ace996

I've seen a few 996 GT3s for sale that have bubbles in the gauge-pod, in the stickers. Is this something that just happens with the colored gauge pods or is it due to a poor initial install?

Two GT3s I viewed were in front-end hits, one had it listed on the Carfax the other didn't. My mechanic said the bubbles, with both cars, were probably from the cars sitting in the body-shop's lot outside and with rain the bubbles could happen.

Thanks,
TomK

cfjan

I have seen (from pics posted on Rennlist) some that's simply from factory forgot taking off the protective film... yeah, no kidding.. ha! Or if someone swap in the new gauge face and forgot to take the film off...

enthusiast

Unfortunately this was a factory/vendor flaw on some gauge faces that had the optional colors. I don't doubt what 'cfjan' stated for some of these.

https://rennlist.com/forums/996-gt2-...hlight=bubbles


Bubbles in yellow gauge faces back in January 2004. There are so many bubbles maybe this an example where the protective film was not removed? Red dials are in a 2005 GT3 and that is a recent photo (car for sale now).

4porsh

I have a ton of bubbles in my yellow gauges, live in Santa Monica so the weather is nice. Took the car to dealership out of warranty said I need to buy entire gauge cluster, no thanks.

cfjan

The gauge face is pretty easily removed... is the face just not available separately?? Or?

4porsh

If it is easy to remove, might ask a friend who is more comfortable doing this type of work to help me. I will first try to just smooth out the yellow sticker gauge face. luckily the bubbles do not affect how the car drives.

cfjan

Doesn't look too bad.. (I think the 996 setup is the same as Boxster of the same generation)

http://boxsters.addr.com/hacks/cluster.htm

Good luck!!

4porsh

Hey thanks bro,
I will have my friend help me and use that link.

LVDell

Joe, do you garage the car?

Mr Michael B

Man... This would kill me every time I looked at the gauges.

Here's to GT3's with no options!

ace996

I can't imagine the factory, or dealership, delivering a +$100K car with bubbles in the gauges.

Again, the only time I've seen this (in person) has been on cars that had front-end hits. It's since been a 'redlight' for me in my search, as one car had a completely clean Carfax - if my mechanic didn't open-up the front compartment and pull out the interior trim/carpet, we'd never know it was in a hit. The tools were rusty, too, which meant moisture/rain had entered the front - our quess as to why the bubbles formed in the guage decals.

At least the above link shows it's an easy removal and fix.

4porsh

yes...the bubbles seem to be getting worse and it can not be the weather here in Santa Monica. Not much humidity and live two miles from the ocean.
My friend said he will help me, so hopefully we can smooth out the bubbles.

Joe

LVDell

That is so odd. I never even saw a hint of that in the gauges. Even more odd is this is the first time I have ever heard of bubbling. I just assumed they were a colored metal gauge face.

enthusiast

I don't see how this is an easy fix unless it is a case of the protective film left in place during manufacture and it comes off without damaging the fauge face plate. If the colored gauge face is a graphic the adhesive is probably dried out in the bubble areas so how can you 'stick' it down again?

4porsh

I hear ya, will take baby steps with the bubbles. If I can not minimize the bumps I will take the cluster to a gauge place in North Hollywood that repairs these things. But that's down the road one step at a time. Mean while I will keep hammering down.