Dash/instrument question.

[Winter]

Hi all, nothing in the owners manual or online (at least that I could find) that could provide information as to what switch or item goes directly to the left of the “climate controls”. There’s a round depression that looks like it might (on other 911s of similar vintage) would be an opening for something. My car is a 1976 targa.

Because I’m not sure if I have described this well enough. Here’s a photo:



Just wondering what might be factory correct, as well as thinking of possibly adding something there (button to provide power to antenna, so I can run head unit in non-radio mode with antenna lowered).

Thanks!

[deckard]

on my '75 car that is where the dial knob goes for the intermittent wiper function

[Winter]

Originally Posted by deckard

on my '75 car that is where the dial knob goes for the intermittent wiper function

Thanks, Deckard. - that’s an interesting data point. In my ‘76, the dial for the intermittent wipers is between the clock and the speedometer.

[GH85Carrera]

My 86 has that same spot on the dash. Yes, it is factory correct. I suspect (guess) it is for a rear wiper. And I put a metal lock surround to slow a thief down a few more seconds.



I did have a volt meter added to the tachometer and I converted the temp gauge to numbers. I can tell that is an old photo of my dash, I have added 22,000 miles to my car since that photo.

[deckard]

it's not there to the right of the steering wheel for the rear wiper. it's where they put it before they moved it up beside the clock.

[Winter]

Guys, thanks for chiming in on this thread.

My ‘76 owners manual shows the following:

BUT, my rear wiper switch is actually here:



I think these little variations are one of the things that make these cars so interesting. But the mystery remains as to why the round indent to the right of the steering wheel that was used for the intermittent wiper switch in ‘75 remained well past that year. Maybe there’s some other switch that was put there in some cars and not others?

Cheers!

[Lammers]

In the 80's, this is where the cabin temperature sensor went for the automated climate control.

[deckard]

the remaining mystery as to why the round indent to the right of the steering wheel that was used for the intermittent wiper switch in ‘75 remained well past that year would be solved by having intermittent wipers as an option and porsche, in spite of having switched the intermittent switch placement, would comtinue to use that lower dash trim piece with indent until they ran out of them.

[WMichelsen]

Personally, I've never understood why the intermittent wiper knob was in the instrument cluster. That always seemed like an odd tack-on out-of-place ... oh wait ... never mind, it's Porsche.

Seems much more appropriate down by the wiper lever in that '75 spot. I wonder what motivated them to move it?

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by WMichelsen

Personally, I've never understood why the intermittent wiper knob was in the instrument cluster. That always seemed like an odd tack-on out-of-place ... oh wait ... never mind, it's Porsche.

Seems much more appropriate down by the wiper lever in that '75 spot. I wonder what motivated them to move it?

The real answer is Chairman of Porsche, Dr. Ernst Fuhrmann from 1972 to 1980 hated the 911, and wanted it replaced with the 928. He refused the 911 engineers any real R&D money. They had to improve and update the 911 with almost no funds. Dr. Ernst Fuhrmann said only as long as the 911 makes money will we continue it, and then it goes away.

The good new for all of us and the world the American Peter Schutz took over and his first order on business was to extend the 911 life and give the R&D folks money to improve the 911. Porsche was not a rich company and had little money to spare. They did incremental improvements and started on the design of the all new 964. It solved the issue of crappy AC and added a lot more power.

Obviously the 911 has evolved constantly and is much different than our beloved G body cars. All thanks to Peter Schutz.