Warning Lite Says Car Was Worms

Having a PPI done on a '03 996, and the mechanic sent this photo. Anyone seen this type of problem on their LED display before? Would it mean replacing the instrument pod and losing the odometer numbers and subsequent title/re-sale problems? Or would it be repairable, preserving the odometer data? Maybe Hartz makes a pill that I could just drop in the tank?

IC's are for sale from salvage vehicles. Car would have to re-programmed for the mileage of course. Maybe use to negotiate price drop?

This mode of failure in the cluster's LCD display is not uncommon, and replacing the unit seems to be the method preferred by all except the most adventurous amateur electricians. You can get a new cluster, and you can have the new cluster programmed with the existing cluster's mileage. There was a thread in this forum not too long ago - a couple of weeks - so you should be able to turn it up with some additional searching.

Here's the thread I was thinking of... https://rennlist.com/forums/996-forum/787019-replacing-the-cluster.html

OK - thanks. Still unclear on a 2003 MY whether the LCD can be replaced without disturbing the cluster electronics that store the odometer data, but it sounds like more trouble than I care to risk right now. Bummer, because I really like the car otherwise.

I'm on my phone so I don't know if that link is to my recent thread, but I posted information after talking to one of the companies that repairs them. Basically it seems that you can't source the LCDs so they use ones they've recovered from other clusters. This keeps your mileage and is substantially cheaper than what a new cluster costs ($2200ish is the best I've found for a new MkI cluster).

I have the same problem on an '01 C4. I just got a quote this AM from a company called Southern Electronics, based in Virginia I believe, for $350 to "repair" this problem. I have not called yet to discuss whether the odometer reading can be retained, etc. Does anyone have knowledge of this company?

I thought that was the MILF Bearing warning light.

Quotes source post: 10950486

They didn't pop up in my search. I would recommend questioning them about their Porsche experience and 996 specifically. Even though some of the places I found that went as far as mentioning Porsche and 996 on their website, VDO Repair is the only one I found that said they'd actually done it and sounded like they knew what they were talking about. I don't expect there is really anything special about these clusters, but it's a costly mistake if it gets messed up. We're still on the fence about if we are going to go the VDO route or bite the bullet and get a new one (she is big on new parts since she is the only owner this car has ever known). Looks like it's still going to be my DD for awhile longer though so the decision gets to wait.

I've used Southern Electronics, they're only a few miles from me, but not for a Porsche speedo. No complaints at all. They're legit.

Thanks Perryinva. That's what's great about forums. Experiences from a wide variety of people in all parts of the US (and world too) can be brought to one place.

I'd also suggest calling Palo Alto Speedometer in Cali. They are very knowledgeable in Porsche stuff. At least get a second opinion or more info.

Firstly, I think that looks cool. Now if I remember correctly, when I was a kid taking apart lcd watches there was some sort of polarising film thats sits in front of the lcd or between the lcd and the light source. I'm guessing to give definition and clean pixels, since the liquid crystals rotate when current is passed through them but don't block light in all directions. I'm guessing this, be worth investigating properly. But looking at that pic the lcd looks to be working and the worms (rennlist threads) seem to be over the numbers. Looks to me like the polaring material only needs replaced if that is possible...anyone got a scrap one they could open to see if the lcd is one glued piece or can be separated? The lcd panel used to be connected to the circuit board with a rubber strip with wires running through, connections made with screen clamped against the circuit board. Could be completely different construction. Be cool to open and see though!