911E 1972 Headlamp and Signal Stalk Issues

[hheine]

Hi all,

just got my hands on a 1972 911E in viper green and as expected there are some smaller issues I want to get sorted out but wanted to get some insights from the more experienced members here to avoid making any dumb mistakes:


1) Right turn signal won't hold
when signalling right, the turn signal stalk wont' stay put. I'm guessing something within the mechanism has deteriorated. Anything I need to be careful about when opening it up?

...which brings me to my second question:


2) Passenger-side low beam not working
Oddly enough high beam works so it's not bulb-related. I'm guessing the issue might be related to the turn signal switch having failed or something similar related to the stalk?

[B] 3) I wanted to check the headlight but noticed that I wasn't able to remove the 2 screws from the headlight. I'm guessing the screw threads are stripped for both as the screws wouldn't budge after screwing (pardon the pun) around with them for a while. Any elegant solution besides using a tip pry bar and pulling the screws out? Will I screw myself (double pun alert!) once the screws are out, ie not being able to screw them back in?


Thanks!
-h

[timmy2]

If those are H4 lights, the screws on the side are just for adjustment.
They are held on by the single screw on the very bottom and a lip up top.

[Arne2]

The headlight bulb has 2 filaments, one for high beam, another for low. The low beam filaments generally burn out first, as they get the most use. So the bulb could absolutely be bad.

Another thing to note is that these cars have 4 separate fuses for the headlights - left low beam, left high beam, right low beam, right high beam. So you should take a look at the fuses also.

[HarryD]

Hi, Nice looking car.

Question 1: Can't help much but it does sound like a failing stalk or, possibly something weird with the turn cancellation ring. Is the steering wheel original or after market?

Question 2: The low beams get a signal (power line) that is split in the fuse box to go to the left and right headlights. If one is working and the other is not, the problem is at of at or after the fuse box. In the lower fuse box, fuses 3 (left) and 4 (right) power the headlights. Check for power on both sides of the fuses when the headlights are on. If the power is only on one side of the fuse block (probably fuse 4), you have a bad fuse of a poor contact. Check the fuse and clean the contact surfaces. If you have power on both sides, you will need to pull the headlight to see if you have power at the headlight connector, a poor connection or a bad bulb. As Dennis notes, there is a single screw at the bottom of the chrome bezel that you remove and then lift the assemble off the car.

Can you use a multimeter or test light? Do you have a wiring diagram? How handy are you?

[hheine]

Originally Posted by timmy2

If those are H4 lights, the screws on the side are just for adjustment.
They are held on by the single screw on the very bottom and a lip up top.

Oh, must have missed that. I'll check again tomorrow.

Originally Posted by Arne2

The headlight bulb has 2 filaments, one for high beam, another for low. The low beam filaments generally burn out first, as they get the most use. So the bulb could absolutely be bad.

Another thing to note is that these cars have 4 separate fuses for the headlights - left low beam, left high beam, right low beam, right high beam. So you should take a look at the fuses also.

I'll have a look at this.

Originally Posted by HarryD

Hi, Nice looking car.

Question 1: Can't help much but it does sound like a failing stalk or, possibly something weird with the turn cancellation ring. Is the steering wheel original or after market?

Question 2: The low beams get a signal (power line) that is split in the fuse box to go to the left and right headlights. If one is working and the other is not, the problem is at of at or after the fuse box. In the lower fuse box, fuses 3 (left) and 4 (right) power the headlights. Check for power on both sides of the fuses when the headlights are on. If the power is only on one side of the fuse block (probably fuse 4), you have a bad fuse of a poor contact. Check the fuse and clean the contact surfaces. If you have power on both sides, you will need to pull the headlight to see if you have power at the headlight connector, a poor connection or a bad bulb. As Dennis notes, there is a single screw at the bottom of the chrome bezel that you remove and then lift the assemble off the car.

Can you use a multimeter or test light? Do you have a wiring diagram? How handy are you?

Thanks!

Original steering wheel. I guess I'll just have to take the steering wheel off and have a look at what's amiss.

