Bubbling gauges
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: SE PA
Bubbling gauges
Anyone ever seen this? The gauges on my 997S are developing bubbles. Definitely worse when the weather warms up, but don't ever really go away. Is it possible to replace only the gauge faces? $2500 for a new cluster is overkill; everything works fine (no dead pixels, no scratches, just bubbles). Suggestions?
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 95
Likes: 2
From: Bakersfield CA
Are the bubbles on the outside or on the inside of gauge face? If they are on the outside they might be caused by overspray of a detail product used on your dash. I had a similar problem with my car from the previous owner who must have used a product that attacked the plastic gauge faces. I found a detail guy who was able to fix the gauge faces.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Last edited by GEO356; May 11, 2014 at 11:23 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,024
Likes: 65
From: Austin, TX
FVD has a variety of gauge faces in various colors.
http://www.fvd.us/us/en/Porsche-0/99...uge_Faces.html
http://www.fvd.us/us/en/Porsche-0/99...uge_Faces.html
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: SE PA
GEO356, the white gauge faces actually appear to be a decal that is placed right on the gauge face. So I guess in answer to your question, the bubbles are on the actual gauge faces themselves under the decals, not on the glass (plastic) that sits over each gauge.
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Three Wheelin'
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,587
Likes: 50
From: MN
You could DIY it but there is risk of either damaging the needles or upsetting the needle calibrations in the process. I had my cluster mostly apart to see about painting the volcano grey top piece. Replacing the gauge faces is doable for the adventurous. Me, I gave up for fear if making a mistake that would be too costly to fix.
Go with FVD. Here's an opportunity to change colors if you want. Or ask if they have leftover OEM ones from other customers that did a color change. Either way the process is fairly easy - pull your cluster, ship to them, swap/upgrade performed, ship back, reinstall. You shouldn't be down for more than a few days.
Go with FVD. Here's an opportunity to change colors if you want. Or ask if they have leftover OEM ones from other customers that did a color change. Either way the process is fairly easy - pull your cluster, ship to them, swap/upgrade performed, ship back, reinstall. You shouldn't be down for more than a few days.
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Drifting
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,810
Likes: 153
From: BIG smoke eh!
Were all crazy. Needed to put a new sticker on my plate. Took me an hour. Screws stripped and broke the black plastic plate. Re Drill, plug and glue the silly plate holder.And of course clean under the plate, clean the plate, wax the inside of the plate cover.
Did you know there is a tow hook screw access hole in there?
Last edited by BIG smoke; Jul 9, 2014 at 10:21 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,024
Likes: 65
From: Austin, TX
You could DIY it but there is risk of either damaging the needles or upsetting the needle calibrations in the process. I had my cluster mostly apart to see about painting the volcano grey top piece. Replacing the gauge faces is doable for the adventurous. Me, I gave up for fear if making a mistake that would be too costly to fix.
Go with FVD. Here's an opportunity to change colors if you want. Or ask if they have leftover OEM ones from other customers that did a color change. Either way the process is fairly easy - pull your cluster, ship to them, swap/upgrade performed, ship back, reinstall. You shouldn't be down for more than a few days.
Go with FVD. Here's an opportunity to change colors if you want. Or ask if they have leftover OEM ones from other customers that did a color change. Either way the process is fairly easy - pull your cluster, ship to them, swap/upgrade performed, ship back, reinstall. You shouldn't be down for more than a few days.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 670
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio, TX
Mine didn't bubble like that, but I had the Carrera white gauges and the numbers became blurred. Looks like some of your numbers are doing the same. I just replaced the complete instrument cluster with a used one from ebay, which was half the price of having FVD replace them.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,587
Likes: 50
From: MN
PhilD - did your mileage change with the cluster swap? Backup/swap/restore with PIWIS or Durametric Pro? I had considered a cluster swap at one point and never found an answer to the mileage question.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 670
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio, TX
Mileage changed to the new cluster mileage as it is stored in the cluster. I documented it and took photos of original and replacement clusters. I programmed the new cluster with Durametric Pro. The backup/restore feature does not work correctly with Durametric, so I just screen grabbed all the original settings and programmed them to the new cluster.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: SE PA
Wow. Really interesting. If I magnify the picture, it looks like the background is cross-hatched silver with black letters and numbers, and then a white layer placed (poorly) over the top. Over many of the numbers, the white does not line up well with the numbers revealing the silver background and odd looking numbers. For example zoom in on the 2 or the 4 of the attached picture. Also looks like the white "mask" forms the turn signals, etc. anyone know what's going on here? I think I've seen silver faces instead of white on later models. Anyone else have white faces, or are they all silver and as 997_rich suggests, mine just has the factory film still applied?
