Porsche Repair: 944T Headlight Issue, fog light switch, high beams

Question
This question may be a bit pedestrian for a 356 guy, but I hope to diagnose the problem myself (with your help) instead of paying someone $100/hr to run through a checklist.  Hopefully, my last name alone will motivate you to help me out!

While driving my 87 944 Turbo, my headlights flickered and then went out.  I turned the headlight knob off and then back on and the lights closed but did not re-open again.  When I turn the knob on (clockwise) one notch, the fog lights go on (as they should when the fog light switch is on).  Turn two notches and the lights do not open and the fog lights go off (like they should if the high-beams are on - which makes this interesting because it implies that the high beams are stuck on?).  

I have checked all the fuses that seem related to lights or the concealed light motors.  I can't figure out which relay goes with the lights.  

I manually cranked open the lights with the switch turned to on - otherwise the motor kicks in and closes them again quickly.  Once open, the high beams can be flashed (pulling the high-bean arm), but cannot be turned on (pushing the high-beam arm).  And again, the headlights do not go on.

SO I am wondering what is going on.  Does the headlight trigger the motor?  the motor seems fine (it closes easily).  Meanwhile the lights seem to be having problems (except for flashing the high beams).  

Any thoughts on this?

-Chris  

Answer
Hi Chris,

When it comes to electrical gremlins, nothing is pedestrian.  And, yep, you have a very cool last name.

I do not have THE answer you are searching for.  I'm staring at the wiring diagram for the "85 and later 944's' and it's pretty obvious Porsche does not want to reveal how the concealing lights work.  There are these components:

Light Switch
SteerinG Column Dimmer Switch
Relay X
Bridge Adapter
Control Relay
Light Relay
Concealing Headlight Motor

And the reference I have does not show the locations of some of these mysterious items.  I too would rather have you avoid the shop fees to have someone trace all this out, but this could be quite a test of OUR patience.

I'd be happy to fax you a copy of these two pages I'm looking at, if you'd be interested in seeing the diagram.

In the meantime, let's think a bit about the incident when the lights went out.  Perhaps that is the pedestrian part we can attack.  For example...your description of the flicker and then the darkness makes it sound like there is a broken wire rather than a bad relay.  Relays basically work or not.  A wire leading to a light could be corroded or brittle and when it breaks the break is caused by vibration.  When the vibration occurs it wiggles the last strand  and perhaps let's say only let's 5 volts through before it snaps.  That 5 volts would appear as a flicker.

Anyway, I'm just thinking there could be a broken wire to search for as well.  Sound like fun!?  By the way...At the location of the movable headlight, wouldn't there be wires moving around and vibrating like crazy?

Let's talk this out a bit and see where we go from here.

Dave