Pelican Parts
Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   Pelican Parts Forums > Porsche Forums > Porsche 911 Technical Forum


Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Rate Thread
Author
Thread Post New Thread    Reply
Registered
 
Join Date: Jun 2024
Location: Evergreen, CO
Posts: 134
Help identifying unknown wiring on 1988 911

Anyone want to play “guess that wire”?

Trying to sort out a 1988 911 that has been modified over the years, and I’m still learning, one day at a time.

Took a couple videos if anyone wants to give a shot at identifying a few wiring things under the hood.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yZC4pppUTfAndgpSs6C5GgRs30YZzQIi/view?usp=drivesdk

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TqAVSB3_MR3KNZ3SH6EvS9U9Z4FtA-Vv/view?usp=drivesdk

Thanks!
Bryan

Old 04-02-2025, 03:17 PM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #1 (permalink)
Registered
 
john walker's workshop's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Marysville Wa.
Posts: 22,415
Pics are better. Unknown links, ya know.
__________________
https://www.instagram.com/johnwalker8704

8009 103rd pl ne Marysville Wa 98270
206 637 4071
Old 04-02-2025, 03:23 PM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #2 (permalink)
Registered
 
Join Date: Jun 2024
Location: Evergreen, CO
Posts: 134

Old 04-02-2025, 03:57 PM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #3 (permalink)
Registered
 
Join Date: Jun 2024
Location: Evergreen, CO
Posts: 134
Or this one unplugged under the dash on the passenger side

Old 04-02-2025, 05:03 PM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #4 (permalink)
Registered
 
A930Rocket's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Posts: 14,075
Keyless entry or alarm system in the first pictures?

I’m going to go out on a limb, and say it plugs into that round connection behind it in the third picture.
Old 04-02-2025, 05:09 PM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #5 (permalink)
Registered
 
Join Date: Jun 2024
Location: Evergreen, CO
Posts: 134
Well I appreciate you taking the time to respond… I’m specifically looking to find what each of these are. Hoping someone has way too much 930 info in their brain and they will know, or they will know how to find out.

I could have put the round peg in the round hole, yes, but I’d like to know what is is and understand why it’s unplugged before start getting wild over here and potentially undoing things that are supposed to be done.

Baby steps… one calculated change at a time.
Old 04-02-2025, 06:48 PM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #6 (permalink)
 
Slow old car
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: SE PDX
Posts: 441
Does your fresh air blower work? If not, plug in that round plug into the hole behind it and give it a try. I’m almost certain that’s what that’s about.

The second one is not factory, so the only way to tell what’s going on is to follow it back.
__________________
Mike
1980 911 SC 3.1 Coupe // 1986 VW Vanagon Syncro EJ22 // 2015 Macan Turbo // 2017 i3 REX
Old 04-02-2025, 09:02 PM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #7 (permalink)
Kroon Wire Harnesses
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Kolham, Groningen, The Netherlands
Posts: 498
Garage
First picture looks like the 4 pole connector from the tunnel harness to the DME (I assume 2 x black, 1 x black-violet and 1x yellow ?)
__________________
Kroon Wire Harnesses
Specialized in Classic Porsche electrics
www.kroonwireharnesses.com
Check also our Facebookpage: https://www.facebook.com/kroon.wireharnesses
Old 04-02-2025, 09:03 PM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #8 (permalink)
Registered
 
Join Date: Jun 2024
Location: Evergreen, CO
Posts: 134
Ok awesome, these make sense -- first off my blower does not currently work and I need to start looking into that so hopefully it's just this plug. The car does have the AC compressor and condenser removed. The AC lines are still in the front of the engine compartment with the ends taped off.

Also, the car was swapped with a 3.3t setup and changed to the CIS fuel system, so I know that certain wiring and other components have been modified, I just haven't identified some of it yet.

The car did have an old Viper keyless alarm installed which I just removed. The aftermarket orange wire with the spade connector on it was not connected to anything though. This aftermarket orange wire is connected to a red/white factory wire that runs alongside a bunch of brown wires. I'd love to identify what this red/white wire is -- any suggestions on how to trace that?
__________________
1988 Porsche 911 Cabriolet M491 - 3.3 turbo swapped
1994 Toyota Supra TT 6 Speed
2003 Subaru WRX - STi Swapped
2012 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
Old 04-05-2025, 03:13 PM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #9 (permalink)
Registered
 
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: France
Posts: 946
Garage
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phony930 View Post
Ok awesome, these make sense -- first off my blower does not currently work and I need to start looking into that so hopefully it's just this plug. The car does have the AC compressor and condenser removed. The AC lines are still in the front of the engine compartment with the ends taped off.

Also, the car was swapped with a 3.3t setup and changed to the CIS fuel system, so I know that certain wiring and other components have been modified, I just haven't identified some of it yet.

The car did have an old Viper keyless alarm installed which I just removed. The aftermarket orange wire with the spade connector on it was not connected to anything though. This aftermarket orange wire is connected to a red/white factory wire that runs alongside a bunch of brown wires. I'd love to identify what this red/white wire is -- any suggestions on how to trace that?
There are a few white/red or red/white wires but the most relevant for you would be the following candidates:

- From pin HN of Alarm Control Unit to factory alarm horn (via pins 5 and 6 of connector T10)
- From pin HN of Alarm Control Unit to Alarm Relay pin 6
- From Alarm Relay pin 2 to fuse # 2 of Fuse Block 1.
All there references are per the factory diagram for MY 88.

