Identification of red lights just below instrument cluster

[royp4]

Hi all, I have noticed two small red lights just below the instrument cluster of my 2003 996 Carrera. There is one on the left and one on the right. The right side one blinks when I start the car but I have no idea what it means. Probably a dumb question, as I have asked quite a few previously. I downloaded a pdf of the dash cluster but it doesn't show these lights. Can anyone help me please? Thanks in advance.

[FirestarterTR]

Hi all, I have noticed two small red lights just below the instrument cluster of my 2003 996 Carrera. There is one on the left and one on the right. The right side one blinks when I start the car but I have no idea what it means. Probably a dumb question, as I have asked quite a few previously. I downloaded a pdf of the dash cluster but it doesn't show these lights. Can anyone help me please? Thanks in advance.

 

Maybe; if you take a photo; someone can help

[JFP in PA]

Hi all, I have noticed two small red lights just below the instrument cluster of my 2003 996 Carrera. There is one on the left and one on the right. The right side one blinks when I start the car but I have no idea what it means. Probably a dumb question, as I have asked quite a few previously. I downloaded a pdf of the dash cluster but it doesn't show these lights. Can anyone help me please? Thanks in advance.

 

Are you saying they are not in this image on page 68 of this file: http://maben.homeip.net/static/auto/porsche/Porsche%20911%20996%20Owners%20Manual%20200205.pdf

[royp4]

Yes JFP, there are 2 unlabeled red round lights, one just below the voltmeter, the other just below the oil pressure guage. When starting the engine, both lights come on. The one on the left side immediately switches off, but the one on the right blinks about 3 times before extinguishing. I don't know if these lights are related to the gauges above them or have some other purpose. I have also noticed a low volume chime unrelated to the blinking light. I recently had the ignition switch replaced and wonder if this could be a factor, At any rate, thank you for your time and interest. I am baffled and open to any information you can provide. 

[JFP in PA]

Yes JFP, there are 2 unlabeled red round lights, one just below the voltmeter, the other just below the oil pressure guage. When starting the engine, both lights come on. The one on the left side immediately switches off, but the one on the right blinks about 3 times before extinguishing. I don't know if these lights are related to the gauges above them or have some other purpose. I have also noticed a low volume chime unrelated to the blinking light. I recently had the ignition switch replaced and wonder if this could be a factor, At any rate, thank you for your time and interest. I am baffled and open to any information you can provide. 

 

I would have to venture that they are not factory, as I have not seen anything like that in the cars we service, unless the owner(s) added it.

[royp4]

The red lights do not appear to be aftermarket, but a part of the standard guage cluster

[JFP in PA]

The red lights do not appear to be aftermarket, but a part of the standard guage cluster

 

Suggest posting a photo showing them as right now I am inclined to still say they are aftermarket.

[royp4]

Please see attached pics. Thanks

[Loren]

All of this is explained in your Owners Manual (if you have one).

 

(click to enlarge)

 

[Ahsai]

Those are not stock LEDs. Could be anything. Can you ask the previous owner?

[JFP in PA]

Please see attached pics. Thanks

 

They are definitely after market, not factory.

[royp4]

I'll give it a try. Thanks for your help.

[Kim]

All of this is explained in your Owners Manual (if you have one).

 

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Loren, I didn't see anything in that owners' manual pic that would explain the 2 red lights he asked about. They seem to be well to the outside of the idiot lights display.

[Loren]

 

All of this is explained in your Owners Manual (if you have one).

 

(

 

Loren, I didn't see anything in that owners' manual pic that would explain the 2 red lights he asked about. They seem to be well to the outside of the idiot lights display.

 

 

I was referring to all the "other" red lights.

[judgejon]

These are aftermarket lights for sure.  Likely power-on indicators for an aftermarket amplifier, or perhaps an older remote installed non-Valentine1 radar detector, or added driving/fog lights or running lights?

Checking with previous owner is only way to find out.

Or, could be the optional rocket fuel booster system, or the optional emergency braking parachute system, or, considering the season, could be Christmas Lights?

Good luck.  Merry Christmas...

[judgejon]

Just thought of the likely correct answer.... after getting home from a quick sprit during a lull in the rainstorms.

I had the rpm's up pretty high..  and it occurred to me that....

one of the lights shown above is likely an aftermarket over rev indicator.

I believe there are such indicators available.  Does anyone have one installed?

[JFP in PA]

Just thought of the likely correct answer.... after getting home from a quick sprit during a lull in the rainstorms.

I had the rpm's up pretty high..  and it occurred to me that....

one of the lights shown above is likely an aftermarket over rev indicator.

I believe there are such indicators available.  Does anyone have one installed?

 

That would be complicated as it would require getting a signal from the DME when the limits have been exceeded, or the use of an external monitor system coded to do the same.  I also think that if you were using this as a "shift light", you would want it to be more prominent so you could see it.

[wyovino]

Most likely it's an aftermarket radar and/or laser detector. The left light indicating a signal is detected ahead and the right light indicating it's to the rear.

Edited December 29, 2015 by wyovino

[royp4]

Thank you for all the feedback. I have been paying close attention to it and I think Wyovino is correct. Every time it comes on there is a trooper in the area. Seems that certain businesses with electronic doors also set it off. Any ideas on where the main unit could be mounted?

[JFP in PA]

If it is a radar detector, the sensors have to have a line of sight front and rear.  I'd start looking into the front grills with a flashlight.

[lkchris]

And, if it's a radar detector, the previous owner would have left it with the car ... which seems unlikely.

[JFP in PA]

And, if it's a radar detector, the previous owner would have left it with the car ... which seems unlikely.

 

Not really, some of these "stealth" units would be so difficult to remove, it simply isn't worth while, and their removal would actually diminish the car's value.

[judgejon]

 

And, if it's a radar detector, the previous owner would have left it with the car ... which seems unlikely.

 

Not really, some of these "stealth" units would be so difficult to remove, it simply isn't worth while, and their removal would actually diminish the car's value.

 

 

Yes, I agree that these lights are a radar detector.  

Good answer, JFP.  

My wife had a BMW 325i convertible and the radar detector, not a Valentine-1, was hard-wired to a small dash display. The unit itself was fixed up into the front grill.  We bought the car, and ultimately sold the car, with the radar unit in place.  

[royp4]

The mysterious red warning lights do indeed attach to a radar detector. While I have not searched for the unit itself, I did find the radar antenna attached inside the front bumper. Thank you all for your input. Mystery solved.