914 headlights turn off when engine running

[CMXIV]

Hi, just started restoration on my 914 that i bought non running. Runs now, many to fix but there is an issue with headlights I can not understand. With the ignition ON, engine not started the headlights will operate correct, everything right. As soon as I start the engine the lights (bulbs only) will turn off, the whole headlight assembly will stay up, but the bulbs will turn off right away. When i turn off the engine and turn the key on ignition ON it will work right. That's how much I know as now, did not have time to do any measurements, but the contacts, fuses, were cleaned and checked. I will add more info as soon as get more. Any thoughts ? Thank you !

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Suspects include the wiring and the ignition switch. And grounds are always worth checking and cleaning up.

--DD

[CMXIV]

Hi ! It took a while to solve, and to be back here since I had my car in shop for a while.

First, the headlight relays: for whatever reason one was turning on and of the motor on my left side headlight, literally raising and dropping the headlight every 2 seconds or so. Not sure what king of "bug" was inside the relay, but switching the same relay on the right side delivered the same result. So I replaced both relays, clean the contacts and it did worked....sort of...The headlights still turned off when engine started or did not start at all. The main culprit was the ignition switch, just a tiny wiggle of the key temporary solved the problem. This was it ! As in many old cars it was a combined issue between bad relay, oxidized contacts and the contact switch.