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-   Porsche 911 Technical Forum (http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/)
-   -   Question re: Carrera 3.2 3rd Brake Lamp Variations (http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/450864-question-re-carrera-3-2-3rd-brake-lamp-variations.html)

vanwyk4257 01-19-2009 10:05 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by elpresidente (Post 4427465)
I'm really glad someone asked this question. My '87 Coupe with factory Carrera tail has the ET snorkel light and I would love to remove it. Anyone with experience care to share the process, along with what to use to plug the 2 holes in the tail?

Is it a PITA to convert to the inside the glass 3rd light? Or should I just remove the snorkel and be done with it?

There are a couple bolts underneath the snorkel on the bottom side of the lid. I believe they take a 5mm hex key to loosen. I had to loosen my entire engine lid to get at them. IIRC the wiring just unplugs from a harness once you trace it back. I have yet to find anything really suitable for plugging the holes with a nice finished look. I have some plastic plugs from Mcmaster Carr in mine right now.

It's not a tough job to remove it though.

Tim in N FL 01-19-2009 05:46 PM
Hi All,

Thanks very much for your thoughts on this issue. Nice to know other "chumps" here are stumped too. Click & Clack (The Tappet Brothers) would get a kick out of this, I'm sure. ;)

Again, the window sticker for my 2/1987-produced Coupe shows that the front and rear spoiler were factory-specified. As some (i.e., the) suggested, it seems like '87 must have been a change-over year for the 3rd brake lamps. Ugh...I'm still a bit confused...

Again, my thanks for your assistance.
Tim

the 01-19-2009 06:15 PM
No, your photos do conform to what I've posted.

'87 was the off year, where non-spoilered cars came with the lower window mounted interior light. Spoilered cars for '87 came WITHOUT the window mounted light, but with the ET exterior light instead.

Like I said previously, my guess is because the lower window mounted light didn't pass regs (probably too low) for visibilty on a spoilered car.

Tim in N FL 01-19-2009 06:38 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by the (Post 4428816)
No, your photos do conform to what I've posted.

'87 was the off year, where non-spoilered cars came with the lower window mounted interior light. Spoilered cars for '87 came WITHOUT the window mounted light, but with the ET exterior light instead.

Like I said previously, my guess is because the lower window mounted light didn't pass regs (probably too low) for visibilty on a spoilered car.
Aha...thank you Sir. I think I follow now. :cool:

vanwyk4257 01-19-2009 06:41 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim in N FL (Post 4428740)
Hi All,

Thanks very much for your thoughts on this issue. Nice to know other "chumps" here are stumped too. Click & Clack (The Tappet Brothers) would get a kick out of this, I'm sure. ;)

Again, the window sticker for my 2/1987-produced Coupe shows that the front and rear spoiler were factory-specified. Member vanwyk4257 seems to have the same set-up as my car does but his is an '85 so it doesn't quite fit. Unless I am missing something here, our two cars plus the yellow '87 targa in my example photos do not conform to the system suggested by members in that they were produced without a window-mounted (inside) 3rd-brake-lamp. I'm going to dig out my PET and check-out those P/Ns 3.2Cab posted-up. As some suggested, it seems like '87 must have been a change-over year for the 3rd brake lamps. FWIW, Pelican Parts offers a Genuine Porsche 3rd brake lamp (in primer) with a P/N not listed in those posted-up by 3.2Cab. It makes sense to me that those '87s with the "low-mount" 3rd brake lights had the rear spoilers added at the port or by the dealer. Ugh...I'm still a bit confused...

Again, my thanks for your assistance.
Tim

I had a 1985 coupe with that setup. I now have a 1987 targa with factory spoilers and it also has the snorkel brake light.

Tim in N FL 01-19-2009 06:46 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by vanwyk4257 (Post 4428878)
I had a 1985 coupe with that setup. I now have a 1987 targa with factory spoilers and it also has the snorkel brake light.
Got it. I'm now on the same page as you and the. This really helps. Thanks fellas. SmileWavy

Ugly or not, I am glad that my car has a 3rd brake lamp. I am convinced that it has saved me from being rear-ended numerous times by the moronic, low-time (~60,000 college students in this town), and generally distracted drivers I encounter in my area. People really tend to tailgate me in traffic when I'm in the 911. It drives me insane!

the 01-19-2009 06:55 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by vanwyk4257 (Post 4428878)
I had a 1985 coupe with that setup. I now have a 1987 targa with factory spoilers and it also has the snorkel brake light.
That's odd, because the third brake light law did not come into effect in the US until the 1986 model year.

A 1985 should have no third brake light at all - it didn't exist at the time (I guess unless maybe it was a really late 85 and they started putting them on then - seems like they would not put on equipment that was not legally required, but who knows).

vanwyk4257 01-19-2009 07:04 PM
I would have thought so too, but the spoilers were absolutely factory issue on that car, no doubt in my mind. Here is a picture of each car with said brake light.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1232424245.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1232424278.jpg

Hugh R 01-19-2009 07:13 PM
I guess you're going for "correct". That last targa pic looks awful with the brake light. I put an LED one that is about a foot long and one inch think in the top of my rear window inside. You can't see it in your rear view mirror, or very easily from the exterior, but when you hit the brakes it sure lights up.

the 01-19-2009 07:27 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by vanwyk4257 (Post 4428938)
I would have thought so too, but the spoilers were absolutely factory issue on that car, no doubt in my mind. Here is a picture of each car with said brake light.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1232424245.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1232424278.jpg
Both those cars have been modified, so who knows. The black one, obviously the wheels and exhaust, but more importantly, some work has been done on the decklid/spoiler. The Carrera emblem, for example, is in the wrong place.

The Targa, if it is an 85, has the wrong rear reflector. It has one that wasn't even available until 1987. So someone has messed with the rear of that car.

vanwyk4257 01-20-2009 02:50 AM
The targa is an '87 as per my signature, so the reflector et al is correct. The modifications on the '85 coupe were all done by myself aside from the carrera badge on the engine lid, that would have been a PO. It's possible the car had a little paint work and the badge wasn't put back on correctly, but it's doubtful that someone would have added the third brake light after the fact. The one on the '87 was absolutely factory and the car was completely unmodified when I purchased it.


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