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968 headlight motor failure

Andrew Peach

New member
Hello Guys
I am a new 968 owner and feeling my way round my new (old) car. I have a 1992 968 which is in generally good condition but needs some fettling and cosmetic work. My biggest problem is that the N/S front headlamp does not go up or down. There is no sign of life at the motor and so I have removed it for testing. Can anyone advise a way to test the motor as there are 5 connections and I am stuck on what to do next. Also, it has occurred to me that it could be a failed relay, and in which case, could anyone advise where that is? Any advice at all would be very helpful.
Many thanks.
Andrew




 
Hi Andrew, welcome to 968 ownership, between my coupe and cab I've had a 968 for 20 years!

The 968 forum on here is pretty moribund - although I'm sure Waylander will be along shortly with advice re your headlight motor. However, I would strongly suggest that you register with the porsche968uk forum where you'll find loads of information and help. Members on there have dismantled and re-assembled just about every part of a 968, and I'm sure I've seen threads about recalcitrant headlight motors!
 
You won't regret it Andrew - I just did a search on "headlight motor" on 968uk and found 119 posts. Look in particular for posts/threads by Jakerade as he's very knowledgeable and his threads are normally "photo heavy"! Waylander is another very knowledgeable member on 968 things, but there are quite a few others - look at the "How To" subforums, you'll even find a couple of mine!
 
The motors are very sensitive to alignment for correct operation,

but one of the main normally is water ingress and corroded contacts, a strip and clean normally sorts them out, as chris says there are full instructions on motor strip and clean and testing

the workshop manual has all the info about alignment,

there is a relay its in the fuse box, and there are fuses for up and down

you should add to your profile your rough location so there might be a local to help you out


 
I've cleaned the bushes/commutator and put 12v across the 2 main drive connectors and it spins nicely. However, once installed, it does work partially, to about 25% open and then remains permenantly in that position. I am guessing that the relay in the main fuse box controls both headlight motors - is that correct? In which case, I suspect a failure of the control circuit board in the motor assembly. Is there a UK specialist that provides a test and refurbishment service of these motors? Spares (even 2nd hand) seem very expensive! Thanks in advance
 
i can tell you now you wont want a new motor £1130.04 each

and if its partially working then the motor is not fubared, if it was it would not move at all,

it must be poor connections somewhere inside it

Also the relay G17/G18 its a double relay, poping the lid off and cleaning the contacts with some 1200 paper and checking all the solder joints is another good thing to do

the relay is £210 new








 
Thanks Waylander. I have done as you suggested and cleaned the contacts, and in the process I identified that one of the relays in the relay assembly is not operating. I manually operated the relay contacts using a cocktail stick, and the headlamp went up and down as they should. Therefore, I have diagnosed either a faulty relay assembly, or a signal failure from the light switch. At least its not the headlight lift motor!!
 
Turned out that the problem is a poor connection on the relay from the signal wire of the headlight motor. Took ages to diagnose but at least I found it!

 
Well done that man, the feeling of accomplishment is a hard one to beat, especially when it potentially saved you a lot of cash
 

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