Here is a link to my own copy of the sheet where you'll find these connections. Download the file if you want to be able to fully zoom it in.
https://i.postimg.cc/PfKjK0vB/1988-Carrera-32-diagrams-4.jpg
__________________
Gilles

RoW 88 Carrera coupé
Old 04-06-2025, 12:15 AM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #10 (permalink)
Registered
 
Join Date: Jun 2024
Location: Evergreen, CO
Posts: 134
Interesting, I’ll be honest that I didn’t know the car had a factory alarm. Being that I just removed an old Viper alarm, think it’s worth the trouble to reestablish the factory alarm? I am not fluent in wiring diagrams but can probably ask a friend for help. I’d really love to learn how to understand wiring diagrams either way…

Here are a couple more photos of TWO different red/white wires…

1) one is smaller and goes through a grommet along with a bunch of brown wires.




2) the other is thicker and comes from behind the fuse box and has a factory connector on it.



Does that help clarify at all?

Also, do these relays look correct for either a 911 or a 930? My car started life as a Carrera and was swapped to a 930 engine — just working on understanding what’s what and identifying anything that leaves room for improvement.
(I did discover that there’s an aftermarket relay bringing power to the original fuel pump fuse #6 when key is turned to the on position. Without this the front fuel pump does not run but the rear pump does. I am not yet sure how the rear fuel pump which was added with the swap is powered.)


Last edited by Phony930; 04-08-2025 at 07:21 PM..
Old 04-08-2025, 07:19 PM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #11 (permalink)
Registered
 
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: France
Posts: 946
Garage
Forget this line in my previous post above as I confused with red/black:

- From Alarm Relay pin 2 to fuse # 2 of Fuse Block 1.

Other lines are still correct.

The big short wire with a factory connector you're holding in your hand may be for the convertible top unit if it is connected to fuse #3 (the blue one starting from left on your pic). So no wonder it is unconnected if you have a Coupé or Targa.

Here are other red/white or white/red wires I was able to identify on factory diagrams for Carrera 88:
- A bunch of wires in the windshield wiper and intensive washer circuit around B13, B14, B15 of factory diagram.
- Another bunch at the Heater Blower Control Unit in B26 (but these are in the engine compartment)
- One big between ignition switch and light switch.
- A bunch at speedometer (N52 in diagram), which provide speed info to heater blower control unit and convertible top control unit.

And I think that's about it.
PM me an email address if you want all other sheets of factory diagrams. I have them as separate jpeg high res files and as a collated pdf.
__________________
Gilles

RoW 88 Carrera coupé
Old 04-09-2025, 12:14 AM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #12 (permalink)
 
Registered
 
Join Date: Jun 2024
Location: Evergreen, CO
Posts: 134
I am now trying to identify some wiring behind the gauges in the dash.
I believe some has been modified.

I have an unused red with white stripe wire, with a plastic spade connector coupler on it.

I have an unused brown with white stripe wire with a small (narrow) space connector on it.

I also have a black connector that is unused — I believe it originally plugged into my original tachometer, but the tachometer was changed to an earlier model year and individual spade connectors were tapped in to be used instead. Does that sound right?

I would also like to confirm the correct wiring on the back of a 930 turbo tach — I am replacing my non turbo tach with a turbo tach and need to get the wiring correct, plus add a boost gauge wire so that addition gauge works as well.



Old 06-28-2025, 08:31 PM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #13 (permalink)
Full Send Society
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Chicago, IL.
Posts: 1,773
Garage
What you need is an electrical flow chart. Then you can learn to trace your wiring, figure out which wire does what and answer your own questions. Google can help;

https://www.scribd.com/document/545334952/84-89-Porsche-911-Wiring-Diagrams-1985-Models-Get-Free-Pdf

http://911c1.de/porsche/Schaltplaene/plaene1-10_carrera_32.pdf

https://solopdf.com/porsche_911.htm


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
__________________
-Julian

1977 911 S: Backdate, EFI/ITB, AC project in the works:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/1106768-when-well-enough-cant-left-alone-backdate-efi-itb-ac-more.html
Old 06-29-2025, 04:28 AM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #14 (permalink)
Registered
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 12,607
Garage
Best Advice………..

Quote:
Originally Posted by Showdown View Post
What you need is an electrical flow chart. Then you can learn to trace your wiring, figure out which wire does what and answer your own questions. Google can help;

https://www.scribd.com/document/545334952/84-89-Porsche-911-Wiring-Diagrams-1985-Models-Get-Free-Pdf

http://911c1.de/porsche/Schaltplaene/plaene1-10_carrera_32.pdf

https://solopdf.com/porsche_911.htm


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


Brian,

Get hold of a factory wiring diagram and practice tracing circuit by circuit. It takes patience and a lot of perseverance to be successful in this type of project. It is mandatory that you have a good and reliable copy of the electrical diagram of your car.

Have a note book and do a lot of sketches until you become proficient and familiar with your wiring. Test and verify. Good luck.

Tony

Old 06-29-2025, 06:02 AM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #15 (permalink)
Reply


 


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 02:07 AM.


 
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2025 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page
 

DTO Garage Plus vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.