Digital speedo backlight failed - what next?

[rpratt]

[Car is a 2000 996 C2, with no options or mods to speak of, but I like it!]

the backlight for the center LED display of my instrument cluster (the digital speedo and outside temp, located under the tachometer) has failed. The display itself still works, but of course is invisible unless a bright light is shining directly into it.

While I've thought about duct taping a maglite to the steering wheel to illuminate the digital speedo, that's a bit redneck for me :-)

Anyone know if this is a replaceable lightbulb/part, and if so is it relatively easy to do it yourself, or is this a case of having a shop replace the entire instrument cluster, transfer the mileage, etc?

If the latter, I'm open to recommendations for shops in the mid-Peninsula SF Bay Area. While under warranty, I was happy with Carlsen's service, but now that I'm paying for all the work I'd like to find an independent alternative.

Thanks for any advice/suggestions. I did search the archives, but it seems I'm the first one with this particular problem, which doesn't surprise me, as I've never had an LED backlight fail in ANYTHING. I think they normally have MTBFs of 50,000+ hours, so its very odd that this one died.

[EDIT: After hunting around on EBay, it looks like something like this http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Porsche-996...1QQcmdZViewItem is what I need to buy. Anyone want to confirm that, if not I may risk the $30 or so and try it]

Bob

Edited October 2, 2007 by rpratt

[Loren]

Do a search here - we have covered how to remove the cluster and replace the bulbs.

[rpratt]

Aha. My initial searching was based on the wrong keywords (having speedometer in there threw everything off). As always, Loren is correct, and this http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?s...er+bulb+replace is the relevant thread in case anyone else is following this.

thanks!

Bob