?

Best of luck!

Herbie

In my '91 C2 Cabrio Tip, all indicators work fine, except for the seat belt light.

When I turn the key in "3" position, all lights come on, for a while, until the engine starts, then all lights come off; OK.

The seat belt light, instead, never comes on.

Can I suppose that one of the previous owners shortened the belt switch ?

But I think the belt light should come on anyway, during the initial check of all the lights, when turning on the key. Also with the seat belt inserted.

And: where are the switch and wires ? Can I check them without removing driver's seat ? Wire colors ?

Thank you for any suggestion.