944S2 questions

[mflower]

Two questions regarding my '89 944S2 coupe:

i) The dashboard lighting is very dim, even at its maximum setting - when you're driving around town at night you can hardly read the dash display. Are they all like this? I assume not, so does anyone know how to go about fixing it? (Without strapping a torch to my head...)

ii) I want to fit a towbar (not for a caravan, honest) - does anyone know who supplies and fits towbars for porkers in the Leatherhead area?

Any help greatfully received.

Thanks,
Mark

[pjs917]

Tow bar no idea, dash lights, try cleaning the contacts in the dimmer switch, if this does not help it may be worth replacing the dimmer switch. I had a similar problem on mine and it cured it.

[AJLintern]

It's quite a common problem regarding the instrument lighting - usually due to the silvering on the light diffuser behind the dashboard loosing its effectiveness. I think there is something on the web that describes how to repair it.

[dmsims]

Try: www.9xauto.com/cluster.html

One of the guys on the titanic email list is going to take the towbar off his newly aquired S2

www.titanic.co.uk/944

[dogsharks]

The rheostat dimmer is probably the problem with the dashboard, or perhaps a bulb or two may be out.

As far as fitting a trailer hitch to your S2, I wouldn't do it.

It's just morally wrong.

It's a crime against nature.

Here in Nashville, if anyone is seen driving a superb jewel of a road car with a trailer hitch, or God forbid, actually hauling something with it, we'll think they are some country music tourists wearing polyester who just won the lottery (and don't know any better). (lol)

I wouldn't think of showing up at a PCA (Porsche Club of America) event with a trailer hitch on the car, because I wouldn't want to get that kind of scorn.

A Porsche is a superb piece of machinery, not well suited for towing. Why use an expensive drive train, with torque tube, transaxle, clutch assembly, etc., in that manner. Sure, it may be tough enough to do it, but sheesh, why???????

If you have no alternative, perhaps, but I'd slap a hitch on just about anything else, but not a Porsche.

Dogsharks :-)

[Thhom]

A procedure on how to renew the dashboard lights here

edited to say that pics alone should be comprehensive enough

>> Edited by Thhom on Thursday 8th January 17:13

[mflower]

Dogsharks:

Thanks for your moral guidance. I would have been disappointed not to have received such a response, to be honest. You are right, the 944S2 is not a natural choice of tow car, but my other car is a race spec E30 BMW M3 (full cage, race suspension that doesn't go over bumps, etc etc) so the porker is my daily hack. Given that I need a daily runabout (the M3 just isn't practical) and that I need a towbar, the choice is a) Porker with towbar, or b) lesser machine with towbar. What would you choose to drive?!!

Cheers,
Mark

>> Edited by mflower on Friday 9th January 08:41

[dogsharks]

I'm certainly glad you saw the humor in my post and didn't take offense. I'd rather see a hitch on a BMW any day :-)

Perhaps there's some way to get a friend involved for a tow when you need one, etc., rather than putting a hitch on a S2 (the mere thought of it makes me a bit uncomfortable)

All the best, Dogsharks