Announcing: Auto headlights version 2 for 997.1 & 997.2
11-19-2023, 03:42 PM
#61
Rennlist Member
Received, finally (no fault of yours, whole family caught a bug and was down for a few days and finally got to the mail box). One of the replacement boxes was opened. Everything looked in order so I snapped the two halves together and after testing, wrapped both new boxes in electrical tape to keep them closed. “Map” button illuminates! Will drop them back in the mail tomorrow. Thanks for standing behind them in the way you did and getting it resolved so swiftly!!
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Hatzenbach (11-20-2023)
11-19-2023, 05:56 PM
#62
Complete noob here; just getting my 2011 GTS shipped to me. Would love to buy one of your units. I love the Adruino idea! Kindly let me know if you still have stock and how to pay you. Thanks. I couldn't find how to message you direct.
11-19-2023, 11:34 PM
#63
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
I just got received a bunch of new parts and just finished making a bunch more units.
You can contact me at christopher@christopherzang.com or czulrich@gmail.com
Tomorrow (11/20) will be my last shipping day before Thanksgiving
After that I will resume shipping on 11/29
You can contact me at christopher@christopherzang.com or czulrich@gmail.com
Tomorrow (11/20) will be my last shipping day before Thanksgiving
After that I will resume shipping on 11/29
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Hatzenbach (11-20-2023)
11-20-2023, 08:08 PM
#65
@Hatzenbach aka Chris, what a great addition this is to my 997.2! When I first bought my Porsche I was quite disappointed by the lack of automatic headlights, it's something that all my other vehicles have and have become so accustomed to it that the first few times I drove the 997.2 to work (dark early morning) I forgot to turn thr lights off after parking, luckily (although embarrassing) my co workers let me know what a idot I was lol.
Your version 2.0 has been an absolutely incredible addition to my car.
To everyone on the fence about getting one it's 1000% worth it! Installation is super easy! If you can change a lightbulb in your house you can do this!
With Installation a few key notes; on the installation instructions look closely at the wire colors to determine what direction they go in the plugs, on the light switch side tilit at an angle like shown and once you feel it began to slide home dont be scared to give it a good squeeze to send it all the way in.
Thanks again Chris! It was great helping you with some of the initial testing.
Your version 2.0 has been an absolutely incredible addition to my car.
To everyone on the fence about getting one it's 1000% worth it! Installation is super easy! If you can change a lightbulb in your house you can do this!
With Installation a few key notes; on the installation instructions look closely at the wire colors to determine what direction they go in the plugs, on the light switch side tilit at an angle like shown and once you feel it began to slide home dont be scared to give it a good squeeze to send it all the way in.
Thanks again Chris! It was great helping you with some of the initial testing.
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Hatzenbach (11-20-2023)
11-20-2023, 08:26 PM
#66
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
and just as a reminder, the installation manual is here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CjR...Up0nzNUCq/view
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CjR...Up0nzNUCq/view
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Wepeachy (11-20-2023)
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Hatzenbach (12-05-2023)
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Hatzenbach (12-17-2023)
12-31-2023, 03:04 AM
#72
OK here's the promised update. I have good news (for you) and not so good news (for me):
Good news: I figured out why this happens and it's a very easy fix
Bad news: Unless you're comfortable with soldering electronics, I need to do it, which means I have to do a "recall"
Here's my plan: In the next couple of days I will send each one of you a new and "upgraded" black box. You swap it with your existing box and then send the box back to me (I'll reimburse you for the shipping charges - it's my mistake after all).
You will only need to swap the black box, the sensor can stay in place. Fortunately I had the foresight to make it detachable.
The other good news is that I have the "black boxes" in stock, all I'm waiting for are the sensors (which you don't need to replace).
Should be a 5 minute swap for you guys.
But before I do that I definitely want to do some more testing...
And here's the explanation of what happened:
As they say, assumption is the mother of all f***ups. My box only controls the wire that turns the headlights on/off.
Initially I also wanted to control the side-markers, but hey they come on with the headlights, so no need to do that and keep it simple - right?
Well apparently, the lights on the center console only come on if the actual wire for the side-markers goes live...
And that's what my fix does now. Needless to say, all new units won't have this problem.
Just in case anyone wants to do the fix yourself: All you have to do is to solder a garden-variety diode between two soldering points on the circuit board.
If you want to give it a try, e-mail me at czulrich@gmail.com and I'll send you instructions.
to be continued....
Good news: I figured out why this happens and it's a very easy fix
Bad news: Unless you're comfortable with soldering electronics, I need to do it, which means I have to do a "recall"
Here's my plan: In the next couple of days I will send each one of you a new and "upgraded" black box. You swap it with your existing box and then send the box back to me (I'll reimburse you for the shipping charges - it's my mistake after all).
You will only need to swap the black box, the sensor can stay in place. Fortunately I had the foresight to make it detachable.
The other good news is that I have the "black boxes" in stock, all I'm waiting for are the sensors (which you don't need to replace).
Should be a 5 minute swap for you guys.
But before I do that I definitely want to do some more testing...
And here's the explanation of what happened:
As they say, assumption is the mother of all f***ups. My box only controls the wire that turns the headlights on/off.
Initially I also wanted to control the side-markers, but hey they come on with the headlights, so no need to do that and keep it simple - right?
Well apparently, the lights on the center console only come on if the actual wire for the side-markers goes live...
And that's what my fix does now. Needless to say, all new units won't have this problem.
Just in case anyone wants to do the fix yourself: All you have to do is to solder a garden-variety diode between two soldering points on the circuit board.
If you want to give it a try, e-mail me at czulrich@gmail.com and I'll send you instructions.
to be continued....
really, how trick6 is the soldering job- bear in mind I have 2 left hands as well as feet😳😄
12-31-2023, 06:00 AM
#73
Instructor
Do any of you have an issue with cranking the car with the headlights on? I assume with this module, if I turn on the car at night the headlights will come on as my 997.1 does the oil level check. Currently, if I turn on the car with the headlights on, the rear license plate lights turn off and don't come back on unless I turn the headlights off and back on. I just avoid turning on the headlights before turning on the car, but if I buy this module I assume I would run into issues. Anyone else have this problem? I am running sylvania 194 LED replacements.
12-31-2023, 12:55 PM
#74
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
And everyone who was affected by this "recall" got their replacement devices a loooooong time ago
Last edited by Hatzenbach; 12-31-2023 at 03:11 PM.
12-31-2023, 12:58 PM
#75
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Do any of you have an issue with cranking the car with the headlights on? I assume with this module, if I turn on the car at night the headlights will come on as my 997.1 does the oil level check. Currently, if I turn on the car with the headlights on, the rear license plate lights turn off and don't come back on unless I turn the headlights off and back on. I just avoid turning on the headlights before turning on the car, but if I buy this module I assume I would run into issues. Anyone else have this problem? I am running sylvania 194 LED replacements.
So far I have never heard of this problem.
Can you try the following: Instead of setting the headlight switch to HOME set it to "headlights ON". Does the same thing happen then?
I'm suspecting that your battery is on it's way out
Last edited by Hatzenbach; 12-31-2023 at 03:12 PM.