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Porsche 928: How to Replace Dome Light

A dome light is one of those conveniences you don't really think about until you really need it. Read this how-to to learn more about replacing the dome light bulb on your Porsche 928.

By Jared Hammond - April 13, 2015

This article applies to the Porsche 928 (1978-1995).

Maybe your dome light won't come on and you discover it's burned out, or perhaps you'd like to get better lighting inside your car by installing a more luminescent LED bulb. Whatever the reason, don't worry about it. Replacing the dome light bulb on your Porsche 928 is one of the simplest operations you can do for your vehicle.

Materials Needed

  • Replacement 32mm festoon LED bulb
  • Flat head screwdriver

Step 1 – Pull out the dome light housing

Take a flat head screwdriver, and gently pry off the dome light housing. Be careful as you do so because the dome light housing is fragile. Do not pull too hard on the wires either; otherwise, you'll have to fix the wire connection.

Figure 1. Pry out the dome light housing.

Pro Tip

Some people have had problems where the Hella brand dome lights on the 928 caused a short when they broke, so be careful when handling it. To avoid this, you can replace the Hella dome light with the more modern dome lights from the late '90s to early '00s Volkswagen Jetta and Passat. The housing and wires transfer seamlessly, so they can easily be acquired online or at a junk dealer.

Step 2 – Remove burned out bulb

Flip the dome light housing over, and pull the burned out bulb from between the two contact springs. Be careful not to bend the springs as you remove it.

Figure 2. Remove the burned out bulb.

Step 3 – Install replacement bulb

Place your festoon LED bulb between the two contact springs. Position the bulb so that the diodes are facing out through the cover. Then, take the dome light housing and press it back into the incline. Press it in firmly, and make sure that it is secure. To test the bulb, start the car and press the dome light switch. If it doesn't come on, check the bulb to make sure you don't have it in backwards. Other reasons why it won't come on could be that the bulb is defective, or there is a loose connection in the wiring.

Figure 3. Functioning non-OEM dome light.

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