Sometimes the passenger's litronic headlight fails to start

[JuncoJones]

Hi everyone,

Sometimes the passenger's side Litronic headlight of my Boxster-S fails to start. I simply turn them off and back on, and everything works fine afterwards; I also have new Xenon bulbs. I've read about the headlight switch failing, but only one headlight is having issues at cold startup.

Before I start replacing the expensive stuff, I want to know if someone experienced a similar issue or has any idea about the possible root cause.

Thanks in advance!

Julian

[Loren]

Wiggle the headlight switch - if the light comes on or flickers with the wiggling then you have found your problem.

[Hosaki Rion]

The headlight switch contols both the driver and passenger side, so I doubt its that when only one light goes out. If the wires check out okay meaning not loose. Then its the ballast behind the headlight unit going bad. As it progessively get worse you will get more sudden shut offs until the unit stops working completely.

A easy way to test it is, grab the good ballast on the driver side and switch it over to the passenger side and see if the problem goes with it.

I have my money on a ballast going out if the wires checks out okay.

[Loren]

The headlight switch contols both the driver and passenger side, so I doubt its that when only one light goes out. If the wires check out okay meaning not loose. Then its the ballast behind the headlight unit going bad. As it progessively get worse you will get more sudden shut offs until the unit stops working completely.

A easy way to test it is, grab the good ballast on the driver side and switch it over to the passenger side and see if the problem goes with it.

I have my money on a ballast going out if the wires checks out okay.

Sorry you are wrong - I have see a headlight switch do exactly that. There are several sets of contacts on the headlight switch.

[JuncoJones]

Thanks for the quick reply, guys.

This morning both headlights were OK (my car sleeps indoor). After arriving to work, the passenger’s side was off, which must be -in my opinion- somehow related to cold weather.

As suggested by Loren, I wiggled the switch but nothing happened. I will swap the ballasts this afternoon and give it another try tomorrow morning.

Julian

[thom4782]

If it's not the headlight switch, then my best guess is that you have a loose connection where the unit plugs into the socket on the tower.

[JuncoJones]

Hi everyone (and happy New Year),

After countless hours of troubleshooting / components swapping, I decided to change my *BRAND NEW* original Philips D2S Xenon bulbs, and was able to replicate the issue now on the driver’s side. Used my warranty replacement and got a new pair of bulbs; now both headlights are running OK.

Thanks everyone for your time troubleshooting this issue!

Cheers,

Julian