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Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHWent to change a headlight bulb and found this
Leading reported evidence
Use fashioned electrical tape, either way, easy
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I used old fashioned electrical tape, either way, easy to remedy.
Leading evidence: 'Use fashioned electrical tape, either way, easy' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Clean reinstall will work in my favor' (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 · Original poster
Fingers crossed that a clean reinstall will work in my favor.
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Suggestion
Definitely want to replace all of the dodgy wiring.
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Suggestion · Original poster
Anyone have a link to how this can be removed to make future bulb replacements easier or should I start shopping for OEM used early 986/996 lights?
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13 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
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Generation: 20261027T005001Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Ugh... I hate upgrades.
Previous owner upgraded the headlights to "Dynamic" headlights(Xenon?)
The wires look cracked in some places telling me this isnt something I want to continue with.
Anyone have a link to how this can be removed to make future bulb replacements easier or should I start shopping for OEM used early 986/996 lights?
Jesus. What a mess. Replacement lenses (front and rear) on the 996 are outrageously expensive--something like $500 each. It'd take a lot for me to buy a new or refurbished pair, but if I was in your situation that might be the tipping point. I'm sure there's a solution to this, but it's probably much more involved than simply removing that rat's nest of wiring. Hopefully some gurus here can provide some insight.
Looks like HID ballast mounted on the cover and LED for the one with black ballast. You should be able to just remove them and stick the regular bulbs back in provided they didn't modify the mount for the LED bulb. (The HID one looks unmodified with the wire clip still in place)
Why not just change out the bulb with what's in there? Why would you want to go back to Halogens? Are the housings burnt/melted/damaged in some way? Many of the cars with stock wiring are also cracked/disintegrating.
That cracked insulation is the stock (Porsche) wiring - the headlight wiring is notorious for falling apart as it ages.
Definitely want to replace all of the dodgy wiring. As far as the aftermarket HIDs, you can throw $20 at eBay and hit 50 different HID vendors if you find anything wrong with the ballasts that have been installed. You might want to look at LED upgrades if you're going to mess with new ballasts and bulbs anyway...
While that install isn't exactly neat, there's no neatness requirement for an HID install. I'd be far less concerned about the messiness and more about a short...
What Schn3ell said. A good remedy for the flaking insulation -- remove anything that's loose or brittle. Apply a couple layers of liquid electrical tape. Something like this
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Plasti-Di...-Tape/16888975
.
Where have you seen replacement front headlight lenses? Each headlight is still $2500 each. My headlights work fine but the yellowing of the headlights is too far gone to fix. Already had them professionally wet sanded and it helped but didn't fully restore the headlights.
Thank you all so much for the excellent information.
Grabbing some liquid electrical tape and attempting a wiring salvage first before bulgs are ordered. If that and bulbs don't work, time for stock bulbs.
Fingers crossed that a clean reinstall will work in my favor. Notably, the additional outside wiring made the removal of the assembly sort of tough.
Thanks again,
-Tommy
I de-pin the wires and slide heat shrink tubing over the damaged wires. Takes a little longer but it protects the entire wire and not just the current bad spot.
Unless the housing is messed up,, looks to me like you can strip the HID kit out, and replace
with new or go to a H7 LED for the Low beam and a H9 LED for the high beam.
I don't see much that un-fixable cleanable.
JB weld painted ont he lastic housing can work wonders.. Just cant put it in the track contact areas.. (Done it on hondas and such in the past.. )
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