944S clock light

onrails · onrails's Garage

Does anyone know if the clock on an '87 944S is supposed to have a back light when you turn on the dash lights? The time works fine, but I can't see it at night? Before I order one for $150.00, is there a bulb or connection I should be looking for?

DMRK · 12-11-2007, 06:22 PM

yes there is a bulb in there. I think it is always on when the car is on so that is why they are burnt out after 20 years.

DMRK · 12-11-2007, 06:27 PM

go here...

http://www.clarks-garage.com/

...and click on the garage shop manual link on the left then scroll down to clock. that will tell you how to change it.

968rz · 968rz's Garage

Yes there is a light that can be replaced, you will have to unsolder it from the removeable socket (easy) and solder the new one in (again easy). I did mine awhile ago but can't remember the type/number, it is rather small. I pulled it out first then went to my local parts house and got a new one.

hpservertech · 12-11-2007, 07:30 PM

Pelican actually has the complete assembly and it's pretty cheap.

hermesbooking · 01-21-2008, 03:12 PM

PM Sent

Techno Duck · Techno Duck's Garage

For future reference, the bulb part # is 944.641.900.00 . $6.16 from the dealer.

Its a special bulb in that the base and bulb are one piece (soldered together. You can unsolder the leads and use a generic replacement.

kdjones2000 · kdjones2000's Garage

Not to digress too much, but will that same PN work for the headlight switch light?

How do you get that light out? I tried pulling on it, and it seemed to be VERY tight.

TIA, Keith

Techno Duck · Techno Duck's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by kdjones2000

Not to digress too much, but will that same PN work for the headlight switch light?

How do you get that light out? I tried pulling on it, and it seemed to be VERY tight.

TIA, Keith

Keith, the headlight switch bulb is a generic bulb you can get from your local autoplace. If its not pulling out, you just need to pull harder really. The bulb which was blown out on my car was very hard to remove, after i replaced it the new bulb slides in an out easily. This is of course refering to a '85.5+ car. I forget the #, but its 2170 or something like that. You can look it up in the book under instrument cluster light.

What makes the clock bulb unique is that its soldered to the base, which happens to also be unique to the gauge cluster bulb bases.

onrails · onrails's Garage

Thanx guys for all your input. Seems easy enough. I'll be seeing the dealer Friday.

onrails · onrails's Garage

Hey HPSERVERTECH, sounds like you have some good sounds going on. I've got similar equiptment. Alpine head unit, 4- 6 1/2in. Infinity (I custom installed), Sony Explode Moble ES 5 channel front amp, JBL 600 sub amp, with 3 JL Audio DVC subs in a custom box I built. (looks factory with only 12" lost behind the back seat) I saw it on-line & built it in a day. Plus, I have the Kenwood digital EQ to help with the almost 1400 watts (that I'm using of it). Wouldn't mind seeing some pics. And I'll share too of course. I've also got the plans for a 12" sub that fits in your spare tire compartment that I did on a prior 944 which would put out a Zippo lighter! As long as you're not worried about having a spare tire. Hope to chat w/ya. Chris.

onZedge · 01-23-2008, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Techno Duck

...2170 or something like that...

2711 is the bulb without the socket. 2721 is a little brighter. I got a box of the bulb/socket combo units at NAPA for about a buck each. (Part number escapes me) It is the same thing used in older VW's. Imagine that - VW parts that fit into a Porsche!!

TNT25169 · 11-21-2008, 01:04 PM

I can't get lights to light up. I've tried 3 different clocks, soldering and not soldering the ends of the bulbs on. The clock looks fine in the light but the bulb just won't light up. Help?

sanfrancisco944 · 11-25-2008, 04:00 PM

I've been working with this problem for a long time. I think Porsche decided that the Porsche 944 doesn't deserve a "lighted" Clock. I replaced the Light in my 1985 Late 944 Clock thinking it would light up on the Dash so I could read the time--but it doesn't!!! It's dark as the depths of hell, and you can barely read the clock during Daylight. The Light in the Clock only lights up the Digits and probably lights up the Backside of the Dash which is pointless. I don't get it. Also the Light on the Gauge Cluster is very dim. Anyone with any insight to this problem--I'd appreciate it like this Owner posting this message would. It's a no-brainer to light up a Clock in a Car for night driving, etc. But I don't know what Porsche is thinking with this one. Any Ideas would be appreciated.

WizPorsche944 · WizPorsche944's Garage

I first bought just a bulb and couldnt get it out of the holder. So I bought the assembly and it worked fine after that.

LifterEyes · LifterEyes's Garage

My clock bulb also appears to be burnt out, what color does the clock illuminate with a stock bulb? Also, has anyone tried to retrofit an LED to illuminate the clock?

Grandad#3 · 11-11-2009, 10:46 PM

Hi SanFran, Check out the link below for how to brighten up the gage lights. It works great.

Reflector Housing Rebuild - Porsche 951 - www.texasblake.com

Cheers,
Larry

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by onrails

Does anyone know if the clock on an '87 944S is supposed to have a back light when you turn on the dash lights? The time works fine, but I can't see it at night? Before I order one for $150.00, is there a bulb or connection I should be looking for?

Nope the clock is shot and you should pull it out and send it to me...

ksudar · 11-12-2009, 04:27 AM

I just got through messing with my clock... here's what I found out:

The ignition power wire that runs to the clock (giving it backlight power) also runs through the stereo harness. There are 2 green wires which meet on a single pin in the radio harness connector, and when I installed my head unit I had just cut the connector off and used 1 of the wires. So the connection was cut off to the lcd clock. The other thing I noticed was that the wires on my clock connector did not match the pinouts on the wiring schematic. Apparently someone had opened up the clock connector and not put the pins back in the proper orientation. After I fixes those 2 things my clock now lights up perfectly.

wild man · 11-12-2009, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LifterEyes

My clock bulb also appears to be burnt out, what color does the clock illuminate with a stock bulb? Also, has anyone tried to retrofit an LED to illuminate the clock?

That's exactly what I am contemplating doing, using a 5mm super-bright white LED with a current-limiting resistor. I'm going out and buying a string of LED-based christmas lights today. They should also work for my motorcycle's neutral, turn signal, and high-beam indicator lights, which seem to blow out very frequently. Not to mention that they can be hard to see during the day. I think that LED's would make them much brighter. I'm tired of waiting for them to show up with the proper bases, at the auto parts stores.