Any ideas.....

Hi All, just washed my car, took it for a spin to dry out brakes & L/H indicator warning on dashboard flashing fast....... damn, I thought! got home to investigate, bulb in n/s headlight unit not working..... Out comes the European bulb kit that I put together, headlight out, bulb replaced, headlight replaced & same problem....... try the hazard lights I thought to confirm & strangely the indicators flash as they should!! So my question is: has anyone else experienced this, why does the bulb work on hazards but not on the turn indicator, what could it be & what is the'fix'? At least my rear indicator is working properly...... Secondly, despite replacing batteries recently in r/c's, locking/unlocking the car with them is becoming intermittent. I know car goes to sleep after approx 5 days, unlock car manually, then press remote..... sometimes works, sometimes not..... Open car door, put key in ignition to stop the alarm, car starts..... however central locking light/switch by PCM remains illuminated, fuel filler cap cannot be opened nor does passenger door from the outside....... has anyone any thoughts/knowledge about this? (Please Richard [ ]) 1 of my r/c's is dead again (not sure if this is draining internally) & the other, red light flashes rapidly but at the moment opens/locks the car ok. I will replace the CR2032 batteries again (as this is cheapest option) but have read somewhere that the r/c's may be 'fried' ....... Have they reached their sell by date? Car is 2004 C4S. Any advice appreciated, thanks. Merry Christmas to ALL. Paul (Kasspa)

Hi Paul, I've seen the indicator issue somewhere when hazards are ok, will try to find it, im sure Rich will be along soon. Andy

Cheers Andy, was going to copy the link to you but you've beat me to it..... [ ] Any feedback re second issue? Paul

Hi Paul. did you find a link? As i cannot find it but I have seen it, so will keep trying. If all indicators are working and both fuses (B6-D7)are ok, when the Hazard switch is used it makes different contacts for left & right but not solely for the front as far as I can see. Just my thoughts easy first. First are you sure battery has 100% power, as if not electrics will take easy route. My best bet would be a dogie connection at front headlight ass, I know it seems illogical if hazards are working, but just double check, test with multi meter to prove for indicator power if yes there is the issue. If could be dogie connection in hazard switch, remove it try soaking with switch cleaner & operating. I would not think its the relay but its a cheep try. I would not think its the Indicator stork switch as would stop all one side. (something in the back of my mind says ignition switch but I don't know why as that seems illogical) re the second issue no I'm not to sure, have you tried the old favorite of putting the metal shaft of the key against you skull to improve key range? ( it does work) good luck and let us know your findings. Andy

Hi Andy, car has just had MOT! Battery is an S5 Bosch (only a couple of years old) connected to a C-tek charger. Headlight has been in & out twice, so hopefully would have made good any 'dodgy' connection...... but an earth issue does seem a possibility..... Not sure holding the key against my head would improve any functionality..... Perhaps tomorrow it will all be just a bad dream...... Cheers Paul

you'd be surprised at how often I've solved issues with this, it can make a difference with range and batteries

Found this..... https://www.porscheclubgb.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=876431&high=n%2fs+indicator+not+working And this..... https://www.porscheclubgb.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=935901&high=n%2fs+indicator+not+working Will investigate further..... seems odd as it happened after I washed the car! Water ingress? But I only hand wash, never power wash.....

I can't make head or tail of the indicator light issue. I checked the wiring diagrams, and Andy is correct. The front and rear indicator bulbs and side repeaters, are all connected to a single point. (The alarm system and cluster light also connect here). The feed to that point comes (via the flasher relay) from either the indicator stalk or the hazard warning switch. I cannot for the life of me see why the front indicator bulb would work with the feed from the hazard switch, but not the indicator stalk. If it was the front AND rear not working on the stalk I could understand it. Whatever the problem is, I haven't heard of it before, so I hope Andy can dig up that link!! Meantime I'll keep thinking. As for the central locking, the button switches on the remotes are notorious for failing, but they usually start with intermittent operation before failing, so that might be one issue. (There is a DIY for replacing them in the Technical Articles section). When you unlock the door with the key, it should unlock all doors and the fuel flap. It should also give you 10 seconds or so before the alarm sounds. Two (of the 5) microswitches in the door lock are to sense the position of the key in the lock. One for when it reaches the lock position, and one for the unlock position. I think that the switch which senses the unlock position is broken. What is happening is that the key is physically unlocking the door, but the alarm system is not being told that. Hence the alarm goes off when you open the door, and the central locking does not unlock the passenger door and fuel flap.

Cannot find it sorry. Looking over all the wiring diagrams again, I personally think a multi meter a the headlight connections will prove the issue. Good luck Andy PS anyone at Bicester tomorrow morning if so see you there. feel free to call me 07775 138527. Andy

With a red 996, will you be part of the display? I will be and will leave here about 8, or soon after and should be there for 8.30ish. Im sure you'll spot the plate and then me

Yes, but not in the display. will look out for you. Andy

Hi Richard, Thanks for your in depth reply..... I can get the key in ignition before the alarm sounds..... Another thing that may be of interest is that when r/c is working, after closing doors I cant lock car until interior lights go out.... Is that another indication to anything amiss? Cheers Paul

That's blown my theory then. Is there any dampness under the passenger seat?

