03 Boxster S guages - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

fredpayne · 06-20-2009, 06:46 PM

I have an 03 Boxster S with black faces on the guages, I have ordered some white ones, does anybody know if this is a difficult task to do the change out, your help is always appreciated.

Adam · 06-20-2009, 07:53 PM

That's strange. I thought all 03 S's had white gauges. The only 986 S model that had black faced gauges was the 2004 550 special edition I thought. ??

I couldn't tell you specifics on gauge face replacement, but I know there is some info in the archives about it.

fredpayne · 06-24-2009, 02:18 PM

I'm glad I waited to hear from you, RUF and Boardwalk both told me it would not work, they said they were 2 different part numbers, which they are, but they look the same, I took the day off today to try and solve this problem. After I talked to RUF and Boardwalk, I called Fifth Gear in Lewisville, I know them pretty well too, they had no idea, but I was told if the Part numbers didn't match it wouldn't work.
I was told the cluster was basically a computer and had to match, Boardwalk said once the cluster had been programmed, it usually would not take another program.

I have one cluster where everything works except the Speedo, and anothe cluster where everything works except the tach, I currently hvae 2 sources looking for an S cluster, I will call them off and try to get one of these repaired, Zepco didn't know much about Porsches, so I guess it's off to California for repair, too bad I can't take the speedo off the one working and put it on the other one.

Where you at the last Sunday Drive? It was the bridges of Denton County or something like that, I was in the one and only Orient Red Porsche there.

Thumper · 06-24-2009, 02:25 PM

I am really surprised the RUF said it wouldn't work due to them being different part numbers. I have put 5 different clusters from 986's and 996's in mine from years '01 thru '03 and all but one worked great. (one cluster was just fried). All had different part numbers.

I have also talked with a couple of guys that have swapped various gauges from one cluster to another and had them work fine as well. It would be worth a try to swap the gauges in order to make one good cluster out of the two.

I have a perfect 986 cluster (black faces) sitting in my garage if you can't find one. The mileage is in the 60k range. But it is from an '01 and I'm not sure if you can go with something from a non CAN BUS system or not.

BoxsterLewis · 06-24-2009, 04:06 PM

Thumper i forgot to mention i have a 2004 3.6L motor in my box, its already running ok so the swap with another 2001 S cluster should be ok right? Thanks for the awesome advice?

Thumper · 06-24-2009, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoxsterLewis

Thumper i forgot to mention i have a 2004 3.6L motor in my box, its already running ok so the swap with another 2001 S cluster should be ok right? Thanks for the awesome advice?

Since your Boxster is an '01 model, it should work just fine.

Thumper · 06-24-2009, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredpayne

Where you at the last Sunday Drive? It was the bridges of Denton County or something like that, I was in the one and only Orient Red Porsche there.

No, I have yet to make one of the Sunday drives. I've always wanted to, but everytime I hear of one, I already have other plans.

fredpayne · 06-21-2009, 06:52 AM

Mine on the 03 broke, it is white, I found a good used 04 to replace it with, but it has black face plates on it.

BoxsterLewis · 06-21-2009, 03:37 PM

anyone know how hard it is to replace?

Thumper · 06-22-2009, 08:02 AM

It's a plug & play proposition. There are two screws that have to be removed to get the entire gauge pod to come out. One behind the microphone cover on the left side and one behind the emergency flasher switch on the right side. The entire gauge pod lifts up and there are three wire harness connectors on the back of the cluster. Each has a locking lever that you raise up and they come off. A few screws (they will be obvious) hold the cluster to the pod. Installation of the replacement cluster is the reverse of what you just did to get the old one out.

Be sure to disconnect the battery before you start taking out the original cluster.

BoxsterLewis · 06-22-2009, 08:09 AM

Thanks for the details Thumper!! Sounds pretty easy. Will i keep my old milage or the one the new cluster came with?
Oh and do the microphone and emergency flasher siwtch pop off easily without breaking?
Thanks!

