miramar_trieste

Hi there,

I recently noticed my left front light will remain stuck open after I close the light switch. Sometimes I turn the switch off/on and then it goes down -

Tonight I had to actually just push it down back in place....

Anyone know what I can check (or) what the issue might be?

FRporscheman

Your car is probably attracted to a nearby hot sports car and it's winking.

It sounds like the headlight swinging mechanism is jammed up and needs to be cleaned and/or lubed. I've never taken a 968 headlight apart that much so I'm not sure how to go about doing that. The WSM covers it though.

JDS968

To get to the mechanism:

- Start with the headlight in the down position.

- Lift the hood.

- Reach behind the headlight and push it up until it reaches the normal deployed position.

- Still holding the headlight from behind, pull the little black handle inside the engine bay right next to the headlight. This will release the headlight to deploy past its normal extension, exposing the mechanism underneath.

You will see the linkage that raises and lowers the headlight and the cylindrical electrical motor it's connected to. Pop the cap off of the top of the motor (if it's even still there) and spin the **** underneath. I can't remember whether it goes clockwise or counterclockwise, but it should be obvious when you try it, because it spins easily one way and not the other. You can work the linkage through a full cycle to see/feel whether anything's sticking. I'd check the nut that holds the linkage to the electrical motor first, though. Either way, if you choose to lubricate anything in the linkage, you should be able to spray it right on each joint without disassembling or extracting anything.

I'd be more suspicious of the relay, but maybe that's just me and my paranoia of electrical gremlins.

miramar_trieste

Thank you I'll give that a try and let you know....

odurandina

the headlight needs lube is my guess. does it squeak when going up ?


a lot of old parts need lube.

JDS968

If that doesn't work, I'd try to hunt down somebody else in your area with a 968 and convince him to trade headlight relays for a day or two. If your headlight starts working and his stops working, you've got your answer.

You just need to figure out how to get her properly in the mood, and don't rush things.

968workaholic

There is also a hinge by the front of the car that is under the part of the fender where it connects to the front bumper. It is next to impossible to lube without removing the front bumper. Nine times out of ten it is that hinge sticking from the cars that I have worked on.

dougs968

+1 on the relay. It fixed mine after spray lube alone didn't.

miramar_trieste

Sorry to ask if this sounds stupid - what is a headlight relay?

ernie9468

Is this what your talking about!!!

JDS968

Open up your fusebox under the hood and check the list under the lid, it's one of the little boxes plugged in there.

blue44

the headlight relay is the big silver one, it has four relays on a p.c. board in the can ( two up, two down ). Be extremely careful when removing or installing, it's easy to tweak it, try to jack it up slowly with a small prying tool. My car had the same issue, I went over the p.c. board with a loupe and a soldering iron, found a half-dozen cracked solder joints...

Donn

968workaholic

No it is more forward than that, literally it is where the bumper connects to the front fender. You need to determine if it is the lifting mechanism that isn't returning, implying the relay, or if just the headlight isn't dropping. I will try to find a picture of the hinge I am talking about.

miramar_trieste

Cool thanks for the picture. Once I find the relay I guess it wouldn't hurt to replace it?

I don't know anyone else with a 968 around me (Toronto, Ontario)...but if they are not to expensive, I wouldn't mind buying a new one....

JDS968

I want to say they're about $100, but I could easily be misremembering. And I don't know whether parts prices are any different in Canadia.