Pics of 996 Carerra cluster into Boxster - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Thumper · 05-30-2007, 03:03 PM

The Carrera gauge pod is a leather one from a 996TT. The cluster surround was already painted silver. The gauge faces are grey. Super hard to find. The only problem is that the cluster ended up being from a 996TT (I was assured that it was from a C2), so the oil level indicator doesn't work as the TT uses a dry sump system. I will ultimately change it out for a C2 cluster, but I can save the grey gauge faces by just swapping out the motherboard between the two clusters. Although I really like the black face gauges. The pics don't show it, but the OBC dot matrix display is ultra cool as you toggle thru the various screens. Graphical images and color too!

porsche986spyder · 05-30-2007, 03:22 PM

Okay, now I'm jealous. I want one with the white faces. What year is your Boxster?

By the way, be carefull when changing the faces of the gauges because it usually requires the needles/pointers to be pulled off first before you can put the different color gauge faces back on and can ALSO result in the reading being off. I had some Indiglow guages I put on my last car and it was hard as hell to get the needle to fall in the exact same place as before. Almost imposible unless the Porsche uses a different method. I found out the best way to get the needles to read correctly was to connect everything first and have the gas tank at half full so the needle is exactly in the midle. All the other needles usaully can rest on the small stoppers when the car is turned off.

Thumper · 05-30-2007, 09:20 PM

Mine is a 2001. The gauge needles can be a real bear to get off. I take a pic of the gauges before disassembly and then refer to it when I put the needles back on. I haven't had any trouble getting them to line back up just like they were when I removed them, but I could have just been lucky.

Try to find a cluster than you can verify is good. The first cluster I got looked perfect, but something was fried in it, as when I hooked it up I did not get any lights to work and I could hear a relay or two down by the fuse box just a-clickin. I couldn't get it disconnected fast enough. When I plugged in my second cluster, it worked like a champ.

porsche986spyder · 05-31-2007, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thumper

Mine is a 2001. The gauge needles can be a real bear to get off. I take a pic of the gauges before disassembly and then refer to it when I put the needles back on. I haven't had any trouble getting them to line back up just like they were when I removed them, but I could have just been lucky.

Try to find a cluster than you can verify is good. The first cluster I got looked perfect, but something was fried in it, as when I hooked it up I did not get any lights to work and I could hear a relay or two down by the fuse box just a-clickin. I couldn't get it disconnected fast enough. When I plugged in my second cluster, it worked like a champ.

Please send me the part number if you decide to get a new cluster of one that has a working oil level built into it. I want to do this mod, but want to buy the correct cluster and I don't want to loose my oil level indicator. Mine is a 2001 also.

Cloudsurfer · 05-31-2007, 06:33 PM

Thumper- Nice install! I like the Carerra pod, esp in silver. If your cluster is from a TT, both your oil level shouldnt work, and you should have major fuel gauge issues due to the C4 and TT having a saddle tank.

Dont you love the graphical OBC though!

Patrick

Thumper · 05-31-2007, 06:49 PM

Thanks. I've heard that my fuel gauge should be off due to the TT having a saddle tank configuration, but actually it has been very accurate. The graphical display rocks! Still working on a solution for the top light not working. I think that the cluster just needs to be told that it is in a convertible, but whall on the Rennlist forum has been working with a Porsche mechanic and they have yet to figure out how to change the cluster settings to accomplish this.

I'm taking mine into RUF to see if they have a solution. They installed Carrera clusters in their Boxster conversions, so I'm sure that they dealt with this problem. I am also keeping an eye out for a cluster from a C2 cabriolet. I have a feeling that the top light would work if I were to find one. Till then, this cluster will work just fine.

Cloudsurfer · 06-02-2007, 08:12 PM

Interesting, my top light works just fine. When I first fired the car up after the cluster was in, it definitely seemed to be "thinking" for a while, and then all the lights lit up, went out, and lit up again. Upon removing the key and re-inserting, all my idiot lights work just fine.

Also, very interesting to hear that your fuel gauge seems accurate. Have you run it down near E yet?

Patrick