Headlight Switch?

[Farmlifer]

Hello Forum,

So, I picked up my “new to me” 2003 Boxster in California and on the drive back noticed low beams would not always come on first try (maybe second, or third, or more, or if I flipped on high beams and flipped back lows would then work).

Easy headlight switch DIY or something more complicated within wiring or headlight assembly???

Thanks for any troubleshooting assistance and DIY tips!

(Apologize for duplicate posts unable to delete copy)

[BrantyB]

I think you're probably on the right track, and the switch itself is fairly inexpensive and easy to replace. YouTube search will walk you through it and it takes less than an hour.

[Farmlifer]

Originally Posted by BrantyB

I think you're probably on the right track, and the switch itself is fairly inexpensive and easy to replace. YouTube search will walk you through it and it takes less than an hour.

Thank you ✅

[KevinH1990]

You can also use electronic contact cleaner to clean the switch.

[Farmlifer]

Originally Posted by KevinH1990

You can also use electronic contact cleaner to clean the switch.

Worth a try guess I just pull off the knob and give it a few squirts worst case replace switch anyway if no improvement - thanks haven’t seen that stuff since Radio Shack days... ⭐️

[dghii]

Note that although the light switch is most likely your culprit, the wiring insulation inside the headlight assembly breaks down over time and can cause lighting issues. It costs $0 to pull the assembly and take a peek inside.

[blue62]

Farmlifer,

A general rule to keep in mind when working on any aspect of an automobile.
Simplest things first. then work step by step up the system from simplest to most complex.

So for example as in your issues:
fuses
bulbs
wiring
connections, at the bulb, wiring harness, at the switch, etc, etc,
switches

What this does is helps prevent spending money and replacing parts needlessly when perhaps the problem was something very simple and basic.

I have seen people replace starters just to find out that they had a bad connection at the battery

Hope this helps.