Thumper · 06-22-2009, 08:34 AM

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=12805

This will walk you through the ins and outs of replacing your cluster and how to get to the screws. In this thread he is replacing his boxster cluster with one from a carrera (I did this mod and love it), but will work for what you are trying to accomplish. You just have to read through it to find the procedure for removing and replacing your cluster, as it goes into the different steps necessary for the carrera cluster swap.

The mileage is stored in the cluster, so you will either need to send the replacement cluster off to have it reprogrammed with your mileage or just go with the mileage that is on the new cluster. If the cluster is brand new or under 600 miles (I think), then the dealer can set the mileage to match your old cluster.

fredpayne · 06-22-2009, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thumper

It's a plug & play proposition. There are two screws that have to be removed to get the entire gauge pod to come out. One behind the microphone cover on the left side and one behind the emergency flasher switch on the right side. The entire gauge pod lifts up and there are three wire harness connectors on the back of the cluster. Each has a locking lever that you raise up and they come off. A few screws (they will be obvious) hold the cluster to the pod. Installation of the replacement cluster is the reverse of what you just did to get the old one out.

Be sure to disconnect the battery before you start taking out the original cluster.

I can do this, I want to replace the black faces with the white faces off my old Speedo, also how do you disconnect the emergency flasher, it sure would be easier to work on if I could remove the wiring plugged into he emergency flasher, Thanks

Thumper · 06-22-2009, 08:49 AM

Once you've pulled the switch button off of the emergency flasher, taken out the screw behind it and behind the microphone cover, then you have to lift the cluster up and get to the emergency flasher connector from behind the cluster/pod. There is a tab on the connector that you push in while pulling back on it. It's been awhile since I've done this, but I'm pretty sure that's correct. I believe that this is addressed in the link I provided earlier.

fredpayne · 06-24-2009, 04:14 PM

I have started taking the speedo off the one that works to put into the one that everything works but the speedo, I know Porsche loves to make a buck, When Bob at RUF, looked up the part numbers, he said no they won't interchange, I borrowed his computer for a sec and showed him a few P/N's with very little difference, he said I don't know according to the book it shouldn't work, but looks possible. Boardwalk was very sure it would not work.

P/N on my 03 Boxster S is 986 641 214 02

P/N on the 04 Boxster is 986 641 204 06

Thumper · 06-24-2009, 04:18 PM

I'd be willing to bet that it will work like a charm.

BoxsterLewis · 06-24-2009, 04:30 PM

Thanks! im selling mine for 80 shipped if anyone is interested.

fredpayne · 06-22-2009, 11:04 AM

The Link is Good But............ It doesn't address the issue of replacing the faces on the guages, ie: changing from black to white..

Thumper · 06-22-2009, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredpayne

The Link is Good But............ It doesn't address the issue of replacing the faces on the guages, ie: changing from black to white..

Try this link

http://www.iwantaporsche.net/cluster.htm

fredpayne · 06-24-2009, 05:54 PM

The cluster comes in 2 printed circuit boards, the one on the back is the main board, it holds mileage, etc. the smaller and flimsier one on the front holds the tach, speedo and temp and fuel guages, it is one solid printed circuit board, so not much you can do here, I did, however switch the front PCB from the 04 to the 03, nothing changed, I then switched the 03 to the 04, still nothing changed. I did the same thing with the rear main boards with the same results.

The tach, which isn't working on the 03, but is working on the 04 does have a small motor or something attached to it, it is soldered on in 4 places, I heated up the tach motor from the 04 which was working and soldered it to the 03 PCB, unfortunately nothing has changed. I don't know if the 01 cluster you have will work or not, it may have too many guages. If you think you or one of your friends could fix this one or your 01 will work, I would be happy to pay for the install, cause I gotta pay RUF to send it to California anyway. I am beginning to think maybe the problem is the 04 part, mine may use 01 through 03, not sure, I know mine has the green, blue, and gray connectors on the back, as does the 04, I have an older one that has gray, black and white, it will not work, Let me know if anybody wants to try to fix this, I would love to help, I might learn something. Thanks