Tail Light Lens Question

wolds · wolds's Garage

Does anyone know what should be behind the lens in the area that I have circled? The front amber markers have reflectors mounted behind the amber lens. I don't have anything behind the rear lens... I have a ROW car and I'm assuming that when the car was built the factory had illumination behind this portion of the lens and that when the car was brought into the US the illumination was removed and reflectors took there place. Is this a correct assumption?

skrufy · 11-14-2012, 08:54 AM

After removing your Euro side marker lens, there is a flat plastic silvery reflector plate that clips in by a metal spring retainer, which covers a side marker illumination bulb. if the bulb isn't there, the wire for it should be found inside the whole metal housing that you can pull out after removing 2 screws that secure it to the body. Cover your bumper with tape so that the rocks/grit that always gets lodged there don't scratch your bumper paint. When you pull the housing, there is a metal cover inside that water seals the electical connections. That wire should be there- a single, as the bulb is grounded thru the metal housing..... often the waterproof seal gets old and cracks- remove the old and you can use silicon rtv in it's place.... The easiest way to work on this is to remove the assembly from the car by disconnecting the plug in the left rear corner inside the engine bay, and pull the tapered plug female from the outside.... lube up that connector with windex/soap spray to work the plug back into the body hole when you are done. The inside male plug will only connect in one way, so you don't have to worry about misconnecting the wires. You don't have to pull the entire assembly, but IMHO that is the easiest way to do it w/o banging things up.....

good luck. let us know what you find!

Tim
Alpine, Az.

911s- having a blast driving/wrenching since - gasp!- 1973.......

skrufy · 11-14-2012, 08:59 AM

BTW, the reflector and illuminating side marker bulb is standard US/ROW equipment for the rear markers... The ROW front markers may be different- many countries only have the front turn signals, w/o the front markers w/ reflectors that you found in your USA SC front bumper....

Tim

DRACO A5OG · DRACO A5OG's Garage

There is a prysim (spell check???)lens that clips in

wolds · wolds's Garage

So I have two options then. Since I don't have the reflectors I could try to find a source for them or as skrufy pointed out pull the housing and see if the wiring is still intact. I was planning on pulling the housings anyway so that I could replace the seals which I have already purchased. Out of curiosity, anyobody know where I might get a pair of reflectors?

pegasus9 · pegasus9's Garage

I'd try posting in the classified here and then move on to a place like partshaven. Good luck I'm sure there out there

wolds · wolds's Garage

Thanks for the advise Slasher

timmy2 · timmy2's Garage

PM Tom. I picked up a set from him.
WTB '78 Tail light diffusers

joefrantz · 11-14-2012, 07:47 PM

The PET doesn't show them as having been available as a separate part. Looks like they're just sold as part of a complete light assembly.

I would try EASY as a first source for used ones. I've found them really helpful for small detail parts.

Picture below shows the prism in place on my 73. I'm not sure if they're the same on later cars.

wolds · wolds's Garage

Thanks for the shot of the housing. I just gave Tom a PM to see if he had another set.

Warren

skrufy · 11-15-2012, 08:57 AM

Try giving Larry at 20th St. Auto in Phoenix a call- don't have their phone number handy- do a google search. They have tons of Porsche stuff. Or call Chuck Croteau at RedLine Service in Tucson- he probably has some as well 520-795- 5394. Then there is Oklahoma Foreign, others found in Pano/Excellence.

The tail light assembly/housing is the same on all the 911s, at least up until the '89 and later 964s- don't know those cars much at all......

Tim

wolds · wolds's Garage

Thanks

DRACO A5OG · DRACO A5OG's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by skrufy

Try giving Larry at 20th St. Auto in Phoenix a call- don't have their phone number handy- do a google search. They have tons of Porsche stuff. Or call Chuck Croteau at RedLine Service in Tucson- he probably has some as well 520-795- 5394. Then there is Oklahoma Foreign, others found in Pano/Excellence.

The tail light assembly/housing is the same on all the 911s, at least up until the '89 and later 964s- don't know those cars much at all......

Tim

20th is where I got my missing driver side internal prysm lens

wolds · wolds's Garage

Thanks Draco

DRACO A5OG · DRACO A5OG's Garage

Larry doesn't like to part out a lens kit but be nice and he will hook you up

. Just tell now he will have a matching pair since selling one to me :P

Robin Reeve · Robin Reeve's Garage

I need some help with my tail lights. I have a 1985 Porsche 911, and the tail lights have been sputtering on and off depending on the bumps in the road. I removed the lens and noticed the bulbs are loose and do not push back far enough to hit the connectors. I figured Id remove the assembly and then readjust the connections, right?

So, now I see that someone put bolts on the left side and screws on the right holding in the assembly and they are either stripped or the bolts are so pushed in, they have no lip for a wrench or nut driver to get on the head to remove. IDEAS OTHER than drilling them out?? I think i'll freak out if I need to drill out 3 out of 4, (one actually comes loose)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/y2h3p3ip57c89lj/photo%281%29.JPG