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Steve Bramhall

Steve Bramhall

New member
I notice my headlight was out so checked the bulb and it looked ok so off to my local indy who put in a new bulb and all good. Notice it was out again tonight. I bang the light unit with my hand and on comes the light. Obviously looks like it might be a loose connection somewhere but, where is the most likely suspect?

thanks
Steve
 
There's a connector that becomes disengaged when you slide the headlight unit out. I would suggest that this is the most likely culprit.

Slide the headlight out and you will see it.

pp
 
This is a common problem, Steve.

As PP said, the connector that the headlight slides into can be troublesome. Put a small amount of lube around the plug in the wing and slide the headlight in and out a couple of times. If this doesn't work, the only alternative is to remove the wheelarch liner. You will be able to reach the connector when the headlight is in situ and be able to manipulate the plug and socket to achieve a proper connection.
 
thanks Guys.. should some wd40 sprayed onto the connector not result in anything positive what are my options then?

ta
Steve
 
I would get out my trusty AVO meter and test for voltages and track back until finding the fault. I would be surprised if the wiring had gone faulty though as the electrics seem very reliable on 993's
 
[FONT=verdana,geneva"]When you experience the problem, are all the bulbs in the light podule not working? Do they all work again when you bang the unit? Or is it just one bulb causing the problem?

The [FONT=verdana,geneva"][FONT=verdana,geneva"]connector for my LH [FONT=verdana,geneva"][FONT=verdana,geneva"]light podule broke - the plastic bit that secures it on the chassis fell apart so I did a temporary fix with a bit of cardboard until I could get it replaced.

If that's not it, clean the bulb contacts and the bulb socket. I use hi-fi contact cleaner but I'm sure WD40 will be fine. Ensure the bulb is 'tight-fitting' in the socket - a little tweak to the socket with some pliers gives a firm grip.

I know you've tried a new bulb but they can be dodgy/intermittent even when new. I had a problem bulb on the RH brake light which responded to a good bang, so initially I thought it was a poor contact. However, repeated contact cleaning had no effect, i.e. still intermittent. A new bulb fixed the problem. Perhaps try another new bulb? Keep the old one [:)]

M[FONT=verdana,geneva"]
 
as pp said its often the white plug that is causing the prob,on mine the clips on the white plug had broken off,and it would not stay in the black holder it fits into,as a temp fix i took out the headlight,pulled out the cable with the white connector on out as far as i could,then removed the orange rubber seal,by removing the seal the it makes the plug a tighter fit in the socket,if u dont the plug slips out when u try & push the light back in,then u can slide the light back in,is quite hard to get the light back in,helps if u have the help of someone with small hands or a piece of bent wire to manipulate the wire out of the way so it does not get trapped & stop the headlight going back in properly,it is quite hard but it will go back in & it saves having to take out the inner wheel liner. As a side note,it worked fine like that for a couple of years,as i was told by an opc that the plug was only avalable with a complete loom,i have since discovered,that u can buy just the white plug housing from Porsche,its listed as a part in the 993 pet,so the next job on my list is to remove the pins from the old plug & fit them in the new plug.hope this helps






















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thanks Gents, it seems to be working without any intervention today so I will leave alone until my new lens appears in the post or I take the plunge and go for an HID kit..
 
Ok, so I dug in today and had a go a rectifying the probem. Mine does not visibly have a white coloured connector. It is black with an orange seal. Anyway, the connector was hanging loosely against where it should be held in the housing. I attempted to push it back into the housing and the clip at the back of the connector broke off.. oh happy days! Left with little option, I plugged the connector into the back of the headlight and reassembled.

Should I, attempt to superglue the clip back on? Should I leave as is or do I run the risk of vibrations working it loose, causing arcing and burnout? Should I apply some gaffer type to the parts to try and secure in place? Should I get a new connector? If so where from?

cheers
Steve
 
hi Steve,not seen 993 with a black plug b4 only white ones,so just assumed they all were. Anyway,i would not bother trying to stick the broken bits on,by the time the plug starts to break up,its normaly very brittle.when the plug is sitting in its holder,its not fixed ridgid,its desined to be able 2 move left right up down etc, so when u slide the headlight in it can move a small amount,so the plug lines up with the socket on the headlight, so trying to tape it up does not really work.in the short term,i would do what i suggested in a earlier reply,but do take off the orange seal,or the plug will keep popping of as you guide the light in,it wont do any harm,as you are engaging the plug in the socket much deeper than it would,in the normal course of events and in the way porsche designed. ie if u had just bought the car brand new from the factory and decided to take a headligt out and then put it back in.Or you could as someone else on here suggested, remove the wheel and plastic wheel arch liner and push the plug in from behind. The new plug can be got from your Porsche dealer,you can find the part number in the Porsche pet pdf,if you go to the Porsche web site u can download it.its not hard to change the plug,hardest bit is getting the pins out ur old one,if u can get or borrow a pin removal tool thats the best way,if not,what i did was carefully cut the plastic connector housing away a little bit at a time with a craft knife & a dremmel,then when u have the pins out they just push in ur new connecter,cheers































 
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