944 no dash lights, help!

mrgt350 · 08-24-2009, 05:38 PM

On my 1990 S2. New car to me. I was putting dash back together awhile back and the cigarette lighter light seemed to be on one minute and the next it was off. Same with the ash tray light. I figured maybe the bulb was not making contact so I pulled the bulb and straighted out the very small wires and bent them back to replaced the bulb. While I was put the bulb back in the socket it made a small spark. Now everything is dark. Not everything but the following: Dash lights, cig light, lic plate light and ash tray light.
Checked the fuse, no problem.
Replaced bulbs again, no change;
Replaced the dimmer switch, no change.
Replaced the headlight switch, no change.

Running out of ideas. Maybe need to check the ground. I do not have a wiring diagram which would be nice.

Any Ideas where to go next. Have not pulled the dash yet as I was trying to avoid that since I would need to pull the steering wheel.

Thanks
Greg

Icey1174 · 08-24-2009, 05:54 PM

I would pull the dash again, look for any bad or loose wires. Then I would reseat all the bulbs and holders. Plug everything back together tight and hope and pray for the best. I would test it the best you can before screwing it back together tight and putting the wheel back on. Sometimes it's the easy things that get you.

mrgt350 · 08-24-2009, 06:32 PM

Icey,
I should have been more clear but I did not have the instrument panel out. The dash portion I was installing was the area around the heater controls and to the right. The previous owner was in the process of replacing the radio but never finished when I purchased the car.

The only thing I touched was the cigarette lighter and ash tray light.

Thanks
Greg

OnTheRun2 · OnTheRun2's Garage

I know you said you checked the fuse, but that is where I would look again. Did you just look at the fuse? Or did you test it. There are times that a fuse can look good but still be blown. I would suggest trying another fuse. If that doesn't do the trick start tracing wires.
OTR

mrgt350 · 08-24-2009, 06:59 PM

Problem solved.

You were right on the fuse. I can't believe how many times I looked at these fuses. There are so many fuses it is easy to miss one. I wish I would have looked closer but just glad it is working now.

Thanks
Greg

OnTheRun2 · OnTheRun2's Garage

Glad to help. And glad it was that simple. You don't want to know what your next step to fix this was going to be. LOL
OTR

Turbo_ZA · Turbo_ZA's Garage

that's why one of the fuse box relays has a built in fuse tester

JPSummers · 01-25-2015, 10:12 AM

SOLVED!!!
Another area to check is your license plate lights. Same issue here, Instrument lights kept blowing the fuse. '84 944 N/A, Automatic. I had done no work under the dash to prompt a short there. Check the license plate light and BINGO!!! Left License Plate Light Terminal came loose and was grounding against the Body, plus the wires were all corroded up.

Recommend checking the EASY SIMPLE stuff FIRST....Then go from there.

Seppi · 08-13-2017, 06:53 PM

I've got this same problem. Gonna check fuses tomorrow.

dmjames · dmjames's Garage

Had the same issue w/ the license plate light here- yet another downside to the PO's installation of those stupid light bar rigs that go where the license plate is supposed to go. The lighted plate bracket broke, and the loose wire shorted against something back behind the bumper.

SteviePorsche · 08-17-2019, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmjames

Had the same issue w/ the license plate light here- yet another downside to the PO's installation of those stupid light bar rigs that go where the license plate is supposed to go. The lighted plate bracket broke, and the loose wire shorted against something back behind the bumper.

Thanks for this! Exact same car as PO had exact same problem today. fuse #38 for plate lite was blown but like PO I also had checked it and it looked good so TESTED it and no juice.

Those plate lites were rusted to hell so drilled them out. Found some mini me bolts and nuts and spent 4 hours putting it all back together. Needed some 2-yr-old monkey hands to get those things back in. Put new old stock lite covers or cases or whatever they are from my old 924 that I had removed when car was painted. They were marked in a baggie stored in a box from 15 years ago. Like brand new. Geesh. Porsche never planned to ever have those plate lite bulbs changed from the factory I guess.

90+humidity and flies biting my back arms ankles and whatever they could get at all the while.

New mini me bulbs in there as well now.

New fuse and let there be lite! 🤪