Fusing the Dash Lighting - How To

[kenikh]

Far too few buggery references for Ronnie. Thus we must assume a kidnapping. The question is: why???

[Ronnie's.930]

Kenik, I was kidnapped because my buggery skills are in high demand, buttofcourse!!!


Famoroso, I did not think to check on the ashtray light in my car - will look into that - thanks!


Mygas, I just noticed your post from back in August of 2015 - good info and thanks!

[kenikh]

All good stuff. Sounds like I have yet another project on my hands.

[famoroso]

Originally Posted by Ronnie's.930

Famoroso, I did not think to check on the ashtray light in my car - will look into that - thanks!

Yeah, I pulled each main fuse consecutively and my new gauge lighting fuse and the ashtray light remained lit. Ugh.

[pkabush]

Nice write up Ronster. Seems like a must do mod. I used to get smoke coming out of my dash vents at random times while driving. Finally pulled all the after market stereo and alarm wiring out (enough wire to fill a 5 gal bucket) and haven't had a problem since but this is defiantly on the short list.

[T77911S]

Porsche wiring or at least their philosophy about wiring and fusing leaves much to be desired.

the headlights are anther issue.
before I knew there was a mod out there I changed mine so that the power going thru the headlight switch and hi/lo switch operated relays instead of the headlights themselves.
I also did it so that it looks factory and can be removed.

fusing things after switches like they do is NOST a

[Rawknees'Turbo]

Bump for Kevin who is in the process of righting the various Porsche 911 wiring wrongs (fuel pumps circuit, headlights circuit, etc.) on his 1978 Turbo.

[kevin930t]

Thanks i really appreciate all the help on my 78,i cant believe teally how dangerous the wiring is from the factory and suprised to know that its not just my car but all 930 911 are like this.I was not aware of the danger until i was having fuel pump issues and learned from mr.knees that in fact bothe pumps are on one circuit.Number 6 fuse was getting so hot you could not touch without getting burned.

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[flightlead404]

Originally Posted by kevin930t

Thanks i really appreciate all the help on my 78,i cant believe teally how dangerous the wiring is from the factory and suprised to know that its not just my car but all 930 911 are like this.I was not aware of the danger until i was having fuel pump issues and learned from mr.knees that in fact bothe pumps are on one circuit.Number 6 fuse was getting so hot you could not touch without getting burned.

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I have just purchased a 12 position ATC fuse buss so I can move some circuits from a sort of cheesy patched in mess. I plan on making a metal bracket and mounting it just in front of the stock box. I went this route partly with the plan of using it to do this sort of thing ie fuse dash lights

So, I'm going to move my audio amp, headlights, oil cooler fan, new microsquirt and AFR meter to it. That leaves a few open slots.

Is there anywhere a comprehensive list of these sorts of circuits that need to be fused or modified?

1) Glove box lights
2) Move fuel pumps to separate circuits

Others?

[kevin930t]

Headlights fuelpumps dashlights,so far thats all i am aware of,mr.knees just made me aware of this list,hopefully he will chime in.Souonds like you have alot of electronics so putting all circuits in a new box makes a lot of sence..

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[kevin930t]

Originally Posted by flightlead404

I have just purchased a 12 position ATC fuse buss so I can move some circuits from a sort of cheesy patched in mess. I plan on making a metal bracket and mounting it just in front of the stock box. I went this route partly with the plan of using it to do this sort of thing ie fuse dash lights

So, I'm going to move my audio amp, headlights, oil cooler fan, new microsquirt and AFR meter to it. That leaves a few open slots.

Is there anywhere a comprehensive list of these sorts of circuits that need to be fused or modified?

1) Glove box lights
2) Move fuel pumps to separate circuits

Others?

I amnot sure if the glovebox light is on its own circuit or tied to dashlights,something i will check into

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[kevin930t]

Glove box light is on its own circuit from the dash lights..

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[flightlead404]

Originally Posted by kevin930t

Glove box light is on its own circuit from the dash lights..

