Dash Lights Suddenly Out

[KevinTodd]

Hello, all!

The dash lights on my '87 Turbo have suddenly gone out. I figured it was the fuse--but it isn't blown. This appears to only be the actual gauge lights, as the assorted idiot lights still work as expected.

Is there something obvious that I am missing here? It's a PITA driving with a dark dash....

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[soxnail]

You probably have dirty or loose connectors in the instrument panel. Open and take of the 3 connectors CAREFULLY!! they are fragile with age. Clean the edges with alcohol and a a soft brush, like an old toothbrush. Re plug and should be fixed.
BTW the lights that illuminate the dash are the 3 at the bottom feeding the light guides, and the connector used for the lights is labeled 'C'
Sox

Connectors



Getting the connectors off.

[944 Ecology]

It could be that the "light pipes" on the underside of the instrument cluster are no longer funneling light from the bulbs at the back of the cluster to the front. Porsche (actually VDO) used a silver paint as a reflective medium to keep the light in the funnel, and over the years the paint has deteriorated to the point that it cannnot illuminate the front of the gauges anymore.

The repair is fairly simple: Use non-acetone fingernail polish to remove the rest of the paint (so that you can see clear plastic. Then use two inch aluminum tape to cover the trapezoids on the bottom. Then use an exacto knife or razor blade to remove the excess tape.

Of course, this assumes that you check the bulbs first.

[soxnail]

Originally Posted by 944 Ecology

It could be that the "light pipes" on the underside of the instrument cluster are no longer funneling light from the bulbs at the back of the cluster to the front. Porsche (actually VDO) used a silver paint as a reflective medium to keep the light in the funnel, and over the years the paint has deteriorated to the point that it cannnot illuminate the front of the gauges anymore.

The repair is fairly simple: Use non-acetone fingernail polish to remove the rest of the paint (so that you can see clear plastic. Then use two inch aluminum tape to cover the trapezoids on the bottom. Then use an exacto knife or razor blade to remove the excess tape.

Of course, this assumes that you check the bulbs first.

If it went out suddenly as he states, then more likely electrical, when my light guides started to fail they slowly dimmed out over time.
Sox

[KevinTodd]

Originally Posted by soxnail

You probably have dirty or loose connectors in the instrument panel. Open and take of the 3 connectors CAREFULLY!! they are fragile with age. Clean the edges with alcohol and a a soft brush, like an old toothbrush. Re plug and should be fixed.
BTW the lights that illuminate the dash are the 3 at the bottom feeding the light guides, and the connector used for the lights is labeled 'C'
Sox

Connectors



Getting the connectors off.

Many thanks--I'll give this a try and report back!