Defrost light question

[adias]

There is a square plastic window on the floor of a 3.2 behind the center console. It reads 'Defrost' with a down-pointing arrow labelled On and up-pointing arrow labelled OFF. This seems to be just an instructional light as I see there a single tubular bulb.

What's the meaning of this? Which levers is this thing referring to? What type of bulb is used there?

[darrin]

it's referring to the red levers on the hand brake, lifting them flows air to the dashboard controls (and sends airflow to the defrost vents).

[adias]

Originally Posted by darrin

it's referring to the red levers on the hand brake, lifting them flows air to the dashboard controls (and sends airflow to the defrost vents).

The left red lever sends heat to the left side and the right lever to the right side...What do the arrow symbols for OFF and ON mean?

[darrin]

It's a poor execution of a government requirement -- "on" means both levers up (sending heated airflow to the dash vents and controls) and "off" means levers down (and I agree, the triangles don't really clarify things).

IMO, if it didn't make the car go faster or handle better, porsche assigned the task to an intern --

As for the bulb, if memory serves, it's the same incandescent bulb used for instrument lights --

[HarryD]

Originally Posted by darrin

It's a poor execution of a government requirement -- "on" means both levers up (sending heated airflow to the dash vents and controls) and "off" means levers down (and I agree, the triangles don't really clarify things).

IMO, if it didn't make the car go faster or handle better, porsche assigned the task to an intern --

As for the bulb, if memory serves, it's the same incandescent bulb used for instrument lights --

It is a USA only feature. Just a light.

[dlagerstrom]

Since it is flat on the floor, I always figured it was not showing up and down with the arrows but forward and back.

[David 23]

I removed it when I did the RS carpet install. Didn't really provide any essential information.

[adias]

Originally Posted by darrin

It's a poor execution of a government requirement -- "on" means both levers up (sending heated airflow to the dash vents and controls) and "off" means levers down (and I agree, the triangles don't really clarify things).

IMO, if it didn't make the car go faster or handle better, porsche assigned the task to an intern --

As for the bulb, if memory serves, it's the same incandescent bulb used for instrument lights --

Great clarification. Thanks!

I agree: "if it didn't make the car go faster or handle better, porsche assigned the task to an intern"

[echecsqueen]

Mine flickers on and off. When I removed the plastic cover there is only one wire - the hot wire....should there be a ground wire too?

[porschenut]

Originally Posted by echecsqueen

Mine flickers on and off. When I removed the plastic cover there is only one wire - the hot wire....should there be a ground wire too?

The ground is provided via the screw that secures the unit to the car's sheet metal under the carpet. If yours flickers, the first thing I'd suspect is a loose screw.

It says DEFROST on it, so I don't see how it can be triggered on by the levers, which only make the flapper boxes open and close. There are, however, some (or at least one, I can't remember) settings on the dial at the top of the heater control unit for defrost. If you set it to a defrost position, does the light illuminate? I can't even imagine what the on-off arrows mean.

[shadowjack1]

Chess girl; you have a bad ground. The light comes on when you turn on the headlights.

[echecsqueen]

Originally Posted by shadowjack1

Chess girl; you have a bad ground. The light comes on when you turn on the headlights.

OK I will try to reground it, Shadow. I am guessing that the place where the plastic screw in should be unpainted? Seems like I have a lot of problems with grounding in this car....maybe an evil gremlin. LOL

[PNW Paul]

I’m chasing an electrical gremlin as well. 5amp fuse that runs the interior lights, frunk light and clock keeps blowing. Odd that when I put in a new fuse all is well for a short while (no pun intended) and then it blows again.