15 captured repliesPartial discussion capture · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHstuck headlight
Leading reported evidence
Use 5mm deep socket 1/4" drive
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
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0
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1
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
The tool doesnt work on mine - I use a 5mm deep socket 1/4" drive.
Leading evidence: 'Use 5mm deep socket 1/4" drive' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Set usually 24 hrs, you could' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Suggestion
That way when the glue has set, usually 24 hrs, you could use an extension bar to turn it.
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Suggestion
That way when the glue has set, usually 24 hrs, you could use an extension bar to turn it.
Use strong glue (jb weld) attach an old 5mm socket
Suggestion or failed attempt
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Unsuccessful attempts
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Suggestion
If it's 'A' you could clean up the area and using a strong glue (JB Weld) attach an old 5mm socket.
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
15 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
911uk: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261027T154520Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
like many 996's of this vintage, my headlights have yellowed a little. today i chose to tackle them with my DA polosher.
thought it would be easier to do them on a bench... so popped out the passenger side and went to work. all good....however,
went to the drivers side and simply couldnt get it out the car.
the retainer bar seems to be spinning and / or the tool spinning on the bar.
any help or ideas folks??
Have you tried a proper (if I recall right) 5 mm socket? The one in the tool kit is not great.
I think it's a solid bit of metal, so not much to go wrong with the retaining bar.
I really struggle with the passenger one out, it's easy to get the tool in the drivers side, the passenger side plastic hole surround thing is just off by a mm to unless I really force the tool in dead hard it spins as its not engaged on the hex head.
so tried the 5mm socket, same problem in that it isn't releasing the headlight. could the head light have been incorrectly seated last time its been put in? also, the 5mm socket is now stuck (sure will come off with some pilars).
also not great pic, but photo of the polished vs non polished headlights for those interested.
Hate to be professor of the bleedin obvious - are you turning the right way. Its the opposite direction to the other side.
Next step is to strip out the arch liner and see if you can budge it from underneath.
Ian
Last check before pulling the linner down is have a look in the hole where the adjustor is .. sometimes the bar is at an angle and the tool wont go on it .. ive angled the tool before and pushed to get it on in the past .
These light trays are a great design when they work, but as they get older and brittle they're a nightmare.
The passenger side one in my Boxster has broken where the bar inserts so it can't snap the light into place. Its now held in by zip ties until I get around to putting the replacement tray in. Thats a bit of a pain to do too, hence why I've kept putting it off :roll:
When a tool (porsche supplied or 5mm socket) is put on the retainer bar, you can feel it spin, but it "spins off".
What I can't figure out is if it ...;
a) the Bar end which the tool connects to has been worn away, effectively taking the edges off the bar meaning the tool spins
Or..
b) the bar is spinning underneath the headlight
And when I say spinning, i dont mean freely. It gets to a point where there is a bit of friction, then it slips, and spins.
Attached are a couple of pics. My fear is A.
If it's 'A' you could clean up the area and using a strong glue (JB Weld) attach an old 5mm socket. That way when the glue has set, usually 24 hrs, you could use an extension bar to turn it.
It looks perfectly centred so it's not the problem with it not being able to engadge due to off centre hex. I can see the hex looks OK, not rounded, but there's a load of grease over it? It's an odd one as the bar is one piece of metal so don't see how it could break and spin unless the mountings on the headlight are broken somehow?
Its A .
The tool is a socket so it will fit over a Hex .. you have a circle there im afraid .. there is nothing left to fit the tool over that it will grip to.
However and something ive not noticed before is that there seems to be an allen key fixing in the center of it ..
If it was me i would try a few different allen keys to see if i could release it that way.
At the end of the day though you will need a new base plate .
Trust me .. this is better than B ... as that way you would need a new headlight .
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