How hard is it to replace the plugs at the rear of the instrument cluster?

bmsamson · 11-28-2022, 08:47 AM

I lost my instrument lighting, removed the cluster to discover it's the newer style with non-replaceable bulbs so that wasn't it. In the process, however, discovered that the plugs on the rear had deteriorated/crumbled and worked loose. Replaced the headlight switch as it had been fiddly for a while and at least temporarily I have instrument lighting again, but still figure it'll work loose again so I should replace those plugs as well, IF I can get them properly installed. No forum post has turned up anyone who's done so, I'm just trying to figure out how....it seems if I try to work in place it'd be really awkward especially if all those wires need to be inserted in the appropriate holes one by one, the alternative being to somehow remove that section of harness, swap out the plugs outside the car then reinstall? I wouldn't know where to look to know how to accomplish that and I can't find it in my Bentley. How likely is it that if I buy this part I can get it installed?

JFP in PA · 11-28-2022, 08:52 AM

The plugs are available as parts, you need to talk to a dealer parts person to get the correct ones for your model as they are different. You will also need a set of pin extraction tools to get the pins out of the old ones and into the new ones, and you need to be very careful and move one pin at a time to make sure you get them all where they belong.

bmsamson · 11-28-2022, 10:17 AM

Thanks, JFP. That's what I feared, having to remove each wire individually from the backs of those three plugs and get them properly in the corresponding holes on the new. Finding the part isn't the issue, but installing it is. Do you know, is this normally done with the wires in place, or is there some way to remove that length of the harness and work outside the car, which seems the only way I'd be comfortable taking it on? I haven't tried to figure out how to do that, was hoping someone has done so in the past and could guide me.......

JFP in PA · 11-28-2022, 10:42 AM

With the dash section removed, there is plenty of working space, and yes, you have to do it wiring harness in place because pulling it out of the dash is a major league project because it is connected to just about everything. I have done both, so I know what it takes.

Randy328 · 11-28-2022, 01:21 PM

I replaced the covers/shrouds only - that's the part with locking mechanism. Left the wires in the connectors, the actual connectors were fine. Press a tab, pull the connector out, slide it into the new connector. Took 5 minutes once I had the cluster detached.

bmsamson · 03:07 PM

Well that sounds promising Randy, though I'm not actually picturing what you're describing. Somehow wires go into these as one, not needing individual threading? I suppose I need to take the cluster out again and have a better look at how the wires go in.......because looking at that photo of my blue plug above, i'm not seeing what you mean by the connector vs cover/shroud

Randy328 · 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmsamson

Well that sounds promising Randy, though I'm not actually picturing what you're describing. Somehow wires go into these as one, not needing individual threading? I suppose I need to take the cluster out again and have a better look at how the wires go in.......because looking at that photo of my blue plug above, i'm not seeing what you mean by the connector vs cover/shroud

On the blue plug, the gray part where the wires go into the holes are the connector. It will slide out of the blue shroud after releasing a small tab lock on the side. Then, you can slide the connector part back in.

At the 9:52 mark this video shows how it slides off on an older Boxster with different colored connectors but they're pretty much the same as the newer ones. Slide shroud off, slide new one on. I have done this on an '04 and an '03 S.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXGQv7PgFzw&t=592s

bmsamson · 11-29-2022, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Randy328

On the blue plug, the gray part where the wires go into the holes are the connector. It will slide out of the blue shroud after releasing a small tab lock on the side. Then, you can slide the connector part back in.

At the 9:52 mark this video shows how it slides off on an older Boxster with different colored connectors but they're pretty much the same as the newer ones. Slide shroud off, slide new one on. I have done this on an '04 and an '03 S.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXGQv7PgFzw&t=592s

That's incredibly helpful. Thank you! I'm going to buy the plugs and give it a shot.