a bit of a scare last night... - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Chronohunter · 06-22-2014, 08:06 AM

So after dinner out last night I fired the car up to head home and the battery and oil pressure lights stayed on after I fired it up. I shut the car of and tried again and they went out immediately/normally. I then drove it gingerly and everything was normal (zero engine noise and bright headlights) then stopped shut it off and retired it again (just to check) and all was normal again. The car drove perfectly on the way home and fired up perfectly again this morning.

I am almost positive it is a problem with the gauge cluster warning lights or sensor glitch and was not an actual low oil pressure/low voltage event. I searched and could only find one person reporting the same anomaly in Florida with no solution posted.

Any thoughts on this?

Does anyone make a nice little DIN plug and play auxiliary gauge cluster that can put me at ease if it happens again?

Thanks in advance

Timco · 06-22-2014, 08:08 AM

A mediocre / low battery will give all kinds of odd light combos. I would start with new battery before condemning any part.

Chronohunter · 06-22-2014, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timco

A mediocre / low battery will give all kinds of odd light combos. I would start with new battery before condemning any part.

Thanks, it seems to have good cranking power, could it still be faulty and have good voltage/amperage?

Like you said good place to start!

Timco · 06-22-2014, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chronohunter

Thanks, it seems to have good cranking power, could it still be faulty and have good voltage/amperage?

Like you said good place to start!

Someone will weigh in on voltages and which way the electrons flow shortly.

I was amazed how much faster mine cranked over with a new battery and I thought mine cranked fine....

tomc88 · 06-22-2014, 10:45 AM

I've had two cars' electronics go crazy due to low battery

Chronohunter · 07-13-2014, 10:55 PM

So the cause seems to be my aftermarket HID high beams. I have now had several different random warning lights come on when I switch on the high beams. The warning lights stay on until the car is turned off. Everything operates properly just the warning light(s) come on. The headlights operate perfectly. It seems to stop happening after 10 minutes or so of driving if you turn the car off and restart it. I have had oil pressure once battery twice and rear spoiler once. I hope there is a solution because the stock high beams are horrible! The HID's are seemingly good quality and supposedly "OBED2" compliant and they work great (besides the warning light issue).

Anyone else seen anything like this before... I sure haven't!

Suggestions welcome

Nine8Six · 07-14-2014, 11:20 AM

lol the problem started the same day you installed a HID kit and you are asking the crowd what could be a mysterious electrical problem?! Was great you found the problem "first" at the end

relays are DC12-24-48volts good to go and everywhere mate. ebay is a good shop

Chronohunter · 07-14-2014, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nine8Six

lol the problem started the same day you installed a HID kit and you are asking the crowd what could be a mysterious electrical problem?! Was great you found the problem "first" at the end

relays are DC12-24-48volts good to go and everywhere mate. ebay is a good shop

I know! Sharp as a bowling ball huh!? In my feeble defense it's my first Porsche and couldn't see how that could be related, they are exotic strange beasts and I am learning slowly with all of everyone here's patient help

BrandonJames89 · 07-14-2014, 11:01 PM

Just a side note about using HIDs for high beams:

Most companies and individuals don't use HIDs as a separate high beam because of the time it takes for the bulb to get to normal operating temps. If you use them for long periods of time in remote areas where you aren't blinding people then they might be better. They won't be very effective flashing for a warning and the short on/off period will most likely greatly reduce bulb life.

Bi Xenon headlights are usually the only ones to use HID bulbs as a high beam and that's not how the litronics were designed.

Chronohunter · 07-15-2014, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrandonJames89

Just a side note about using HIDs for high beams:

Most companies and individuals don't use HIDs as a separate high beam because of the time it takes for the bulb to get to normal operating temps. If you use them for long periods of time in remote areas where you aren't blinding people then they might be better. They won't be very effective flashing for a warning and the short on/off period will most likely greatly reduce bulb life.

Bi Xenon headlights are usually the only ones to use HID bulbs as a high beam and that's not how the litronics were designed.

Those are valid points, the actually flash pretty well but then dim and slowly brighten to full power all in about two seconds. I can say however that even when at the dimmest of the warming cycle they are brighter that the stock (pathetic) hi beams. Also once warmed momentary dimming for on coming cars doesn't really have any warm up period, they go straight back to full power. I do live in the rural mountains of colorado so I really need great headlights... high and low.