 914 Headlights Not Lifting/Lowering Today, Help with Headlights |
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| ClassWinners |
 Oct 12 2022, 06:50 PM
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#1
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Newbie  Group: Members Posts: 2 Joined: 12-October 22 From: WA Member No.: 26,913 Region Association: None  |
Is there a common reason why an early 914 ('72 1.7) would have all headlights/lifting work perfectly and then after polishing the car yesterday (including headlight covers) with an orbital, today the headlights go on but do not pop up/ lift or retract?
This is a 914 I picked up on Saturday that hasn't been driven in almost 8 years and was stored outside for 2 years. Already got it running! Was tickled when the headlights worked perfectly...but today no lift/retract. Pulled and cleaned headlight relays. Still nothing. Looked like all fuses under the dash were good...although I didn't actually test them. Rheostat, dash lights, tail lights, turn signals all work. Bright light indicator doesn't work, but didn't when the lights were going up and down fine. If there is a common go-to reason this happens to both headlights it would save me investigating in the systematic approach. I've owned in the past a 70 911T, 944 and 928. This is my first 914. Thanks! Sam |
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| iankarr |
Oct 12 2022, 07:38 PM
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#2
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The wrencher formerly known as Cuddy_K Group: Members Posts: 2,480 Joined: 22-May 15 From: Heber City, UT Member No.: 18,749 Region Association: Intermountain Region 
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My money is on a fuse. If it’s not a fuse, the distant second culprit would be the headlight switch. I say distant because it’s unlikely you’d have a sudden failure like that after you were all over the car cleaning.
And… (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png) |
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| vitamin914 |
Oct 13 2022, 06:03 AM
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#3
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Member Group: Members Posts: 202 Joined: 8-September 21 From: Toronto Canada Member No.: 25,893 Region Association: Canada
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Interesting.
Same problem, and I haven't found the solution. My 74 sat inside a heated space all last winter, headlights went up and down before sitting for several months. This spring - headlights don't move, nothing - weird... I'm not at the stage to find out what is wrong yet. All I have had time to do is replace the rusted headlight buckets with NOS. Never touched anything electrical on the car that just sat there - all the work was mechanical. For me I don't think it is the fuse. I can manually lift the lights to the up position by turning the motor's knob. Once I get to a certain point while continuing to turn the motor powers up and lowers the light. So it is getting power. The switch? (appears to be impossible to find a replacement). What happens when you turn the knob to lift the light manually and keep turning? |
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| sb914 |
Oct 13 2022, 06:28 AM
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#4
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Surf Guru Group: Members Posts: 4,315 Joined: 25-November 12 From: Brookings,Oregon Member No.: 15,191 Region Association: Southern California
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Be careful when working with your headlights.
Keep your fingers.. |
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| VaccaRabite |
Oct 13 2022, 07:12 AM
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#5
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En Garde! Group: Admin Posts: 13,465 Joined: 15-December 03 From: Dallastown, PA Member No.: 1,435 Region Association: MidAtlantic Region |
Did you remove the relays while you were polishing?
Zach |
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| jim_hoyland |
Oct 13 2022, 09:47 AM
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#6
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Get that VIN ? Group: Members Posts: 9,318 Joined: 1-May 03 From: Sunset Beach, CA Member No.: 643 Region Association: Southern California
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Possibly disruption of the diode. Check connection, it’s a green wire, and not easy to see. The diode may have a black covering.
Attached image(s) 
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| ClassWinners |
Oct 13 2022, 05:44 PM
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#7
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 2 Joined: 12-October 22 From: WA Member No.: 26,913 Region Association: None |
Fixed the issue. While I had looked at all of the fuses that were in there, since I didn't have a bright light when I did, I hadn't noticed that the last fuse was actually missing entirely! Given the tension of the contacts, I'm guessing the fuse had been in crooked (not seated) and the vibration caused it to slip and launch. (Still haven't found the old fuse!) New fuse in and all back to normal.
Thanks y'all! |
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| burton73 |
Oct 13 2022, 06:50 PM
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#8
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burton73 Group: Members Posts: 3,543 Joined: 2-January 07 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 7,414 Region Association: Southern California
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It's very easy to kick the fuses out if you don't have a fuse cover, and not careful getting in the car
Bob b (I have big feet and do this by accident a bit) |
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| burton73 |
Oct 13 2022, 06:58 PM
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#9
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burton73 Group: Members Posts: 3,543 Joined: 2-January 07 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 7,414 Region Association: Southern California
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Bob b (I have big feet and do this by accident a bit) |
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| Jamie |
Oct 13 2022, 07:16 PM
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#10
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,034 Joined: 13-October 04 From: Georgetown,KY Member No.: 2,939 Region Association: South East States
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QUOTE(burton73 @ Oct 13 2022, 04:50 PM)  It's very easy to kick the fuses out if you don't have a fuse cover, and not careful getting in the car Bob b (I have big feet and do this by accident a bit) Was there ever an original cover on the fuse block? |
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| FlacaProductions |
Oct 14 2022, 09:54 AM
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#11
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,615 Joined: 24-November 17 From: LA Member No.: 21,628 Region Association: Southern California
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Sure. Looks like this:
https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/9146...RhoClu0QAvD_BwE |
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