Gauge Cluster Problems

[986speedster]

I removed the gauge cluster to swap out my black gauge faces for red ones. while doing this, i broke all three white clip attached to the wire harnesses on the back of the cluster. They would come out for , well you know, so ofcourse I trried pursuading them with a small flat head, and broke all three. Can you replace the white "cam" clips? When I plug in the white, black, and blue connectors now, nothing work, I'm assuming because there is no direct pressure holding them in. If I push them in and hold them (the blue connector) with my hands and turn on the lights, the dash lights up. but once I release pressure, they go off. Part#'s???

[Tool Pants]

It is called an electrical housing. Someone figured out the the part numbers for a 2001-2004. http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=9902 But you have a 1999 and the housings on a 1999 are different than 2001-2004.

You are going to need a parts guy who is a detective, maybe Sunset Imports in Oregon. If you look at the housings you will see numbers, but they are not direct Porsche part numbers. Look for a number starting with 999.

At a work on cars day one of the guys with a 2001 broke the tab that keeps the cam lever locked in the closed position, so the connector would pull away from the back of the cluster. I took out my hot melt glue gun and while he held the connector fully seated I gave it a dab of glue. Then he continued to hold it while the glue set.

Maybe you can give this a try. It is better to have 2 people. One to apply the glue, and the other to push and hold the connector in place until the glue sets. The glue person stands outside the car and looks through the windshield. The other person is in the seat holding the connector fully seated until the glue sets.

[isail1]

The locking tab on the plug housings are easy to break. I broke one when I installed the 4 stalk OBC. My "temporary" fix was to place a small electrical cable tie around the wire bundle with the cable tie locking thing positioned to hold the cam in place. Have not had any problems for over two years.

However, I would be delighted if someone could source a supplier for this part. My car is a 2003 and I have checked with different dealers and wrecking yards with no luck. Everyone wants to sell the entire wiring harness ! My closest brush with success was with Sunset. I ordered a plug housing and plug assembly, but it proved to be an incorrect size/model as it would not fit into the cluster.

Anyone out there got a source ???

[986speedster]

Well Tholyoak sent me both the plastic housing and the cam lock attached to them. I carefully removed the cam locks, and put the on my original wire harness connectors. Perfect right??? Wrong. The gauges still dont work, the dash lights dont come on when I turn on the headlights, and my front driver's side turn signal wont go on. This all happened right after I disassembled, and re assembled the gauge pod. So I thought maybe I blew a fuse....Nope, checked them all, and no blown fuse. When I engage the left turn signal, the rear turn signal works, but at a fatser speed than normal. The right turn signal, front and rear, work fine at normal clicking speed. I hope I didnt ruin anything!!! Please someone help me!! oh, and thanks THOLYOAK for the parts and fast shipping.

[whall]

It looks like your driver's side front turn signal light bulb is burned out....co-incidental to your instrument cluster problems. The rapid flashing of the driver's side rear turn signal is typical of one bulb being burned out.

Does your instrument cluster operate when you hold the plugs in manually? If so, you probably don't have the plugs inserted squarely and properly in the back of the instrument cluster. Even with the locks engaged it is possible to have one or two of the pins in the plug not connecting properly. If the instrument cluster doesn't operate properly when you are holding the plugs in manually, check to make sure the wire pins in the black inserts are uniformly and fully pushed home in the insert.

Cheers,

Bill

[986speedster]

EUREKA!!!!! Dumb mistake, well not really, but I didnt fully slide over the two computer pins on the back of the gauge cluster. I didnt want to force things and break the pins, after I broke the cam locks. I checked everything CJ said, then went back, took everything apart, and thought, well maybe they slide alittle more. Sure enough they moved about 3mm more in, and everything worked fine. Put it all back together, and VIOLA!!! Except the front turn signal still doesnt work, so maybe I just blew the bulb? My friend said the same thing happens in his B'Mer, that it is like a signal to the driver when the signal clicks at a faster pace, a bulb has blown.

As far as the red gauges, yes I bought them from FVD. I'm pretty sure when I bought them, there were ones for the 987. Only thing is the RPM gauge does have GEMBALLA across the top, but I dont mind, I respect their products, and I really just wanted red gauges. Plus they were on sale for like $35.00 for the RPM.

Thanks for all the help THOLYOAK, JP, and CJ.

Thats what these forums are really for, teamwork, friendship, and saving a buck or two by DIY!!!