1980 Porsche 928 headlights are backwards

[mixybro4]

The headlights on my Porsche 928 are backwards. They go up when they should go down, and they go down when they should go up. Nothing was changed with the motor, it just happened when I turned the switch one time. The car is a 1980 Porsche 928. Thank you.

[Jerry Feather]

Hey, that is really cool. Are they off when they are up and on when they are down also?

[harborman]

There may be limit switches on the shaft and one may be stuck. Possibly a relay problem also.

[MPDano]

I would go with the cheapest and easiest route first. Relay then switch. You can get them used at 928 Intl. Although I am leaning towards the switch myself. Now, please delete the question out of the "Common Fixes" thread por favor.

[DougM]

Are you in Australia? Everything is opposite down there. You drive on the opposite side of the street. It's summer there when winter here........

[mixybro4]

They are off when up and on when down.

Hey, that is really cool. Are they off when they are up and on when they are down also?

[AirtekHVAC]

Could the linkage have "spun" somehow? I know I had to replace the retaining clips on mine....

[DougM]

Not sure, but worth a shot... If you raise them manually(the black cylinder next to the driver side headlight with a knob on top), when turned off, will they work opposite when you turn them back on?

[mixybro4]

If you turn the knob when the car is turned off, as soon as you turn the key back on they go right back to the wrong position and if you try with the car on they go down and then immediately right back up.

[mixybro4]

Does anyone have any ideas? I replaced the switch, no hope. I'm thinking its the relay and i might just replace the relay.

[Pete R]

There is a type of circuit board in the motor that tells it where it is.(up or down to turn the lights on and off). I believe that the output shaft on the motor has a splined shaft that the lever for the arm connects too. (kinda like a windshield wiper arm) Take off the lever to the arm and rotate it 180 degrees.

[curtisr]

Originally Posted by dougm

are you in australia? Everything is opposite down there. You drive on the opposite side of the street. It's summer there when winter here........

roflmao!

[laneyamps]

I mention this to anyone with a 928 headlight issue:

Very easy to do!

Remove the headlight motor, remove rubber protective boot (covering the motor ), and then remove the 3 or 4 screws around the motor disc. Remove rotor cover, and inspect the rotor disc, you will probably find rust or oxidation on the disc itself. I had the same problem. Took me and a friend over a week to figure it out.

After we saw the rust on the disc, I cleaned up the rotor disc with some "Rust Buster" or "De-Oxit" (I used Rust Buster), and some emery cloth (very fine grit).... lightly sanding until all rust/oxidation spots are gone. Do not rub too hard, you don't want to damage the disc! Re-install headlight motor.

Give that a try.

The very second I hooked the motor back up, it's worked PERFECTLY! After almost 2 weeks of going crazy, testing relays, installing new relays, headlight switch, etc etc....none of those were a problem.

Chris

[Mrmerlin]

I would venture a guess that the arm that attaches to the motor has spun,
the arm should be down when the headlamp switch is off ,
see where the arm is.

If its up then turn the headlight switch on so the lamps fall down.

Then loosen the nut thats holding the arm . wiggle the arm free of the shaft,
dont remove the nut unless the shaft wont be free of the arm.

Then turn the switch off this will let the motor retract to the down position.
Refit the arm and test it.

Warning.... before doing anything make sure the motor is not going to drive the arm through the radiator or condenser,
you will need a helper to do this,
the arm should rotate towards the front of the car if its going to the rear of the car then you have other issues possibly internal to the motor

[Alan in AZ]

What Stan says is a good start... However on a 1980 model (on any pre S4) the motor, limit switches and relay are different.

The early motors don't reverse - they do a half cycle for up and another half cycle for down - it always rotates in the same direction. Otherwise mechaniusms are similar with reconfiguration of the limit switches & relay to suit. The early relay has only 3 internal contact/coil pairs: (vs 4 on S4+) on/off, high/low and motor run.

The shaft moving wrt the pod drive is still a possible explanation for all the same reasons

Alan