Smoke from turn signal lever...

[97*Sunshine]

It was sunny this morning when I left for work, so I did not bother to put the top on my car. About 2 hours later I looked out the window and it was dark! Before I could get outside to put the top on, it started raining. Just as the rain turned to down-pour, I got the top in... Not before the inside of my car got wet.
Fast forward to 5pm and I'm looking forward to the drive. I get about 3 minutes into my commute and I notice a fine stream of smoke coming from the turn signal lever!
The turn signals still work. When I turn on my headlights, the high beams are on. I cannot turn the low beams on.
How hard is it to change the turn signal switch assembly? Is this something we can do in the garage, or should I take it somewhere? Does the steering wheel need to come off?
I checked the fuse box, and no fuses are blown.

[MotoSook]

Melted turnsignal/headlight switch.....common and should be replaced alone with a relay kit installed to prevent future overload.

There is lots of info and discussion about this in the archive...run a search.

[ubiquity0]

Common problem. Porsche wasn't worried about routing the full current for the headlights through this switch.

When you replace the switch add relays to the circuit- lotsa posts in the archives about this.

[scottb]

Buy a new stalk switch from our host. It's an easy job, though time consuming. When you disconnect the wiring from the back of the headlight switch, do it one wire at a time.

Also, now's the time to install a Sucro headlight relay kit. Best $25 I've spent on the car yet.

[vash]

the sucro relay is easy, but i made my own with some more expensive bosch relays. it still ended up costing me around $18. i have a friend that lost his headlights because some relays from mexico gave up the ghost. at night!

get ready for some major body contortionist tricks.

[Bob's Flat-Six]

If you can still get the low beams to come on by pulling the lever you can take a folded up match book cover or something and wedge it behind the stalk so your not running around with the high beams on until the proper repair can be made.

An old Porsche Guru who owns a World Famous shop showed me this trick

[97*Sunshine]

Thanks for the help everybody!!

Originally posted by Bob's Flat-Six
If you can still get the low beams to come on by pulling the lever you can take a folded up match book cover or something and wedge it behind the stalk so your not running around with the high beams on until the proper repair can be made.

An old Porsche Guru who owns a World Famous shop showed me this trick

No, the low beams don't work at all.

[scottb]

The switch is toast. Buy a new one. Install a relay kit. You'll be good to go!

[trj911]

Yep, been there done that. Follow the above advice and you are back at it in no time!

[97*Sunshine]

Do you have to take the steering wheel off to do any of this? I looked briefly in the archives, but didn't see any mention of it. Thanks.

[scottb]

Yes, the wheel must come off. Remove the horn pad. Underneath the pad is a large nut (24 mm?). Use an extension on your socket wrench, firmly grasp the wheel, and remove the nut. DO NOT try to use the steering wheel locking mechanism to hold the wheel in place while loosening the nut. You'll damage the locking mechanism if you do. Before you take the wheel off, mark it in relation to the steering column shaft, so you can replace it in the same location. Remove the wheel. There are two plastic pieces that form a "clamshell" around the turn signal and other column switches. Remove those pieces, and the switch is exposed.

If you have any play in your steering column, now might be a good time to do the "bushing fix" by installing a steel steering bushing from our host.

All of this might sound more complicated than it is. It's not a difficult job.

[911SCfanatic]

...on the steering wheel nut: 27mm and an impact wrench.

[MotoSook]

I replaced a swtich on a Carrera in less than an hour....easy...make sure to mark the connectors/wires on the ignition switch ...there are four that go onto that switch, and it'll save you some time if you label them before you disconnect the old switch. The other connections are straight forward, and intuitive.

[scottb]

I think Bill is correct on the 27 mm nut. I was able to get mine off without an impact wrench, but if you have one it will make the job a lot easier.

[MotoSook]

Yes...definitely a 27mm nut on the wheel

[SpeedracerIndy]

I need to do this on an 88. Why do you need to mess with the ignition switch wires, or the headlight switch wires if you are just replacing the high beam switch?

[yelcab1]

I just did this yesterday for a fellow pelicanite. It took 1 hour, including removal of wheel, switch, and the light switch. There are 7-8 wires that go to various places and you do need to remove the headlight switch to replace those wires. Yes, do disconnect your battery.

Removal is:
1. horn pad
2. steering wheel with 27mm socket
3. plastic column covers
4. light switch at column
5. head light switch in dash
6. disconnect wires, reconnect new ones,
7. Reverse your steps.

[scottb]

Originally posted by CDiercks
I need to do this on an 88. Why do you need to mess with the ignition switch wires, or the headlight switch wires if you are just replacing the high beam switch?

There are a bunch of wires that go from the high-beam switch to the back of the headlight switch.

Yelcab is absolutely correct...disconnect the battery before doing this or any electrical work.

[vash]

tell you the truth, i am chicken schit about electrical things i ran the new wire harness right next to the old one. (there is enough room) then i just disconnected old wires from the switch and installed the new one right behind it. it started getting a bit crowded under there, but i didnt get anything messed up.

cliff

[sammyg2]

What year 911 is it?
Some of the early switches are expensive compared to the SCs and middle years.

I replaced the one in my car, took about 15 minutes.