Defroster/Heater Dash Light
 

Replaced my dash light for the heater controls - the bulb that illuminates the defroster icon - a couple of weeks ago. I smelled something about a week ago and paid little attention, until the bulb fell out of the socket. When trying to replace it it appears (difficult to see clearly under there?) the socket melted? Anybody else had this problem? Is it an issue of the bulb not being seated properly? Are there different wattage dash lights - this is the very small bulb? One of the other illumination points is much dimmer that the one for the defroster, but I have not removed it yet to see if it is different.

Did you ever figure what to do about the melted sockets on the heater controls. I am in the same situation and I don't know if the bulb was wrong or what caused this or how I am going to fix it.

I've replaced it several times and it continues to fall out. Just tried wrapping some electrical tape around it to give it soem insulation and it still fell out. For a whiel it was iluuminating my feet area and then it burnt out. I am going to leave it alone until I have another brainstorm. Let me know if you figure out something that works?

If something melted there, then would wonder if the new bulb was too high a wattage. Could the bulb also be not aligned and touching the plastic?

Something not right there as Porsche would never put up with this..

Joe

not sure what style bulb is in that area, but I think it's the style with the wire on the side for contact...they are suposed to be installed only one time, therefore if you remove it for some reason replace it with a new one....the whole dash bulb circuit is a fire waiting to happen, IMHO, because it is unfused...I installed a 3 amp resettable marine Cir. Breaker for $6 at the light sw...the CB is about 1 X 1/2 X 1/4 and tucks nicely in the light sw. wire connector...I think a 2 amp. CB is more electrically correct....Ron

Vance,

Where did you buy the bulbs? Both of those tiny bulbs burned out behind my fan/defroster panel. I've tried auto parts stores, Radio Shack, etc.

Rich - I bought the bulbs at a dealer (Stoddards is only 30 min from my house). I would guess the best place, in lieu of a dealer, would be mail order.