High beam/low beam turn signal issue

[Cevan]

My high beams have stopped functioning. Low beam works. The high beam flash (pulling the stalk back) works. I suspect the switch. Below are pictures of the switch in low beam, high beam and flash positions. It looks like something is broken in the high beam position as the thicker contact doesn't move.

Is it time to replace the switch?

[HarryD]

Check this thread. https://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/248149-turn-signal-switch-quick-fix-pictures.html

[darrin]

and add headlight relays -- from the factory, all the headlights' current goes through these connections, which can cause them to heat up and distort. Adding relays causes the current to bypass this weak point -- https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/JWST911HLPR.htm?pn=JWST-911-HLPR

[Cevan]

Harry I did read that thread. I tried every combination of bending those contacts and could never get it just right. Seems like there’s some stiction may be just from wear. I’d like to know where people are buying the new switch for $150. $380 from our host.

[HarryD]

Originally Posted by Cevan

Harry I did read that thread. I tried every combination of bending those contacts and could never get it just right. Seems like there’s some stiction may be just from wear. I’d like to know where people are buying the new switch for $150. $380 from our host.

Sadly, years ago, I had similar issues and no luck by bending contacts. Ended up getting a used replacement.

[darrin]

googling 91161330501 brings up several vendors selling the Valeo version of this switch (which I installed years ago) for around $270

[theiceman]

you have to understand how it works first . the only contact that moves is the middle contact ...

the flash to pass is a different set of contacts so don't let that distract you

try this thread.

https://rennlist.com/forums/911-forum/517567-hi-lo-headlight-switch-repair-thread.html

[spuggy]

Originally Posted by Cevan

Seems like there’s some stiction may be just from wear. I’d like to know where people are buying the new switch for $150. $380 from our host.

One of the first things I did to my car (after clogged washer jets and worn out gas struts) was replacing the 230,000 mile stalks. If the lights were on low beams, they'd switch to mains when the turn signal cancelled. And the wiper speed didn't reliably make contact, usually took some jiggling...

The smoothness of the new switches convinced me that this was the right move. The old ones moved far too easily and were sloppy as well as crunchy. The switch mechanisms themselves do wear out, not just the contacts.

Yeh, relays are a must too.

IIRC, the stalks were over $100 nearly 20 years ago. They're not anymore.

Just wait until you go to drive the car one night and the headlight switch in the dash just stops working and you find out how much those cost now...