n00b with a 996 C2 40th Anniversary headlight/foglight switch question

I am trying to figure out if my headlight switch is bad. When I picked up the car (04 40th Anniversary Edition) the salesman gave a demo of the interior bits, and when I tried it on my own a week later something did not seem right. He mentioned that the parking light/fog lights are setup for either US or European roads, and moving the switch into different areas or pulling out on the control will do different functions. It seems like when turning the switch to the left of TDC nothing happens - I assumed that these positions would light up parking lights, but mine does nothing in the two positions to the left when you pull out on the control. If I pull out the switch while it is in position 1, the fog lights come on (and may stay on depending on how hard I release the lever). If I tap it with a finger, it shuts off. Does anyone know if there should definately be something lit up when moving the switch to the 2 left most positions? Here is what my salesman had emailed me: The positions to the left of top dead ctr are for parking in the street in Europe,leaving the parking lights on one side of the car at a time. Turning to the right, puts parking lights on, next click low beams,pull out a little front fogs,pull all the way out right side rear fog light,no left as that would appear to be brake lights With that said, I still think something should happen in those 2 left positions. Thanks, Steve

Saleman gave you the correct answer. Left turn would leave the parking lights(front and rear) on the left on or the right side depending on switch position. That way no one would hit your car if you parked along the street. They are very dim as to not waste the battery.

The thing is that there are no lights that turn on in those two left positions - not even real dims ones.

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If all else fails go to the owner's manual - page 100 shows what all the switch positions are. The switch does not move to the left so don't try to force it. First position to the right of TDC icon is parking lights, second position is headlamps. Pull switch out to first detent and front fogs light, pull out to second detent and rear fog lights (only on driver's side). If you shut the car off with the turn signal lever up or down then parking lights on that side of car stay illuminated.

I'm not sure what you mean about the switch not moving to the left - if you pull the switch out, you can move it either 1 or 2 clicks to the left. One is parking lights left, and one is parking lights right (depending if you are USA or Europe - parking lights will show on the correct side of the car). These are the two positions that don't seem to activate the parking lights.

I do have the owner's manual, and what I am saying is I think my switch is defective because when I pull it out 1 detent and move it to the left in snaps back into the down position (does not behave the same way as on the right side) - and no front fog lights come on. If I tap it with my finger, the fog lights will come on, but if I go over a bump or tap it again with my finger it may shut off. Same thing with the second detent on the left - but I get nothing at all out of that - when pulled out it snaps back into the original position again. I have tried those positions and walk around the car and their are no lights.

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Sorry I confused you. First and second pull detents work the fog lights (front and rear) when the headlamps are on. With headlmaps off, I just tried to pull and turn one detent to the left and one side parking lights came on - pull and turn to second detent and other side parkling lights come on. My switch does stay out.

Thanks for the confirmation - I have never had a pcar before, so I wasn't sure if what was happening was normal or not. I think the salesman thinks I am crazy :-) I have a CPO warranty, so I will have it checked out on my next service - it's not a huge issue I just use full regular lights 99.9% of the time anyways.

Should you be able to pull the switch into 1 and 2 detents when it is at top dead center? My fog lights do not stay on unless i turn to the right 1 or 2 times for parking/headlights. I've read you should be able to turn the fog lights on alone but.. If I pull 1 detent and turn once to the right the fog lights stay on along with what I would call really dim headlights - is that what is actually happening (the headlights turning on dimly)?

For one turn clockwise, the "really dim headlights" you describe are parking lights. The taillights are also on in this configuration. Pull out one click, and the fog lights turn on (headlights still off). The fog lights cannot be turned on without either the parking lights or headlights on. You can play around with this while you're stopped at a red light behind someone. Just look at your lights in their reflection and you'll see all the features of the headlights.