[DavidI]

Another lesson learned...check to make sure your headlights work prior to driving at night! On Thursday I worked a boxing event about 25 miles from home. My report time was 2:15 pm. The 996 has been running great, so I decided to drive her. There was an issue with the ignition because it was difficult to twist with the key when inserted. I put a few drops of Lucas gun oil in the key hole to lubricate it since the car had been sitting for about 12 years prior to my ownership.

I drove the car to the event with no issues at all. The event ended at about 11:00 pm, obviously very dark at this time of night. I started the car, no problem at all. As I drove through the parking lot where the event was held, I thought it was unusually dark. I rotated the low beam switch several times, but no luck with the headlights! I checked the fuses, no luck.

I had a choice to either drive home and stay close or beside other cars to use their headlights for illumination or call a tow truck.

I thought about Banning's drives through Mullholland and how they raced through the streets without headlights and figured I would use his inspiration and drive the car home myself, rather very slowly and carefully.

I was able to navigate my way home and the next morning began searching for the problem and solution. It turns out that the 996 has an ignition switch that seems to mechanically fail as these car age, accounting for the difficulty in twisting the key. The headlights, according to everything I have read from various sources on the web, may not illuminate when turned on because the faulty ignition switch has a faulty connection and prevents them from closing the circuit.

I ordered a new one from our host and should receive it today. Depending on what time it arrives, I'll either install it today or tomorrow and update this post.

Don't do a bonehead move like me and plan to drive your newly acquired car and drive it at night without ensuring your headlights work!

PSA..I drove home very very slowly and carefully!