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And the dash lights are unfused? I could just move all of them to a 1 or 2 amp fuse then

[flightlead404]

Originally Posted by kevin930t

Glove box light is on its own circuit from the dash lights..

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And the dash lights are unfused? I could just move all of them to a 1 or 2 amp fuse then

[kevin930t]

Yes i believe that they are always hot as well with the glovebox,makes u wonder what they were thinking.Wondering how many cars have caught fire.

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[Rawknees'Turbo]

^^^

Yep, the entire dash lighting circuit is dumbly unfused - the first page of this thread has a lot of info on that, and the first post includes a link to a very old thread on the subject.


I've never found a comprehensive list of all the Porsche 911 electrical wiring eff-ups, but here are some of them (I'll add to this list when I remember other problem areas):

1) dash lighting is unfused (see this thread on how to fix)

2) Fuel pumps' relays are stupidly powered from single source - the fix is here 930 Fuel Pump Fuse Overload - The Solution

3) Headlights (high and low beams) do not use relays and the entire current draw is passed through the semi-delicate headlight switch (can you say "dumba"?) - the fix is here - Pelican Parts - European Automotive Parts and Accessories - Porsche • BMW • Mercedes • Volkswagen • Audi • Saab • Volvo • MINI

4) The nose a/c condenser blower motor is unfused (can you say "dumba") - simple solution is talked about on the first page of this thread.

5) Footwell blower motors unfused until sometime in the later 1980's (maybe 1986? - when Porsche added inline fuses near the harness plugs on each motor)

[flightlead404]

Originally Posted by Rawknees'Turbo

^^^

Yep, the entire dash lighting circuit is dumbly unfused - the first page of this thread has a lot of info on that, and the first post includes a link to a very old thread on the subject.


I've never found a comprehensive list of all the Porsche 911 electrical wiring eff-ups, but here are some of them (I'll add to this list when I remember other problem areas):

1) dash lighting is unfused (see this thread on how to fix)

2) Fuel pumps' relays are stupidly powered from single source - the fix is here 930 Fuel Pump Fuse Overload - The Solution

3) Headlights (high and low beams) do not use relays and the entire current draw is passed through the semi-delicate headlight switch (can you say "dumba"?) - the fix is here - Pelican Parts - European Automotive Parts and Accessories - Porsche • BMW • Mercedes • Volkswagen • Audi • Saab • Volvo • MINI

4) The nose a/c condenser blower motor is unfused (can you say "dumba") - simple solution is talked about on the first page of this thread.

I just purchased Fozzy's (flat6illumination) bi-xenon kit so I'll incorporate separately fused and relay driven circuits when I install that. I got with white angel eyes which I'll drive with the fog light switch as I'll be replacing the front valence with a DP style valence and front cooler and its rarely foggy here. I got black "reflectors" too, I think they'll look sick.

[Rawknees'Turbo]

^^^

Better headlights is something I plan on doing at some point - I just have the OEM H5s from the late 80's models, and while not horrible after adding the relays, I really would like brighter lights that beam farther out in front of the car. I do much of my driving on unlit highways and always wish I had more light while chugging along in the pitch black.

I really like what some people have done with putting LED bulbs into H4 lenses/housings, but the H4s are very costly. I wonder what the bi-xenon are like and if they can be used with H5s? I'll have to check those out.

[flightlead404]

Originally Posted by Rawknees'Turbo

^^^

Better headlights is something I plan on doing at some point - I just have the OEM H5s from the late 80's models, and while not horrible after adding the relays, I really would like brighter lights that beam farther out in front of the car. I do much of my driving on unlit highways and always wish I had more light while chugging along in the pitch black.

I really like what some people have done with putting LED bulbs into H4 lenses/housings, but the H4s are very costly. I wonder what the bi-xenon are like and if they can be used with H5s? I'll have to check those out.

I'll provide some pics and a write up. If possible I'll try and do a side by side comparison, one xenon and one H4, but not sure if I'll be able to do that.