Porsche 997.2 Rear Indicator Bulb Gone - How to Replace?

[jhelliwell]

Hi everyone

Long time reader but my first post on here. I bought a beautiful Speed Yellow 997.2 C2S Cab from Hexagon Classics last year. Great example and I’ve been in love ever since.

No major problems whatsoever, but the rear indicator warning light came on yesterday and the bulb appears to have gone. This may be a really, embarrassingly daft question, but how do I replace the bulb myself?

With it being LED I believe (I’m a young-ish guy so haven’t had cars of this calibre with LEDs etc!) is it a single bulb or a series of smaller bulbs? From what I see on Halfords etc it looks like a single bulb but that goes against my initial intuition.

I checked YouTube and there were loads of modding videos about how to replace the Gen 1 tail lights with the Gen 2 style LED covers, but nothing about bulbs specifically. Am I right in thinking that it’s just a couple of screws to loosen to remove the cover and access the rear of the cover to replace the bulb(s) myself?

I am not the most technically savvy by any means when it comes to cars, but what I can say is that I certainly enjoyed the drive through the Yorkshire dales yesterday as the warning light came on!

Ps I have had some misting / fogging in that same light recently from the heavy rain / pressure washing at the hand car wash. Not expecting it to be an electrical fault beyond the bulb itself but am mindful of that if it doesn’t resolve.

Cheers

James

[c4sman]

I can’t give a definitive answer as I haven’t played with mine but suspect it might not be good news. Most cars with rear LED lights do not have a user serviceable aspect. That means replacing the whole cluster unless you are a tech genius with a soldering iron. The cluster is easy to remove (a couple of bolts visible with the engine cover open) but I think only the reversing light bulb is not LED and therefore easily changed. Otherwise it might be the whole unit at say circa £300?

[jhelliwell]

Thanks, I appreciate the answer even if its not the one I was hoping for! I had since seen something suggesting that the entire cluster would indeed need to be replaced, which is probably why there are so many videos on YouTube showing the replacement process...

I've contacted Strasse in Leeds on recommendation from my mate Lee who edits Total 911 and will see what they say. Bracing for a replacement but at least it will eliminate the misting too (satisfying my OCD).

Will let you know for the benefit of other readers.

[Corky]

I had a similar issue last year on my 997.2, water ingress in both rear lights, I took one apart (its a 1 min job) and it was all just electric boards etc. I baulked at the cost of 2 new rear lights from OPC etc, about £550 each and eventually I got 2 from Autodcoc in Germany for £384 each, I am no technical expert but refitting is about a 1 min job, even I managed it !

[anonymous-user]

If you are thinking of buying one light assembly then you should consider if it matches. I had one suffer water ingress and upon the OPC swapping it under warranty it was found the no lit led colour i.e. the plastic body was different colour to the other one.

So you had yellow led bodies in one and clear in the other one, warranty eventually coughed up for a matching pair.

[jhelliwell]

Corky said:

I had a similar issue last year on my 997.2, water ingress in both rear lights, I took one apart (its a 1 min job) and it was all just electric boards etc. I baulked at the cost of 2 new rear lights from OPC etc, about £550 each and eventually I got 2 from Autodcoc in Germany for £384 each, I am no technical expert but refitting is about a 1 min job, even I managed it !

Sounds good! I watched this video earlier and im feeling more confident about it now (particularly after your experience).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_DyL5S6nSg

The guys at Strasse Leeds were really friendly and I'm going in tomorrow for them to have a look at it, will let you know what they say and let you know how it gets sorted.

[Corky]

jhelliwell said:

Corky said:

I had a similar issue last year on my 997.2, water ingress in both rear lights, I took one apart (its a 1 min job) and it was all just electric boards etc. I baulked at the cost of 2 new rear lights from OPC etc, about £550 each and eventually I got 2 from Autodcoc in Germany for £384 each, I am no technical expert but refitting is about a 1 min job, even I managed it !

Sounds good! I watched this video earlier and im feeling more confident about it now (particularly after your experience).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_DyL5S6nSg

The guys at Strasse Leeds were really friendly and I'm going in tomorrow for them to have a look at it, will let you know what they say and let you know how it gets sorted.

Thank you, it really worked for me, although I did try and dry the bloody things out with a hairdryer initially (before I bought new ones), total fail but please don't tell anyone!

[jhelliwell]

Full cluster replacement - £400 + VAT

Indicator light is working again today (intermittently) so its not bulb related. Condensation must be messing with the sensor / connection.

Strasse were very fair and aren't charging anything for fitting. Going there tomorrow to get it replaced. Expensive hand car washes hey!

Thanks to everyone who replied.

[Charlie234]

Hi
I am trying to source. A cheap set of rear lights for a Porsche 911 Carrera S 2008. They were full of water and now not working. Online prices on eBay etc are ridiculous. Does anyone have any other ideas? Thanks in advance!

[Slippydiff]

Not cheap, but cheaper than OE items :

https://www.design911.co.uk/p/indicator-rear-lamp-...

Or if you don’t mind an aesthetic “upgrade” :

https://www.design911.co.uk/p/rear-lamp-kit-991-st...

[FriedMarsBar]

It might be worth dropping 9Apart an email or ring them. I've had some decent prices from them, a lot cheaper than the OPC quoted, on new stuff and on a couple hard to find used items.
[e-mail]