Need help, odd tail light behaviour
Thread Starter
AutoX
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver, BC
Thanks for all the advice so far. No LED headlights, they are just the Xenon ones (or at least I think they are).
I've finally figured out which relay it is and removed it. 996.615.111.00. I'm aspiring to get better with electronics, so I have the necessary tools and basic understanding, however, little familiarity with relays. Youtube helped get some insight on that. Unfortunately the DRL relay is a bit more complicated that I expected. Each side has 5 pins rather than 4. And of course the relay doesn't have a diagram (and I can't find one online) and the only description that the relay has on it is in... german, not that it would help much as the only word used in the pin descriptions is 'klemme' which I guess means clip.
So I'm not sure how best to test this, that is I'm not sure which pins to energize and I'm not sure if all the paths are protected by diodes, so I'm hesitant to just start energizing. Has anyone happen to come across any instructions, diagrams, etc for testing this specific relay? If not, I'll likely just order up another one and hope for the best.
JJ
I've finally figured out which relay it is and removed it. 996.615.111.00. I'm aspiring to get better with electronics, so I have the necessary tools and basic understanding, however, little familiarity with relays. Youtube helped get some insight on that. Unfortunately the DRL relay is a bit more complicated that I expected. Each side has 5 pins rather than 4. And of course the relay doesn't have a diagram (and I can't find one online) and the only description that the relay has on it is in... german, not that it would help much as the only word used in the pin descriptions is 'klemme' which I guess means clip.
So I'm not sure how best to test this, that is I'm not sure which pins to energize and I'm not sure if all the paths are protected by diodes, so I'm hesitant to just start energizing. Has anyone happen to come across any instructions, diagrams, etc for testing this specific relay? If not, I'll likely just order up another one and hope for the best.
JJ
Thread Starter
AutoX
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver, BC
Still trying to figure out which pins to energize to test, but realized that if any were stuck open I should be able to see that in there being resistance between pins. I quickly compared each pin to every other pin and found nothing, so at least the relay isn't stuck open. So it's a start.
If I can't figure this out shortly, I'll likely just order a replacement relay. Given my symptoms and how the relay is wired and what it does, I'm feeling pretty confident that we've found the problem. At this point, it's more about the satisfaction of confirmation and posterity.
If I can't figure this out shortly, I'll likely just order a replacement relay. Given my symptoms and how the relay is wired and what it does, I'm feeling pretty confident that we've found the problem. At this point, it's more about the satisfaction of confirmation and posterity.
Nordschleife Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,326
Likes: 77
If you can wait, I can help once I can access the wiring diagram later today.
Still trying to figure out which pins to energize to test, but realized that if any were stuck open I should be able to see that in there being resistance between pins. I quickly compared each pin to every other pin and found nothing, so at least the relay isn't stuck open. So it's a start.
If I can't figure this out shortly, I'll likely just order a replacement relay. Given my symptoms and how the relay is wired and what it does, I'm feeling pretty confident that we've found the problem. At this point, it's more about the satisfaction of confirmation and posterity.
If I can't figure this out shortly, I'll likely just order a replacement relay. Given my symptoms and how the relay is wired and what it does, I'm feeling pretty confident that we've found the problem. At this point, it's more about the satisfaction of confirmation and posterity.
Thread Starter
AutoX
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver, BC
Much appreciated, and no rush. I wasn't was going to order it today.
The dealership is closed until Monday anyway, and I've got the other Porsche owner giving me a hand with testing it tonight. He's a radio engineer so he's far more knowledgable on electronics than I.
The dealership is closed until Monday anyway, and I've got the other Porsche owner giving me a hand with testing it tonight. He's a radio engineer so he's far more knowledgable on electronics than I.
Thread Starter
AutoX
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver, BC
I think we've got it.
I still didn't have great luck interpreting the diagram. Unfortunately the numbers on the bottom of relay don't correspond to the numbers on the diagram. There appears to be a mapping label on the relay, but it wasn't entirely clear either, that is, some of the numbers matched up but not all.
Anyway, we popped the cover off the relay, start looking at the circuit board to deduce the connections and realized that some of the solder joints weren't looking too healthy. Fix the joints and voila consistent behaviour. Now all the lights are on while the car is running. I'm still not clear if they are all supposed to be on, or just the front ones, but at least they are consistent and my neighbours won't think that I'm ignoring their courteous notification of my dead bulbs.
Thanks again for your help all. I'd have never even considered the relay without you and I'd have probably be out $100 to have replaced the unit even if I had figured it out.
JJ
I still didn't have great luck interpreting the diagram. Unfortunately the numbers on the bottom of relay don't correspond to the numbers on the diagram. There appears to be a mapping label on the relay, but it wasn't entirely clear either, that is, some of the numbers matched up but not all.
Anyway, we popped the cover off the relay, start looking at the circuit board to deduce the connections and realized that some of the solder joints weren't looking too healthy. Fix the joints and voila consistent behaviour. Now all the lights are on while the car is running. I'm still not clear if they are all supposed to be on, or just the front ones, but at least they are consistent and my neighbours won't think that I'm ignoring their courteous notification of my dead bulbs.
Thanks again for your help all. I'd have never even considered the relay without you and I'd have probably be out $100 to have replaced the unit even if I had figured it out.
JJ
Nordschleife Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,326
Likes: 77
Btw, the pin number mapping is in these photos. Hopefully you won't need these anytime soon 
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...y/99661511100/
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...y/99661511100/