Regarding the fuses, very helpful information. I'll keep that in mind.
Multimeter or test light... that's a no for both. I've fixed some simpler things on my other car (R107) but nothing electrical.

[timmy2]

$20 harbor freight multimeter with volts and ohms is all you need to start testing.
And a 12 volt test light probe.
Couple of videos on you tube to learn how to use them and you will be good to go.

[Inkblot]

Cool car!

Your profile says you’re in SF... if you’re ever down the peninsula, I’ve got a small shop in San Carlos and would be happy to give you a hand. I’m no expert, but I can rock a multimeter

Jake


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[hheine]

Hi all,

I unscrewed the bottom screw but I cannot for the life of me get the headlight to come off. Is there a certain way it needs to get turned / rotated / twisted? I tried gently prying with a flat head screw driver but it just would not budge.

Originally Posted by Inkblot

Cool car!

Your profile says you’re in SF... if you’re ever down the peninsula, I’ve got a small shop in San Carlos and would be happy to give you a hand. I’m no expert, but I can rock a multimeter

Jake


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sounds good Jake! Shoot me a private message with your contacts and I'll make sure to reach out. I work in the south bay during the week!

[thefaculty]

#1 - there is a spring that pulls the stalk back into position. Check that the spring has not travelling up the switch housing away from it's original position - both springs should match. This happened to me and is an easy fix. You need to pull the wheel off and take off the housing to access the switch which is then easily removed to check this.

#2 - Passenger low side, check your fuses, one of mine had blown because of the faulty switch prior to me installing the headlight relay. After uninstalling the relay and replacing the fuses everything worked well for me. I also need to straighten some of the pins inside the switch that had become warped because of the power going into the switch from the H4s again before the relay was installed.

[timmy2]

Bottom comes towards you then lift up and off the clip on top.

[hheine]

Originally Posted by timmy2

Bottom comes towards you then lift up and off the clip on top.

Yep, finally managed to pop it open. passenger side was sealed tight, plastic must have fused a bit from the sun.
I swapped the bulbs around, and passenger side still didn't work so it's likely a fuse or wiring issue...

[AirJose]

I had a similar issue in my 69, Headlamps and front lights bulbs will work intermittently! I changed bulbs, check wiring, fuses and nothing...In each side of the inner front they are the round electrical plugs, pull them out, clean them with contact cleaner and then put dielectric grease in all the connectors and a little in each hole. Plug them back and all should work. The stalk return is another issue...

Hopefully problem solved!

Jose

[hheine]

Well, fuse #4 was broken (although I'm not sure if I broke it when I tried to take it out...). I swapped it out with fuse #5 but still na-da. Bit of a head scratcher as I couldn't measure resistance on any of them... Will look into this again in the morning

Originally Posted by AirJose

I had a similar issue in my 69, Headlamps and front lights bulbs will work intermittently! I changed bulbs, check wiring, fuses and nothing...In each side of the inner front they are the round electrical plugs, pull them out, clean them with contact cleaner and then put dielectric grease in all the connectors and a little in each hole. Plug them back and all should work. The stalk return is another issue...

Hopefully problem solved!

Jose

wish I had seen this post earlier!

[HarryD]

Originally Posted by hheine

Well, fuse #4 was broken (although I'm not sure if I broke it when I tried to take it out...). I swapped it out with fuse #5 but still na-da. Bit of a head scratcher as I couldn't measure resistance on any of them... Will look into this again in the morning




wish I had seen this post earlier!

Check for voltages on both sides of the fuse.

[hheine]

Turned out to be a broken fuse that I had missed earlier. Easy swap and works now.

[blucille]

Good news, now is a good time to aim your headlights, since you did all the twisting to the screws that are used for aiming....

[hheine]

Originally Posted by blucille

Good news, now is a good time to aim your headlights, since you did all the twisting to the screws that are used for aiming....

Hi Lewis! Enjoyed the WSJ piece on blucille. Yep... ended up having to redo the alignment of the headlights after I put the lamps back into place.