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Headlight Removal - Any Tips?

Ian Gilmour

Ian Gilmour

PCGB Member
Member
I'm preparing the car for a trip to Europe next week and need to change the highlight beam to left hand drive setting. I have read the manual and used the special wrench that is supplied with the tool kit but the release nut just turns without releasing the headlights. Does anyone know of any other way that headlights can be removed or whether they can be adjusted without removing them?
 
You need to check the board more often!!!

Read: http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=391839
 
ORIGINAL: Ian Gilmour
but the release nut just turns without releasing the headlights.
Click to expand...

Ian, remove and re insert the tool.. I had that happen as we did on Toms when we did his, it will line up and you will definately feel the tool locked onto the drive.

garyw
 
Thanks for the info. I've had another go this evening but the release nuts have rounded off and I can't get them to turn. Looks like a stick-on solution is required!
 
Ian

Are you sure thats the case, both sides ?
It took me a fair while yesterday to get them lined up.. thought I rounded them off on mine, but eventually it located correctly and turned properly.

Perhaps pop into your local OPC and play innocent and ask if they will do it for you (or get the wife to[;)])

garyw
 
Still seems tape is the best solution.
If only I knew where to stick it!
I imagine at last I will get a helpful response.
 
Approach: use a torch to make sure you are putting the wrench in square and guide on to bolt.

It would take a wrong size spanner + some force to round the head I should have thought: suspect your tool is passing the bolt head and jamming in what little space is left (my experience).
 
Well I decided to have one last go this morning, not with the wrench from the tool kit but with a socket and extension bar.

It looked hopeful at first as the headlight showed some signs of movement but after aplying a bit more pressure there was a loud BANG! and the stud sheared off completely.

Amazingly I managed to retrieve it and I was right - the nut had rounded off! Not that that's any consolation. I've now applied the stick on items and just hope that I can remove them OK when we get home!
 
[:'(] Ian, sorry to hear that !!

Hope that a satisfactory result it found prior to you needing to replace any lamps within the unit !

Also can you post where you put the tape (just searched the 996 section) to allow Brian to fit his tape...

Our other suggestions of where to stick the tape seem to of gone unanswered [;)]

garyw
 
I bought a pair of 'Eurolite' headlight 'stickers' from Halfords - £6.99. The instructions tell you to put the left most point of the circular part of the 'sticker' (throw away the oval shape attached to it) to the left of the centre point of the dipped beam bulb at the same height as the bulb itself. That's not a great explanation but full instructions are provided with the 'stickers'.
 
I have just finished changing the headlights from left to right dip prior to going to Stuttgart next week. The instructions in the vehicle handbook are quite clear and if followed exactly, do work. It is a little fiddly locating the tubular spanner from the toolkit onto the hexagon head of the release mechanism but there is no mistaking when it is on. A quick turn through 180 degrees, as shown in the manual, releases the headlight and it can be slid out. Do the rest also per the manual. The whole exercise takes about half an hour.
 
I changed mine in the tunnel on the way over to France - with practice, 5min per light is achievable!!

Cheers

Sidicks
 
Five minutes is a very impressive time. When I get back from Stuttgart next week, perhaps you will meet me at the Hull Ferry and change mine back for me? Next time I won't drink so much tea whilst doing it!
 
From what I remember, the process is as follows:

Remove carpet trim from the front boot - 30 seconds
Use ratchet to loosten light unit - 30 seconds
Undo 4/5 screws on back of light unit - 1 minute
Locate and flick switch to adjust beam - 30 seconds
Redo 4/5 screws on back of light unit - 1 minute
Replace main light unit and tighten bolt - 30 seconds
Replace carpet trim in front boot - 30 seconds
Contingency time - 30 seconds

Total elapsed time = 5 minutes :)
[:D]
Sidicks
 
ORIGINAL: sidicks

From what I remember, the process is as follows:

Remove carpet trim from the front boot - 30 seconds
Use ratchet to loosten light unit - 30 seconds
Undo 4/5 screws on back of light unit - 1 minute
Locate and flick switch to adjust beam - 30 seconds
Redo 4/5 screws on back of light unit - 1 minute
Replace main light unit and tighten bolt - 30 seconds
Replace carpet trim in front boot - 30 seconds
Contingency time - 30 seconds

Total elapsed time = 5 minutes :)
[:D]
Sidicks
Click to expand...

Is where the times goes... as we found out..
 
For info there is also a thread running in the members only section with precise details plus photos.

There is also an interesting thread which seems to indicate that the lights can remain on the Continental setting in the UK.

 
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