Peedster

Hey,

I have a problem that came up recently.
The thing is that when i turn off the lights they start flipping up and down all the time....

Sometimes they stay down but tonight i had to loosen one och the batteri cables....

Anyone who's got the answer?

/Peter

dmoffitt

probably a shorted wire, or possibly one broke / came off the back of the headlight connector (had this happen on my old black 951)

silicondigital

This will happen if the stops are mis adjusted and cause the light to come back up and re activate the realay, turning the motor back on to cycle them. Or if the relay on the motor that "cycles" the lights is bad. I think dmoffitt thinks you are talking about the lights flickering or something?

RJP 951

This happened to me right after I bought my car last March. I replaced the relay on the motor and it hasn't happened since.

Ron

icat

It's the relay on the headlight motor. You can take the original one apart with a small screw driver and clean the contacts, or just replace it. They're only about $12 or so.

If you decide to take the original apart, keep in mind that these were designed to be replaced - not repaired. They are a bit difficult to "break open", but once you have it apart it's easy to clean. Take a business card and soak an edge with WD-40, alcohol, or lighter fluid, and run it between the contacts to clean. The card stock on the business card acts as the "sand paper" and the solvent cleans the surface.

Simple fix for what we call the "Herbie Effect".

Peedster

Thanks guys!

Do i have to buy the relay at Porsche or can i find it somewhere else? Read something about buying a bosch from an electronic store!?

And where isthe relay located, in the fuse box or by the headlights?

I really want to get rid of the "Herbie effect" LOL

James86-951

It's on the headlamp motor itself under the rubber cover. (pass side front on eng compartment.) You can also stop it by turning on the parking lights for a second or two to get it to stop. (Until a new relay is purchased) I had the same problem.

RJP 951

If I remember correctly the relay is a pretty standard item. I took mine with me to the local parts store and they matched it up with one that they had in stock.

Ron

Peedster

Thanks again 944ers!

I tried to replace the relay with the matching from my 931 and the issue was gone!

Strange that the headlampmotor is turned mirrorwise on the 931...?

I'll replace it with a new tomorrow!

/Regards Peter

Mike S

Not so fast on the relay! On my old 944 I had the same problem. It was intermittent too! The problem ended up being a cracked wire(shorting out) in the headlight wiring. Check the wiring coming out of the bulb about 4-5" back. It makes a sharp kink when the lights are up. Flex that kink back and forth to check for a short...or cut the insulation open. When I cut the insulation open on mine the brown and white wires both had peices of insulation broken off and were shorting.

toddk911

I had the same problem and changed out the relay. But now, they open, but don't go back down...????

Anyone help with that one??

Mike S

Oops...sorry didn't see that the problem was solved. As for your problem Todd, I'm thinking you have the wrong relay or a switch that went out. Did you verify the part numbers on the relay? Just for entertainment put the switch to off/down and wiggle the wires near the headlights...see if they go down...that should tell you if you have a short or not.