No front left turn signal
#1
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I pulled the headlight module and removed the turn signal bulb. Filament looked good, but replaced with new PY21W bulb and still does not work.
Car is 2003 996 TT. Any suggestions on where to look for a fix?
Car is 2003 996 TT. Any suggestions on where to look for a fix?
#3
Race Director
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The fix? I'm not sure.
Thought it was a bulb. Went to the dealer and bought a new bulb and the tech installed it and claimed it was working. When I got in the car it was not working. I had no time to wait and the service manager pulled on tech off his assigned job to swap the bulb but he couldn't put him on my car for any length of time to address this so I left.
At home what I did was remove the head light and then the holder from the head light assembly. Seemed like it was tight and I didn't see any signs of corrosion. Some have reported signs of overheating and melting plastic or what have you. I saw none of that with m car.
I put everything back together and the thing still didn't work. Did this several times.
Thought maybe the connectors were not making contact. Some owners have said something about this. The metal contacts are pretty substantial and while I pried on them with the proper sized screwdriver I didn't pry much. I suspect if one breaks something the whole assembly would need to be replaced and the cost is very high. With this in mind I was pretty careful and didn't use that much force.
I think I managed to improve the contact force some with my prying but this could be more imagined than real.
In installing the holder one more time I sort of thought maybe I managed to twist it rotate it more than before and felt like the thing kind of locked in place better.
This time when I installed the head light the light worked so I was thinking I "fixed" it.
The turn signal was ok for a few months then stopped working one day almost to work. I suspect heat has something to do with it when it stops working. The holder gets warm and loosens or perhaps there is a marginal electrical contact at the holder and where it fits into the headlight housing. Or the thing just hates me.
Anyhow, I repeated all of the above and got the thing working again but I wonder for how long...?
#5
Rennlist Member
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I've had the same thing on my driver's side turn signal in my 02. I did nearly the same thing as Macster. I removed the housing, pryed on the contacts slightly (not a lot of force applied for the same reasons noted... didn't want to break it). Then I went in there w/ some light grit sandpaper and applied a tiny bit of dielectric grease to the contact points.
It's been fine ever since. I hope that helps.
It's been fine ever since. I hope that helps.
#6
Three Wheelin'
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I gently cleaned off all of the contact points with high grit sand paper (180 or higher) and haven't had a problem since. My bulbs were blowing out after one use. Went through 3 bulbs before taking the time to simply clean up the contacts which has worked like a charm for six months now.
#7
Race Director
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#10
Pro
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This is a common problem with these cars. The left hand turn signal on my 2003 Turbo has stopped working now a couple of times.
The fix? I'm not sure.
Thought it was a bulb. Went to the dealer and bought a new bulb and the tech installed it and claimed it was working. When I got in the car it was not working. I had no time to wait and the service manager pulled on tech off his assigned job to swap the bulb but he couldn't put him on my car for any length of time to address this so I left.
At home what I did was remove the head light and then the holder from the head light assembly. Seemed like it was tight and I didn't see any signs of corrosion. Some have reported signs of overheating and melting plastic or what have you. I saw none of that with m car.
I put everything back together and the thing still didn't work. Did this several times.
Thought maybe the connectors were not making contact. Some owners have said something about this. The metal contacts are pretty substantial and while I pried on them with the proper sized screwdriver I didn't pry much. I suspect if one breaks something the whole assembly would need to be replaced and the cost is very high. With this in mind I was pretty careful and didn't use that much force.
I think I managed to improve the contact force some with my prying but this could be more imagined than real.
In installing the holder one more time I sort of thought maybe I managed to twist it rotate it more than before and felt like the thing kind of locked in place better.
This time when I installed the head light the light worked so I was thinking I "fixed" it.
The turn signal was ok for a few months then stopped working one day almost to work. I suspect heat has something to do with it when it stops working. The holder gets warm and loosens or perhaps there is a marginal electrical contact at the holder and where it fits into the headlight housing. Or the thing just hates me.
Anyhow, I repeated all of the above and got the thing working again but I wonder for how long...?
The fix? I'm not sure.
Thought it was a bulb. Went to the dealer and bought a new bulb and the tech installed it and claimed it was working. When I got in the car it was not working. I had no time to wait and the service manager pulled on tech off his assigned job to swap the bulb but he couldn't put him on my car for any length of time to address this so I left.
At home what I did was remove the head light and then the holder from the head light assembly. Seemed like it was tight and I didn't see any signs of corrosion. Some have reported signs of overheating and melting plastic or what have you. I saw none of that with m car.
I put everything back together and the thing still didn't work. Did this several times.
Thought maybe the connectors were not making contact. Some owners have said something about this. The metal contacts are pretty substantial and while I pried on them with the proper sized screwdriver I didn't pry much. I suspect if one breaks something the whole assembly would need to be replaced and the cost is very high. With this in mind I was pretty careful and didn't use that much force.
I think I managed to improve the contact force some with my prying but this could be more imagined than real.
In installing the holder one more time I sort of thought maybe I managed to twist it rotate it more than before and felt like the thing kind of locked in place better.
This time when I installed the head light the light worked so I was thinking I "fixed" it.
The turn signal was ok for a few months then stopped working one day almost to work. I suspect heat has something to do with it when it stops working. The holder gets warm and loosens or perhaps there is a marginal electrical contact at the holder and where it fits into the headlight housing. Or the thing just hates me.
Anyhow, I repeated all of the above and got the thing working again but I wonder for how long...?
#12
Race Director
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I _LOVE_ working on the 996 / M96 compared to other cars. When I installed headers on my 986, it took me 2 hours - in fact, I installed them, decided I hated 'em, and removed them in one day. When I installed long-tube headers on my '96 Corvette, it took 2 weekends - but having to weld up a custom tool to get to some of the manifold bolts and chopping a section out of the driver-side header so it would clear the transmission control arm slowed me down some.
#13
Addict
Rennlist Member
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To add to the previous comments... This problem occurred on my c4s.
I initially changed the bulb... It worked for about a week then flickered a bit... Then quit again.
I took the assembly out again and realized that I had not properly installed the bulb... It was not quite fully engaged.... And was arching (you could see where some of the plastic had begun to melt.
Reinstalled properly and it's been good for 6mos.so far.
I initially changed the bulb... It worked for about a week then flickered a bit... Then quit again.
I took the assembly out again and realized that I had not properly installed the bulb... It was not quite fully engaged.... And was arching (you could see where some of the plastic had begun to melt.
Reinstalled properly and it's been good for 6mos.so far.
#14
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Thanks guys for your help.
George
2003 996TT coupe
2000 Boxster S
1972 914
1963 356 coupe