Help!

So a few weeks ago I started to notice a warning on the dash to check the rear right taillight. Noticed the rear right parking light was not working when the car was running but the indicator, reverse and brake light worked. Removed the rear right taillight, connected another one that I had lying around and it did not work. Checked the wiring, did not see any issues. The issue comes and goes with no real indication of what might be causing it. days will go by and the light works fine and then middle of a drive it will show the warning.

Then one day I parked the car, got out and heard a beeping, checked the dash and it said the parking lights were are still on, noticed the two side marker lights are on with the light switch in off position and the key removed. Left the car for 15 mins, came back and the lights were still on. Started the car, drove home, parked the car and everything was fine.

Question...am I having relay issues? If yes, how easy is it to replace the relay and where can I find the relay modules?

Thanks in advance.

Car: 2007 C2

 

Sidemarkers on only one side or both sides? If only one side, you left the turn signal lever up or down when you shut the car off.

 

I wish it was that simple...I checked every button and lever. Also, the side markers are just markers, they don't flash as an indicator, at least not on my car.

 

It's a Euro feature...when you shut down the engine with the turn signal activated, the side markers stay activated (not flashing) - try it some time.

 

It's used for when you parallel park on a street, you light up the outside markers to make the car more visible so others don't hit it. Pushing the turn signal lever down lights up both left side lights, but not the right. Lifting it up does the opposite. If the lights on both sides remain on, you have a different issue, maybe a bad headlight switch. Usually relays on Porsches are split between the left and right sides, but I'm not sure on the 997.

 

Am still having issues with the rear right taillight randomly not working...any input towards a possible relay issue?

 

Swap bulbs and/or wiring harnesses from left to right to see if you can isolate the problem. Not sure why your fixated on a relay problem. Eliminate the easy stuff first.

 

Because the light works and does not based on it's own mood. Checked the wiring and the lights are LED so no bulb issue.

 

You never said you had LEDs. I'm assuming since your signature says 2007 C2 that you have aftermarket LEDs installed. You said you did try another taillight (LED, also??) and you had the same issue. When you tried that did both of those lights have the same light not working? There have been reports of the aftermarket LEDs failing so I would think that is the most likely suspect. Electrical problems are hard to troubleshoot especially over the Internet. Good luck.

 

My two cents worth ...

From 36 years of industrial controls I have learned that there is no such thing as a good connection. That might explain the intermittent right rear parking light.

But when you talk about the side lights staying on that is another thing. If you leave the turn signal up or down then only one side's light operates, and you should not get a constant dinging at the dash. Note: my travels in Europe indicate that only the selected rear parking light stays on and that the side and front lights stay off but my memory may be wrong. I will check this on my car later. Your car may be different than mine anyway. The Standards do change year to year.

It is my understanding that the side lights can be programmed as turn signals. This implies that they can operate independently. To have both on would need to be a double fault or something more fundamental. I would not expect a single relay or transistor to be controlling both lights. In my history multiple faults are rare unless your car had been in a flood, fire, or other disaster.

I am not sure if the 997.2 operates from relays or FETs or IGBTs. Relays can fail to connect, or they can stick on. Semi conductors work always, or they are broken (this happens when the magic smoke contained within escapes) forever.

Intermittent connections with semi conductors can fail to the on state if the design engineer did not tie the gates. I see this from many countries but not often from Germany. So I would conclude that the side lights were not caused by a connection but rather by a fundamental control error. It may be time to reset your computer, or check the battery, charging system, and grounds. I say this because you are seeing multiple intermittent problems.

Good luck. A full failure is welcome because then you can fix it. There is nothing worse than an intermittent failure.

 

sorry about that...did not mention the LEDs because I connected the stock light and it suffers the same faith.