Hi Richard, correction..... the indicator bulb does NOT work with hazards, the dash indication for hazards is the normal flashing arrows, l & r which led me to believe that the bulb was working as I assumed that I would get the similar quick flashing indication as when using the turn stalk..... lazy me, should have physically looked! So at least that simplifies the cause, just need to find it..... Used 1 of the r/c's today, locked/unlocked car okay even when interior lights were on but what I did notice is the range is very poor, I basically have to be next to the car! getting new CR2032 batteries tomorrow & will see if that improves thing & livens up the other r/c. Do you know the part number for the headlight locking mechanism as the tool for doing this does tend to slip & I don't want to be caught out with not being able to lock the headlight back in position..... Many thanks Paul

Ahh. It makes perfect sense now. I would suspect the connector which plugs into the light unit isn't making a proper contact. If you mean the retaining rod in the headlight frame, it is 996.631.243.00 (£18.29+VAT). It is a bent steel rod, and when you rotate it, it locks into the headlight unit. However, it is far more likely that the tool is worn. Try using a 5mm socket instead, or a new tool is 999.571.076.02 (£10.02+VAT).

Have to check my toolkit for the tool now[ ]. Richard your a star thanks for part numbers I case I need one

When I had my 996 I found that the tool provided in the toolkit was pretty useless and rounded off very quickly. I did as Richard said - used a 5mm socket instead.

I had a similar sort of problem with my Boxster albeit about a week after resetting the headlights after a continental trip. Everything worked correctly but during a spirited moorland drive including a rough section it appeared that an indicator bulb had failed but twenty miles or so further on a warning appeared telling me to check headlight alignment. That made me wonder if the headlight was not correctly secured and turned out that I had locked the headlight unit in when reinstalling although I thought it was and until I looked closely it looked ok. Two minutes with the supplied tool, releasing then reinserting the headlight cured it. When it’s properly locked it makes a positive click. If that is the problem with yours it is strange that it only became apparent after washing your car but it’s worth checking. Good luck.

Richard as always, you're a star.....[ ] Thanks for the part numbers, I'll give the 5mm socket a go but it's not going to be for at least a week now as I won't see any daylight when I get home from work..... All a bit odd why it stopped working, I could understand if I had removed the headlight beforehand & unseated it! I replaced a battery in the 'dead' r/c, light flashes but it's not working, any ideas? The one that is working, I have to be right next to car window/screen for it to work, has no range at all, any answers for that please? Looks like one for Dove House..... Best wishes for the festive season, Regards Paul

Thanks Peter & Roger for your input. Roger, FYI I set my headlights to Europe in 2012 & have left them that way & it always passes MOT! Strange but true.....

Hi had the same trouble with my 2 keys, on 1 the batteries went down very quick over a couple of weeks so key head was knackered the other one would operate remotely some of the time but got worse over a few weeks, replaced batteries no change so in the end had to replace the key head and get it programmed now works great! The other "spare" key still works the doors manually so will leave for the moment as the cost of replacement keys here in WA is over twice the price in the UK and they would not programme a key sourced from Porsche in the UK as there is only 1 dealer in WA so monopoly!

I had the same issue with my 996TT and the front indicator suddenly stopped working. A (not too hard) slap on the offending light got it working and the problem was identified as the plug holder in the light tray having cracked so when the light unit was inserted it wasn't making a decent connection.

Hi Brad, it's definitely a common problem & one that I've experienced before with Kass's 414i Rover & my 2000 Reg Astra that we use for a runaround has a similar problem where I have to re sync key for remotes to work!!! Obviously they all have a shelf life. I'll try all what has been suggested but it does seem like I'll have to succumb to a purchase but I would've thought that the keys are the cheaper option than anything onboard..... Have a good Christmas & best wishes for 2019, Regards Paul

Hi Richard, thanks for your input, I'll have a pod & a poke when I next get time in daylight hours..... as previously stated I could understand if I had removed the light & then had the problem but hey ho, all the joys of motoring. ...... Cheers Paul

Update: Used a 5mm socket as suggested & no slipping. Removed headlight, cleaned connectors but still no indicator working (I even removed & replaced headlight with sidelight on to see if connection was ok & it was fine). Only thing I haven't done is try another bulb just in case the replacement is defective having been in the front luggage department for a few years all be it well protected (and/or test it via battery..... just had no time) Next job will be to remove wheel arch liner to see if there are any broken wires or connections from side indicator to front, if that's how it connects! Should there be a missing pin (5) on the orange connector at the back of the headlight unit? Key fobs are another story..... the one that is working intermittently has to be up close to windows & even then has quite a delay, the other one despite the rapid flashing light just does not want to sync with car.... I've tried the reverse polarity, locking/unlocking car then pressing the remote button all to no avail. What I did notice was the the light on the central locking button flashed when I locked the car manually until the alarm set. I'm sure it done it via the r/c when using it after a manual lock but only for the 1st use. Is this normal as I've never 'watched' the sequence of what it does before? Will update next week...... Cheers

Found this an interesting read...... http://www.jmgporsche.co.uk/index.php/menu-articles/articles-maintenance/item/234-996-986-alarm-primer Tips for resetting/re-syncing key slightly different to what is on the forum so thought I'd post.....

Update.... Went investigate indicator problem further & now working..... almost definitely water ingress but from where....! Followed link regarding key reprogramming without success, so booked into Dove House in the New Year..... Most certainly a replacement key job.... Merry Christmas to you ALL

Update: Indicator is still working & car has been washed again without fault re occurring..... 1 key has been replaced, r/c & alarm are now working as expected so I will purchase another key when in for a Minor Service in April. Happy New Year to All Paul

Have read this post with great interest. In all the years I've owned my car, whenever I have had to manually unlock the car the alarm has gone off straight away. I have never had any delay let alone 10 seconds. Makes sense though as I always get an ear bashing. Leave on cited charger though now as not used as much as it should be

Hi David, I re read some of the replies to my post & in Richard Hamilton's reply #8 he suggests door micro switches as the possible culprit for your problem..... I would have thought that a PWIS or equivalent would have picked that up though! Evidently, when my car wasn't unlocking via the remote it was perfectly normal for the fuel cap, central locking switch & passenger door to remain locked. New key has sorted my problem [ ]