1987 Carrera headlights

mikehinton · mikehinton's Garage

I'm sure that this topic has been covered before, and yes, I do know how to use the search function. But I'm 2,200 miles from home at the Porsche Parade, and my headlights are suddenly DOA. They worked fine all the way across the country, but as I was leaving the resort to go to my condo, I turned on the lights, and had nothing except for parking lights and taillights. The blue high beam indicator was illuminated. Using the high/low switch and the flasher switch had no effect. All four fuses for the headlights are intact. Because the car thinks that the high beams are on, the fog lights are inoperative too. I have previously had the switch worked on due to a different issue.

I'm figuring that it's probably time to spend the $$$ and get a new switch. What say the brain trust?

cabmandone · cabmandone's Garage

You wouldn't happen to have the relay kit installed on your car would you?

KTL · 07-11-2018, 06:03 AM

The stalk switch is not hard to access but you do have to take off the steering wheel. You only need a large socket (I believe non-metric equivalent for this one is 1-1/16") and a decent sized socket wrench. You can buy all cheaply from a local auto parts store like AutoZone. Also need a small flat blade screwdriver to remove the clam shell plastic around the steering column.

Once you get the clam shell off you can see how the switch is attached to the column (more flat blade screws) and you can take the switch off the column to futz with the contacts

Jesse16 · Jesse16's Garage

Yep, all that and if you don't own one and are interested then you could purchase a cheap test meter and chase where the the power isn't. Or just some wire and a bulb to make sure you have volts at the fuse. Only thing left is the switch or a broken wire. Maybe a parade person can send you to a sympathetic local small shop to diagnose/fix.

mikehinton · mikehinton's Garage

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I already know how much fun it is to try to remove the steering wheel. Getting the switch out of the column is a laugh riot too. I already had someone adjust the contacts about a month ago to cure another issue. And I do not believe that I have a relay wired into the headlamp circuit. Given the number of events that I'm attending, there really will be no time to try to repair it before I get home.

Looks like it will be time for a new switch when I get home.

KTL · 07-11-2018, 05:10 PM

So are you going to duct tape some LED flashlights to the top of the fenders until you can get the light circuit working?

SpyderMike · 07-12-2018, 06:04 PM

You might check the common ground G108 in the front trunk - I think it is front left hand corner. The fact that the tach high beam light is on means power is coming out of one of the appropriate fuses (power to the left headlight). Past that the lights share the common grounding point. If you had luggage up there, you might have disturbed the grounds. If that high beam indicator light is on, you should be able to get high beams I would think...unless the stalk switch can't pass enough current for them for whatever reason.

Otherwise, a new switch sounds likely.