Just a minor update, other bits are happening behind the scenes but nothing worth posting on here. I have upgraded the cigarette lighter socket to a 997 type. The early 996 cars had a larger diameter unit which meant that adapters fell out easily. I read that 997 ones were easy to fit so I ordered a couple. After getting them I then read that the later 996 ones were a different design and would have done the job, they would probably have been a direct drop in replacement as well. Not to worry, job done now.
Pull out the trim just under the cigarette lighter socket to remove it, then pull off the four connectors on the back. The rear of the socket is shown here:
The light and light pipe are held in place with small latches, use a thin screwdriver to pry these out so that they can be removed.
The socket assembly then needs to be rotated a few decrees and it will pull out.
Here you can see the small keyway which is why it needed to be rotated slightly to remove it. This is with the 997 light pipe in place, you can see that they don't quite line up. This was opened up very slightly with a small file and it then all pushes back together with the new socket and light pipe.
Whereas the old light pipe was rounded at the top side, the new one is a little bit squarer and uses an LED instead of a bulb, as a result of that, the hole it fits in in the dashboard needs opening up very slightly near the top with a small file. It really isn't much at all but it won't fit without it.
When that is done the connectors are put back on and it is pushed back in to place.
I now have a correct size socket with a crisp white illumination to it.
Once you figure out how to rotate the socket to remove it from the trim piece the entire job takes about 20 minutes at most.
MC