Headlight height adjustment issues

[andrew.davey]

Currently trying to adjust the N/S headlight on my 2004 Turbo as it’s a little bit low but not having much luck.

I bought a long hex key (150+ mm) with a ball end as I’ve seen recommended. Removed the light and confirmed it fits in the relevant socket and turned it to get a feel for the resistance.

I then refitted the light and put the key through the lower hole in the inner wing. I can feel it engage with the socket in the light, but when I try to turn it it feels like there isn’t any resistance (like it’s slipping out of the socket) and the light doesn’t move.

Since that wasn’t working I figured I would try adjusting the light out of the car with a bit of trial and error, but even after 4 or 5 rotations the position of the light hadn’t changed when I put it back in the car.

Am I doing something wrong, or is something broken?

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

Have you tried the adjuster on the offside light, to give you an idea of what it should feel like? (Assuming it works, of course).

That said, it sounds like something has become disconnected inside the headlight.

 

[david.gregory]

When I upgraded my Litronic units recently, I stumbled across this video - it might not be completely relevant but it does include some nice close-ups of how the adjusters work (when they are working). Hope it helps.

 

[andrew.davey]

I ended up taking the back off the light and confirmed that the screw was moving the internal mechanism. Took the OS light out to compare the position of the thread and they were quite different, so I adjusted the NS to roughly to match and found the light had got even lower, so turned it back the other way and got it back to where it was.

The issue now is that even with the NS light adjustment at max travel in the "up" direction it's still about 1-2cm lower than the OS, so although the mechanism is moving the light, it feels like it isn't properly calibrated for the mid point if that makes sense?

 

[david.gregory]

Apologies if it's a "given" for the Turbo - are we talking litronic lights (with projector units)?

If so, then what you should find is that each projector unit is held in place by a few screws - some of these should have an isolation washer/grommet. It might be that these have perished or could even be missing? If so then the up/down & left/right "neutral" position can be affected.

However, I think it would be a fairly simple job to replace these washers/grommets (using suitably sized o-rings or what-have-you) and, thereby slightly adjust/affect the neutral position of the light, i.e., restore room for manoeuvre via the intended adjustment screws ...

What I can recommend, regardless of whether your lights are litronic or not, is to have a snoop at the series of videos created by RetrofitLabs - they're intended to show how to install their products but give a very clear insight in how to dismantle the existing lights. For example (there are others, for each type of light fitted to the 996):

 

[andrew.davey]

Yeah, they are Litronic.

Someone on another forum suggested that it might be the "base" that the whole light unit sits on which needs adjusting (https://911uk.com/porsche/headlamp-adjustment-manually.48164/post-500632) so going to try that before embarking on disassembling the units themselves but will bear your suggestion in mind, thanks!

 

[david.gregory]

Yeah, they are Litronic.

Someone on another forum suggested that it might be the "base" that the whole light unit sits on which needs adjusting (https://911uk.com/porsche/headlamp-adjustment-manually.48164/post-500632) so going to try that before embarking on disassembling the units themselves but will bear your suggestion in mind, thanks!

Sure. Just be aware though (you probably are already) that adjusting the base will affect how the light unit "flows" into the surrounding body-work - unless it looks wrong already (not sitting flush, etc.), I would avoid touching the base adjustment.