Lights don't always turn on...

[WhipE350]

2000 S, 54k miles. Sometimes when I turn my lights on they don't turn on immediately, I figured I would clean or replace the on/off control but then I noticed the other day that the hi/low beam stick can cause the lights to just go out or if they haven't turned on correctly can help me get them on. Once they are on and working for a few minutes it seems to not be a problem.

Question is are these types of issue usually related to the on/off switch or the hi/low stock. Can cleaning the internals solve this or are new parts generally called for.

Thanks for any help.

[Wayne 962]

I'm not sure, I haven't heard of this specific problem previously. Do you have Litronic (HID) lamps? If so, the problem may lie elsewhere?

-Wayne

[WhipE350]

Nope just the stock stuff. At first I figured it was th on/off switch but then that whole thing with the high/low stock happened. I have seen many posts about replacing the stock for other reasons but not many about the on/off. I'll play with it some more and isolate it, always good to get a definitive idea before fixing.

[Stiletto Pat]

WhipE350,

I own a 2003 S that I just bought last summer, and it had the same problem with the light switch - I don't recall the dimmer stalk having anything to do with it. I was told the headlight switch is a common Boxster problem, and once I had the headlight switch replaced, everything has worked perfectly - and most importantly, when I wanted it to - not when it decided to.

Hope that helps.

Pat

[Wayne 962]

I would tend to agree - try the headlamp switch first. I have an article on it right here: Pelican Technical Article: Boxster Headlamp Switch Replacement - 986 / 987

As for the stalk replacement, I also have an article on that too: Pelican Technical Article: Boxster On Board Computer (OBC) Upgrade / Boxster Turn Signal Switch Replacement - 986 Boxster (1997-04) -

-Wayne