Note: Bill's Porsche 944 Site is not responsible for the content of banners displayed above. http://geocities.datacellar.net/MotorCity/1760/dash.html Bill's Porsche 944 Site -- Early and Late 944 Dashboards. Updated: 5/February/99 Early '85 Dash This is the dash layout for all early 944 models. It is basically the 924 dash. The Early dash's side air vents don't work too well; in fact they're pretty wimpy. The glovebox has much less volume, and you have to take your hand off the shifter to adjust the radio. 1 Side window vents 10 Fresh air vents 19 Fog light switch 2 Turn signal / headlight dimmer switch lever / Automatic speed control 11 Glove compartment 20 Air volume control switch knob 3 Fuel gauge and water temperature gauge, with warning lights 12 Hatchback release switch 21 Switch for prop-up roof 4 Speedometer 13 Front hood release 22 Cigarette lighter 5 Tachometer 14 Light switch 23 Loudspeaker balance control 6 Windshield wiper / washer lever 15 Horn 24 Heating and ventilation control levels 7 Oil pressure gauge 16 Ignition / steering lock 25 Safety belt, brake warning lights and brake lining wear indicator 8 Air conditioning controls 17 Rear window defogger switch . . 9 Clock 18 Emergency flasher switch . . Late '85 Dash In late '85, the 944 got a nicer dashboard. Cleaner layout, more graceful curves...much like the 928 of the day, similar to later 911's and almost identical to the 968. You can press the buttons on the radio without taking your hand off the shifter. I miss this in my current '84, not that I listen to the radio that much...I don't. The side air vents are larger and move more air. Point them inboard and down and they blow directly onto your hands. Nice in winter. Other controls were relocated somewhat, and one control disappeared from obvious view -- the odometer reset switch. Something of a 944 trivia item, the reset switch looks like one of the air vent vanes. It is a simple pushbutton, located as item number 24 in the image below, taken from my late '85 owner's manual. 1 Side window vents 11 Rear window defogger switch 21 Turn signal indicator 2 Fog light switch 12 Fresh air vents 22 Ignition / steering lock 3 Instrument illumination dimmer control 13 Center dashboard vent cut-off slide 23 Wiper / washer lever 4 Turn signal / headlight dimmer and flasher switch 14 Temperature rotary switch 24 Trip odometer reset 5 Left instrument cluster / coolant temperature gauge and fuel gauge 15 Emergency flasher switch 25 Air volume control knob / defroster switch 6 Speedometer 16 Glove compartment lock 26 Fan switch 7 Central warning light 17 Hatchback release switch 27 Heating and ventilation control levers - dashboard / floor 8 Tachometer 18 Front hood release 28 Air conditioning switch 9 Right instrument cluster / oil pressure gauge and voltmeter 19 Light switch 29 Clock 10 Intermittent wiper control 20 Horn 30 Cigarette lighter I often get the question "Can I update my old style dash to the newer one?" The answer is mostly... no. Not unless you have money to spend. There are mechanical fit issues, and some electrical differences. These are not insurmountable, but the cost is high. Also, the steering column angle changed from Early to Late 944's and this would of course have to be addressed. Also, there's the cost of updating to the new steering column controls for cruise control and wiper operation, etc. I like these controls much better in the Late style dash. If anybody has ever attempted this upgrade, I would be very interested in hearing how it went! Feedback Have a suggestion on how I might make this page better? Send email to me at bill_underwood@geocities.com You are visitor since this page was originally posted on 11 November 1997. Updated: 5/February/99 Dash evaluations, scanning, image manipulations, color corrections, HTML (and all that other stuff) by Bill Underwood Back to: Bill's Porsche 944 page