Engine Compartment Light Switch Wiring

[afonseca]

I was trying to figure out why the engine compartment light on my '88 944 was not coming on, the bulb looks fine, and found the source of the problem to be the wiring to the switch. Specifically, the wires to the switch are cut and I have no idea where the rest of the wires are:



I found this older thread that shows a wiring diagram but no info on the wiring routing:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-924-944-968-technical-forum/673444-under-hood-light-now-working.html

I'm pretty new to car wiring so thought I'd tackle this "small" project and learn as I go. Maybe someone can help with some pictures or description of where these wires are routed so I can trace it back and see if they're still there? I'm open to any other advice/suggestions on how to approach this.

Thanks in advance!

[89-944NA]

That's the switch for the alarm, not the work light. You need to have at least the parking lights turned on for the light to work.

[Volhv]

The under-hood light is trigger by a mercury tilt switch, that is located inside the bulb holder housing. Take it all part, clean/scotchbrite the contacts and the ground to body. Worked on my 86..... Also, the parking light need to be on for the light to be powered. The switch you have in your picture, does not exist on my car, but I do have the bracket for it. I am assuming it's for the factory alarm?

[Volhv]

[89-944NA]

Thank you Volhv, now I know where the switch is (never thought of it being a mercury switch)....yes, that bracket without the switch is where the alarm switch goes.

[bordin34]

Put on your left or right turn signal and the light should turn on.

[ernie9944]

Originally Posted by bordin34

Put on your left or right turn signal and the light should turn on.

Yes but take but a look his switch is not connected to anything.Easy & no hassle fix run two wires - &+ and connect directly to the battery this way you will have power supply to the engine compartement ligth at all time & no need to turn on the signal ligth.I did this on my ex 944 when the ligth started to give me trouble.Btw one thing you got to make sure is that the ligth switch is working so that it won't stay on all the time.

[89-944NA]

Originally Posted by ernie9944

Yes but take but a look his switch is not connected to anything.Easy & no hassle fix run two wires - &+ and connect directly to the battery this way you will have power supply to the engine compartement ligth at all time & no need to turn on the signal ligth.I did this on my ex 944 when the ligth started to give me trouble.Btw one thing you got to make sure is that the ligth switch is working so that it won't stay on all the time.

ernie, that switch he has in the picture is the switch for the factory alarm, the light does not wire through there

[afonseca]

Thanks everyone! So it looks like my assumption was incorrect about that switch being for the light. I didn't know the car had a factory alarm, it looks like it may have been taken out at some point as there are some other wires that have been cut as well.

Volhv, thanks for the picture of the assembly. I'll have to do the same and clean everything out. I'll tackle that this weekend and post the results here.

Thanks again!