luggage compartment light/alarm switch

kidrock · 01-25-2009, 05:08 PM

tinkering with my recently-purchased '88 Cabrio. Luggage compartment light, which is located on passengers side near hood hinge, is inoperative.

Good ol' Mr. Bentley says a switch belongs here and mounts with a allen bolt on the hinge. Obviously, the switch is missing.

Tried a parts search on this site but no luck. Am I missing something?

Oh Haha · 01-25-2009, 05:37 PM

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/ksearch/PEL_search.cgi?command=show_part_page&please_wait=N&make=POR&model=911M&section=ELswch&page=3&bookmark=16&part_number=964-613-601-00-M260

mthomas58 · 01-25-2009, 06:10 PM

I've got the switch but no light

kidrock · 01-25-2009, 08:19 PM

That switch looks pretty darn generic, as if pretty much any trigger switch with the correct "throw" measurement would do the trick...right?

Also...if I failed to mention it before...the harness to the light is intact, but has one extra brown wire which appears to have been cut (duh). Does anyone know if the switch has only one (brown) wire to it, or should there be some type of harness or connector attached to the other end?

Just below the offending wire is an unconnected harness with a 4-prong female connector, with no evidence of a matching male anywhere.

I suppose I could attach a photo soon, if someone doesn't have a definitive answer.

kidrock out.

Chuck Jones · 01-25-2009, 09:33 PM

Could the brown wire have been for an alarm system? I know sometimes they have had problems with the alarm systems dragging down the battery....so they disconnect them. I've got one in my 87 (not the brown wire though)...and the alarm has been shut off....must have been a problem with it at some time. Look in your driver's door...is there a key receptacle there on the back side of the door when it's open?

3.2 CAB · 01-26-2009, 08:42 AM

If I remember correctly, the switch actuates and completes the ground circuit for the light to come on. I maybe be wrong, because it has been many years since I had to do anything to the switch or light itself. It is almost like the dome light type of switch. Does your inner side of the trunk area there still have the metal tab sticking out that compresses the switch? Tony.

Chuck Jones · 01-26-2009, 08:48 AM

Also....Porsche uses brown as the color to designate a ground wire in a lot of its circuits, although if they had cut the brown wire it would seem that they were disabling that switch for some reason....maybe it was a source of draw down to the battery?

kidrock · 01-26-2009, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck Jones

Could the brown wire have been for an alarm system? I know sometimes they have had problems with the alarm systems dragging down the battery....so they disconnect them. I've got one in my 87 (not the brown wire though)...and the alarm has been shut off....must have been a problem with it at some time. Look in your driver's door...is there a key receptacle there on the back side of the door when it's open?

Chuck,

in a word...YES. The Pelican Parts Search describes the switch describes the switch as "luggage compartment light/alarm switch". But the description also says the part is for up to a 1979 911? I really don't know if the one wire operates both. It is brown with a white stripe, I have attached pictures.

ALSO...thanks for pointing out the key receptacle in the door, I didn't even know it existed!!! That would also explain the extra key I have that didn't seem to go anywhere...it fits and operates that receptacle you pointed out. I do have an aftermarket alarm installed by the PO...I really don't know much about it.

By the way, you can see where the light harness is plugged into the white 2-prong connector with the red dot. This was unplugged when I purchased the car. You can see the other connector (with a green dot) which is also unconnected. Anybody know what the hell this is supposed to be?

kidrock out.

CROWSC · 01-26-2009, 12:16 PM

On my '79, the switch turns on the trunk light and the glove compartment light.
Don't know why! Maybe the other wire goes to the glove box light.

Chuck Jones · 01-26-2009, 12:21 PM

Don't you have monster cables (blue wiring) running to some stereo gear? Is there a multi disc CD with the car? If not, it could be a power cable to a CD or some extra piece of acoustic gear that perhaps the PO took out. Is the power hot to that connctor all the time or just when you activate the ignition?

teenerted1 · 01-26-2009, 12:48 PM

finally a thread i can use...was wondering why the lights never came on but the bulbs are intact. my switch is missing but the wires are there. and the tab might still be on the side too. will look tonight to see if i can finally see in my trunk at night.

kidrock · 01-26-2009, 03:09 PM

OK guys, here's my analysis...I just need to put it to the test. I think I've still got an old trigger switch in my trusty box somewhere.

Chuck Jones and 3.2 Cab are definitely on to something. I've noticed that, yes, there seems to be an awful lot of brown wires to many of my components...probably a signal that it is indeed a ground, as Chuck Jones suggests. And 3.2 Cab may be correct as well, in his assessment about the wire and switch completing a ground circuit...this was confirmed by a friend of mine that is a certified mechanic (not Porsche

)

So first thing tomorrow, I'll try and dig up the switch and see if I can complete the circuit. I'll post back to let everybody know what the hell happened

Oh, Chuck....yeah, those Monster Blues went to a non-existent Rockford Fosgate amp. The PO who sold me the car said his "radio got stolen"...but with all the work I've been doing on the car, evidence points to the likelihood that the guy pulled all his stuff out so he could put it somewhere else. He didn't even have the good sense to cap or tape any of the loose wires he left behind. Crap was grounding out all over the place...what a gomer.

P.S.---yes, the striker tab is still intact.

Oh Haha · 01-26-2009, 04:12 PM

My switch has a black wire going to it that appears to be factory.

I had an aftermarket alarm on mine at some point but the contact switch for that was at the front of the hood, next to the latch.

Chuck Jones · 01-26-2009, 04:14 PM

Kidrock: I had a sense that the PO had jerked some stuff out...but for once I tried to be a little more politically correct. I'd say (now that you've breached the subject), that there are probably a number of wires going nowhere, or grounding out...it's probably going to take you a bit of time to track them down.....and if someone "steals" your stereo, the firt thing you do is go back in there and tape up the bare wires....you don't leave them hanging so that it affects the performance or starts an electrical fire.

Looks like you're on the right track....good luck.

Oh Haha · 01-26-2009, 04:18 PM

I have a switch you can have if you need it. PM your address if you do and I'll throw it in the mail.

You'll need a nut for it but they are pretty common. I'll check my box "o" stuff again and see if it's there.