17 captured repliesPartial discussion capture · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCH996 Tail Lights
Leading reported evidence
Install led lights instead
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
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Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
Have now fitted LED lights instead but have the stock ones and am refurbishing them
Leading evidence: 'Install led lights instead' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Install led lights instead' (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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Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
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Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
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Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
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0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
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Suggestion
Presumably this change correlates with the amber / non amber headlight 'upgrade'.
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.
17 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Porsche Forum Australia: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
1 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Outcome without a verified action link
There is no difference LHD to RHD taillights; they are wired differently for parking lights but thats in the loom - the units themselves are not handed like headlights are.
So, I need new tail lights for my 996.2 coupe.
A few questions:
Are the tail lights model year or country specific?
Any recommended vendors? And conversely, any that have a less than stellar reputation?
What causes the tail light lenses to crack? Mine show no signs of impact, but have star shaped cracks radiating out from a central point?
TIA
The early (98/99) ones have amber indicator covers, the later ones have white with amber bulbs. Presumably this change correlates with the amber / non amber headlight 'upgrade'.
There is no difference LHD to RHD taillights; they are wired differently for parking lights but thats in the loom - the units themselves are not handed like headlights are.
Heat time and sun, if you go for a decent drive the tail lights tend to heat up then add the bulb heat...
Also best to purchase in a pair if possible in terms of even wear (if you're pedantic - like me)
Lot of guys in the US go LED they aren't cheap and I don't particularly like the look.
I'd swap over to LED. No heat and they really do make the car look more modern.
Let me know if you go LED i might join you:
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Porsche-Carrera-[phone removed]-2004-LED-lamp-tail-light-lamps-clear/282412406887?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649
Was just going to ask about tail lights. I have a 2000 996 C4 and it’s fitted with LED tail lights (Also headlights have LED park/indicators) I like the look of them but have known nothing else. I was about to ask if they are original but this thread confirms to me they aren’t. A bit disappointing wasn’t mentioned on PPI. Still all good though.
Yes was on rennlist. It’s great for some of the mechanical advice but was recommended to look here and I like the local content. Bought the car off Carsales so paid Redbook for PPI. They picked some things not standard that I now think were options but not the lights or whatever else I find. Overall have been happy with their appraisal. Mechanical no big surprises - yet......
I made the same recommendation! Definitely agree, so much technical content on rennlist but all the great social stuff happens on here!
Fair enough, hope you're enjoying the 996!
It’s been a dream for many years to own a 911 inspired Porsche. Almost bought an 80’s something 930 in 99 but divorce got in the way. I love the car. Drive her daily. Love her madly. Hope this post isn’t breaking any gender rules.
Look at similar car headlights on the car market because no one will send you a link. Moreover, you probably have your taste, and so on. But I can give you some advice about LED light, and it looks much brighter and more beautiful than usual. And as far as I remember, they are even cheaper than the usual ones. I recently bought myself even an
LED lamp for camping
, which I adore. However, it is better not to drive a Porsche out of town, then you have to wash the car, and this is so lazy to do, to be honest
Well, I hope you were interested in my opinion, good luck in choosing headlights for your beautiful car
What usually happens is cracking on the inner mounting of the tail lights. It was a design flaw. They can even fall out on the road. These are the way to stop that happening if you see the the hairline cracks around the two bolts on each side.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/113426920981
Yep this si exactly what was wrong with mine. Used these and they really worked very well. Have now fitted LED lights instead but have the stock ones and am refurbishing them
When I purchased my 996.2 I also had purchased the factory X74 lowering kit from Carnewal at the time just before my car was delivered to Aus.
In the kit were two odd looking brackets - At the time I could not work out what they were for.
I quick email to Gert over at Carnewal confirmed that these were indeed some strengthening/support brackets for the rear tail light assemblies.
I fitted these as my X74 suspension kit was added - Porsche must have been aware of the issue (especially if the car has stiffer suspension fitted) as they were factory brackets that came with the X74 kit.
Just an FYI for everyone, there's now two versions of this product. A plastic version and a slightly more expensive metal version. The metal version is quoted as being "thinner, stronger and better looking". It looks the same to me from images, and you'll need to decide on whether the application really needs to be thinner and/or stronger than it already is.
