99? headlight issues

hi everyone- i have 99� 996 built in 98�, and I have been trying to upgrade the headlights Well, after the third attempt, I am stumped. The lights in question are Bosch/ Magneti Marelli. I tried the clear lenses for the updated 996, and then the Boxster ones. They didn�t power up properly, or didn�t work at all on one side,turn the fog lights on and the turn signals won�t work, brights on one side not the other, or other electrical gremlins etc... Would the factory ones make a difference? My original ones work and function just fine, so there is nothing wrong with the cars wiring. thanks, Paul

Sounds like you have everything you need. Trace the wiring on the replacements compared to the originals - remembering wire colors may vary. Correct as needed by changing pinouts or wires. GLWS

Can you provide any info about the new lights other than they're made by Bosch?

Another standard thing to check for any electrical gremlins: The electrical portion of the ignition switch. It can go bad and create many problems.

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Paul, it's my opinion that your car is configured for the type of lights that left the factory. Are the light enclosures that came with the car base halogen or Litronics? Porsche is known to change pin configuration depending on configuration. For example, the wiring for an HAES amp in the Cabriolet is different than that of a Coupe. Both are M490 6x40W amps, but have different connections. If you try to hook one up on the wrong car, you could short out the fuse associated with the sound system.

Take a look inside the rear panel of the headlights. Make sure the wires are not deteriorating and touching each other. Also, match sure the main head light bulb is correctly in the socket, you have to push it all the way down and turn. Also, if the main driving light doesn't work and the others do work, you may have a bad ballast. I wouldn't say you have a bad relay because your originals still work.

Thanks everyone! The first two sets were 996.631.164.20 and 996.631.163.20 Set three was 986..631.131.114 and 986.631.131.214. The first sets were clear lens for the mk1�s prior to shape change, and set three were Boxster for the 03� which was recommended by a Porsche dealer. i will say that these were all from Pelican Parts and they have been absolutely awesome to deal with! The very first set sort of worked for 6 months. The next never did. Ignition switch and light switch are both relatively new, cars wiring and plug look new and are solid. My old original amber lens lights are halogens and work flawlessly. The other lights have all been returned. I am planning on ordering Porsche factory lights instead of oem/after market. Suncoast says to use the late clear lens Boxsters in the early 98-99� 996�s.

okay....... ordered Porsche factory lights, and they do not work. i checked the wiring, colors, pins, etc... everything matches up. And nothing turns on?!?!?!?! My original lights work fine, but are tired, weathered, and have damage. i am half tempted to pull the wiring out of the originals and put it in the new. HELP!

Did the new lights come with bulbs? Or did you take the bulbs from your old lights and put them in the new ones?

Hi- they came with new bulbs, did not swap them out.

Is there a chance that the plugs are not locking correctly? Or the mounting base/bracket is out. I believe there are 3 adjustment screws for this

Update. I put some dielectric grease on the plug, oiled the "tracks," and they work! Apparently the "newness" of the plastic was not letting them seat properly.

I had some electrical Gremlins with my original fried egg headlights. Turned out to be deteriorated insulation on the wires inside the light housing due to the previous owner installing incorrect bulbs that drew additional amps and made it hot inside the light housing. The inner light lens also yellowed. I purchased a new set of LED lights and had problems with them working intermittently, particularly on one side. It turned out the plug on the light housing was not fully seating in the plug mounted on the light tray. My solution was to remove the yellow clip that holds the plug to the stalk on the tray and plug it directly into the headlight housing. You can do this when the headlight housing is nearly installed. You have to squeeze your hand in there to plug them together. The stalk on the tray is in the way a little bit, so I bought an extra set of trays off eBay and cut the stalks off.