Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

OK so a month or so ago my headlight motor packed up leaving the lights up. After coming back from a weeks holiday and firing the car up and wandering round kicking tyres etc I noticed the light were down. Now I can raise them and lower them, however when flicking the switch down the lights take 30-60 seconds to lower...not sure where the fault is..any ideas?

Is it exactly the same for both lights?

Do they both lower at the same speed at the same time, or is one faster than the other.

Do they raise at the normal speed?

Hi John,

It is the same for both headlights which lower at the same time and the correct speed but there is a delay between switching them off and them lowering. They raise at the correct speed immediately they are switched on.

CS

I would go for one or all of the following -

Switch is dirty
Relay is sticking
Motor is sticking
Linkages need lubricating

Get somebody to turn the lights on and off while you have the bonnet open (engine off because of noise) and you will probably see or hear the problem.

It's only a single motor & commoned linkage, so my bet would be on the linkage being seized. Pull the relay cover off the motor & pull the relay out. Then rotate the motor by hand through a complete revolution. It only rotates one way, it doesn't change direction for up & down. You'll probably find it's very tight in places. At least it's not a TR7, Reliant SS1 with twin motors, relays etc!

OK, I've put in a spare relay which has speeded is up a little...still takes a couple of seconds to go down. I'll give the linkage a spray of WD40 at the weekend to see if that improves it....

thanks for the advice

WD40 will free it up but is not a lubricant. If you do this then get some grease on it after. I use spray white grease, I used to use it on the boat and it is semi-waterproof.

I ain't no expert but just a thought as my lights wouldn't go down at all the other day but raised ok. I found my motor was getting really hot aswell. Found theres an adjustment screw at base of headlight unit, some sort of stop adjustment. O/S was halfway in, N/S had worked itself loose and was nearly out all together which was stopping the lights dropping so motor was whizzing away with no effect. Tighten bolt to halfway same as other unit and perfect operation. Access to bolt is when headlight is down. Something else to check if your're still stuck.

Andy

ok thanks will check that out