r/986Boxster • u/Present_Sun3191 • 5d ago
Headlights not working(solutions)
Hey I was driving home last night and I tried turning on my lights with no luck. No issues with starting, all interior lights work, top goes up and down fine but headlights and high beams not working. High beams do work when pulled forward to flash but not when you try to leave them on. I’m not exactly sure what the issue is, from searching google/forums I think it might be ignition switch. I was hoping to get some guidance from someone who has dealt with this issue.
2
u/FlyAU98 5d ago
1) fuses?
2) There are known issues with the headlight switch in the dash.
3) the wiring INSIDE the headlight housing degrades. It was made with some hippy environmental crap insulation that disintegrates. There could easily be a short inside of the housing. It’s not hard to remove the housing and open the back of it to inspect.
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u/Present_Sun3191 5d ago
I’ll check fuses but I don’t think that’s the issue. You may be onto something with the wires degrading and may just be simpler to replace the whole headlight unit.
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u/TrueSwagformyBois 5d ago
Do they normally work? Do you turn them on often and this is an outlier? Have you confirmed that they are plugged in?
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u/Present_Sun3191 5d ago
They do normally work but they have had issues turning on occasionally, i usually just have to turn them off and on then it works. I have not double checked the if they are plugged in properly.
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u/lawschoolforlife 5d ago
I have this issue with my 97 Boxster. All my other lights work, including high beams (when flashing), signals, taillights, and fog lights (use these as my headlights).
I’ve replaced the low beam bulbs and the headlight switch (not the knob but the mechanical/electrical switch the knob controls), and checked the fuses. But no luck…
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u/Present_Sun3191 5d ago
Exactly the symptoms I’m dealing with, how long have you had this issue? Any other potential solutions you’re thinking about. Someone else mentioned the wiring inside the headlights can degrade, have you taken a look at that?
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u/lawschoolforlife 5d ago
Haven’t tried anything else. I basically gave up because I don’t drive it much at night anyway, but I’m always keeping an eye out for a solution
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u/Active_Breadfruit_58 5d ago
I have a similar problem right now too, except it’s just one of the headlights that won’t turn on, but high beams will. Also when the light went out my side mirror button inverted, selecting the left mirror actually moves the right one, and pressing up will move the mirror down vice versa.
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u/Appropriate-Can-1913 5d ago
I had the exact same situation where low beams would not work but high beams would. I replaced the headlight switch in the dash and that fixed it. I got one on Amazon for about $40 and you need a long allen wrench to remove it. There are videos out there on how to replace it. Pretty easy once you locate that screw.
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u/Present_Sun3191 5d ago
I think I found a couple videos I’ll watch tomorrow, would you by any chance have a link to the switch you purchased? 🙏
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u/TheMaxorizor 3d ago
I had this problem when my ignition switch went. The key went to ignition and didn't spring back to what it should be at
0
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u/Commercial-Can2231 5d ago
My 2001S does the same thing occasionally. I just turn the headlight switch off and on a few times, which has always brought the headlights back on. I'm assuming dirty contacts in the headlight switch. I rarely drive the car at night, so the switch doesn't get activated very often.