987 Boxster Light Switch - Strange Behaviour - help?

[RichB]

My 987 was MOT tested a few weeks ago and passed. I did not use it in the dark for few weeks after however I now find that the light switch is behaving most peculiarly! Basically I can only get headlights and dashboard lights with it fully turned clockwise to dipped beam and then pulled out which should also light the high intensity rear lights but doesn't. Also, in the anti-clockwise direction I cannot actually turn it to the fully off position, it physically will not turn that far. I can''t think of anything that could have happened between the MOT and now and I can't think of any weird setting in the controls that would affect the lights. Anyone any ideas?

[jeremyc]

Is it possible the MOT tester was a little heavy handed in using the control and somehow rotated the knob on it's shaft?

[RichB]

Yes, that's what I'm thinking but just wanted to check that there's not some silly setting in the computer that he's altered, you know perhaps set the DRLs from UK to Outer mongolian setting or something.

[996Targa]

Failure of the light switch is certainly common on 986's and 996's. It starts, in my experience, with small faults and ends up not working at all and inevitably it's going to be dark when this happens. The switch is a VW Audi part from recollection.

I would change it now. I have done two and I am not mechanically gifted. I takes a bit of care to remove the switch without marking the surroundings.

[Pope]

Simple to remove - much moreso than 9x6; push the switch in and twist it anti-clockwise; 1/8th turn and it will unlock the retaining pin

[Stephen-catah]

I had a similar issue a few years back, sometimes headlights on, some times off, confused the hell out of me.

Turned out it was the common fault, the headlight switch.

Easy to replace yourself, I used this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMA-tntOrP0&t=...

Mine has been fine ever since